<p>A new study by a team from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in the US has found that young people who are overexposed to antibacterial soaps containing triclosan may suffer more allergies.<br /><br />And exposure to higher levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) may adversely affect the immune system among adults, found the study to be published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.<br /><br />Triclosan is a chemical compound widely used in products such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, pens, diaper bags and medical devices, while BPA is found in many plastic items.<br /><br />Both of these chemicals are in a class of environmental toxicants called endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which are believed to negatively impact human health by mimicking or affecting hormones.<br /><br />Using data from a three-year-long national health survey, the researchers compared urinary BPA and triclosan levels with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody levels and diagnosis of allergies or hay fever in a sample of US adults and children over age 6.<br /><br />Allergy and hay fever diagnosis and CMV antibodies were used as two separate markers of immune alterations.<br /><br />“We found that people over age 18 with higher levels of BPA exposure had higher CMV antibody levels, which suggests their cell-mediated immune system may not be functioning properly,” said Erin Rees Clayton, co-author of the study.<br /><br />Researchers also found that people age 18 and under with higher levels of triclosan were more likely to report diagnosis of allergies and hay fever.<br /><br />There is growing concern among the scientific community and consumer groups that these EDCs are dangerous to humans at lower levels than previously thought.</p>
<p>A new study by a team from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in the US has found that young people who are overexposed to antibacterial soaps containing triclosan may suffer more allergies.<br /><br />And exposure to higher levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) may adversely affect the immune system among adults, found the study to be published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.<br /><br />Triclosan is a chemical compound widely used in products such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, pens, diaper bags and medical devices, while BPA is found in many plastic items.<br /><br />Both of these chemicals are in a class of environmental toxicants called endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which are believed to negatively impact human health by mimicking or affecting hormones.<br /><br />Using data from a three-year-long national health survey, the researchers compared urinary BPA and triclosan levels with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody levels and diagnosis of allergies or hay fever in a sample of US adults and children over age 6.<br /><br />Allergy and hay fever diagnosis and CMV antibodies were used as two separate markers of immune alterations.<br /><br />“We found that people over age 18 with higher levels of BPA exposure had higher CMV antibody levels, which suggests their cell-mediated immune system may not be functioning properly,” said Erin Rees Clayton, co-author of the study.<br /><br />Researchers also found that people age 18 and under with higher levels of triclosan were more likely to report diagnosis of allergies and hay fever.<br /><br />There is growing concern among the scientific community and consumer groups that these EDCs are dangerous to humans at lower levels than previously thought.</p>