Aaack!

Readers of this blog know that there are things that I hold critically important:

Sunlight (or go crazy in January).
Organization (the only way to beat back chaos).
Finishing projects before starting new ones (see above).
Washing one's hands (germs are evil).

This morning, the Chicago Tribune ran a terrifying story that has upended my germ world-view. Soap can be dangerous.

There is an extraneous chemical that has been added to antibacterial soaps (that I buy all the time) called triclosan (in liquid soaps) or triclocarban (bar soaps). It's also in some toothpastes.

Triclosan can induce hormonal changes, disrupt cardiac and skeletal muscle function and ultimately end up in the water we drink. The level of this chemical is rising in the lakes of Minnesota, so stick with vodka when you're up there.

The Environmental Protection Agency is going to take six years to review this chemical. No rush, EPA.

The FDA, however, says it poses a public health concern "and continues to pollute our bodies."

I just filled up an empty soap pump and brought it over to my grandchildren's bathroom.

I may never get over that.

Let's review -- read the labels of the soap you buy. Look for the word triclosan or triclocarban. The picture above = soaps to avoid.

The soaps above apparently are okay. (And alcohol-based hand sanitizers don't have it.)

With thanks to Chicago Tribune reporter Monica Eng for her excellent front page story.

Meanwhile, what do I do with the soap that I have no intention of using? What is the responsible way to dispose of it?