Warning over popular toiletry products that could be harming your immune system

You're probably still getting through the nice soaps and shampoos you got as presents for Christmas.

While keeping ourselves clean and maintaining good hygiene is really important (and smelling like fresh daisies doesn't hurt), scientists have issued a warning that some toiletries and dental products could be negatively impacting our immune systems.

"Biocides" found in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and some soaps and shampoos can wipe out the good bacteria in our microbiome and cause disease, according to experts. A bill tackling this issue will be discussed in Westminster today, the Mirror reports.

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There's a list of significant biocides to look out for in the ingredients of your bathroom products. Research shows mouthwashes containing a common biocide called chlorhexidine can wipe out 90 per cent of protective bacteria in the oral microbiome and in turn increase high blood pressure.

Peer Natalie Bennett, the former Green Party leader, is tabling the bill, and states in its foreword: “What was your morning like? Maybe, singing cheerfully, you jumped into the shower, reaching for the antibacterial body wash, on special this week, with its loud label claiming 'kills 99 per cent of bacteria'.

"Afterwards you brushed your teeth with the heavily advertised new antibacterial toothpaste and used chlorhexidine-containing mouthwash.

“On your face, moisturiser. You’ve had that tube for several months, but it contains preservatives, so it is still fresh. You pulled on some new socks you got for Christmas, promising ‘extra antibacterial freshness’ from silver-infused material. You reached for a menstrual product promising to prevent odour and 'guarantee freshness', which also contains silver.

“Before you go to breakfast, you have subjected your microbiome – the tens of thousands of species of microbes that make you a holobiont – to a barrage of biocides, in other words poisons. We know that the microbiome is essential to life; our gut microbiome, about which we know most (although still very little) has significant impacts on mental and physical health. Exactly what impact that barrage has on it we have little information, yet, but it cannot be good.”

She added: “None of the products used in the hypothetical case I outlined above are necessary. They confer no benefit over non-biocidal products, yet they are damaging our human, animal and environmental health.”

"Antibacterial" products have been all the rage since the pandemic, and products containing biocides are commonly sold over the counter. Some medicines are also known to contain the chemicals.

Trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi far outnumber human cells in our bodies. The "microbiome" is the name given to this collection of microbes that exist all over our body. Microbes can be found in our mouths, gut, lungs and on our skin. It is vital that there exists a balance between these microorganisms to ensure the correct function of our body and its immune system.

When the amount of "good" bacteria and other microbes is depleted, "bad" microbes are able to thrive and take their place. Research suggests that biocides found in our toiletries wipe out both good and bad bacteria or fungal microbes. The resulting imbalance can lead to the development of infections and disease.

Research in 2020 demonstrated that over-the-counter mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine majorly disrupted of the oral microbiome. This biocide is also used in many cosmetics and personal care products.

Corsodyl Daily Mouthwash is known to contain this biocide as well as Boots Expert Chlorhexidine Dental Tape floss. Using Corsodyl Mint, which contains 0.2 per cent chlorhexidine, for just one week led to a serious shift in oral bacteria according to the study. Oral microbiome disruption can increase blood pressure, especially for people whose blood pressure levels are already too high.

Shower gels also contain biocides. Benzalkonium Chloride is found in Nilaqua No-Rinse Antimicrobial Body Wash Skin Cleansing Foam. This body wash “kills 99.9999 per cent of germs”, which is one of its biggest selling points. Some hand sanitisers also include biocides, and Benzalkonium Chloride can be found in Wet Ones Be Fresh Biodegradable Antibacterial Hand Wipes.

The bill to be discussed in the House of Lords at 11am on Friday, January 17 - The Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill- would ban the chemicals from non-medical over-the-counter products unless strictly justified by evidence.

Biocides commonly found in some consumer products intended for human use are:

• Benzalkonium chloride (soaps, hand sanitisers)

• Chlorhexidine (mouthwashes, body washes)

• Triclosan (soaps, hand sanitisers)

• DDAB

• DDAC

• Octenidine (body washes)

Dr Paul-Enguerrand Fady, expert at the Centre for Long Term Resilience, who was involved in drafting the bill, told the Mirror: “The current market for these products is like the Wild West. Rather than operating under the assumption that everything is fine, this bill would place the onus on the manufacturers to prove that it is.

"We want to take these products from being available on the shelves, like confectionary, to being something that you have to have at least minimal contact with a qualified professional to buy. We want to prevent people from unknowingly purchasing these biocides."

Experts believe an overarching ban is necessary to stop manufacturers from repeatedly replacing a banned biocide in their products with another chemical that could turn out to be more harmful. Officials believe this “wack a mole” situation could be avoided by a full ban on all biocides in toiletries.

Professor Andrew Seaton, President of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, and Consultant in Infectious Diseases at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Outside of healthcare, the benefits of biocides are at best speculative, but harms are potentially significant and irreversible. The indiscriminate use of biocides has the potential to drive antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by directly disrupting both the human microbiome as well as our fragile environmental ecosystem."

Biocides can end up in our sewage systems and, even if treated, add to the build-up of AMR in our waterways. England’s previous chief medical officer Sally Davies has warned of an “antibiotic apocalypse” if AMR build-up continues, leading to a world where common infections and routine operations could become fatal.

Dr Emma Meredith, director general of the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association, said: “Proposing to restrict the use of biocides in cosmetic products is unnecessary because strict UK laws covering the manufacture and supply of cosmetic products, which have been in place for over 40 years, already address the points raised by the bill.

“By not taking into account this existing robust legislation, one of the unintended consequences of the bill is the potential to unnecessarily ban safe cosmetic preservatives, which are already effectively regulated, and which are essential in protecting us from our cosmetics and personal care products becoming contaminated with harmful microbes.”

Victor Efford, operations director at Waterless, which makes Nilaqua Skin Cleansing Foam, said: “Currently there are effective measures in place to restrict and control levels of biocidal components in cosmetics. The UKs cosmetics legislation 2009/1223, the use of products in medicines overseen by the MHRA and also the biocidal regulation GB BPR, all of whom do a fantastic job monitoring based on the latest evidence.

“Making already available medical devices, prescription based, would add a huge strain to an already suffering NHS, there's no budget or time for GP appointments and prescriptions for a previously available product. The answer is not to ban and punish, but to incentivise use of more natural based products, where it is a choice of the consumer to opt for the alternatives themselves.

"In short, this would have to be done very carefully with a focus on unnecessary cosmetics only.”

Boots and Haleon, which makes Corsodyl mouthwash, declined to comment. Edgewell Personal Care, which makes Wet Ones, had not responded to the Mirror at the time of going to press.

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