The Dangers of Hand Sanitizers & Back to School

With kids going back to school, the school systems are busily worrying about germ exposure and how to prevent germs. While hand sanitizers have become mandatory in many classrooms, there are many, many studies showing that these products can be damaging to human’s development and the environment, as well.

If hand sanitizers were superior to killing germs the old fashioned way with soap and water, that would be one thing.  But, in fact, antibacterial products can actually lead to more problems than they prevent – such as endocrine disruption (think early puberty, diabetes and obesity), as well as less natural resistance to common germs.  If you’re concerned about your child’s health and their exposure to germs, definitely read this PDF What’s the right answer to the germ question?, created by Beyond Pesticides which specifically addresses the problem of kids in schools and germs.

Additional information on triclosan, a main ingredient in hand sanitizers, can be found on Beyond Pesticides website.

I don’t think that anyone is arguing with the fact that there is a new germ environment out there and children need to be protected. However, just be sure you are making an informed, educated decision on which products your children are using (or are being forced to use) and what their effect on your child’s health might be long after their school years are over.