Scientists have warned that using certain popular shampoos and mouthwashes could harm the body’s ability to fight serious infections and diseases.
Experts have raised the alarm about antibacterial chemicals called “biocides,” substances designed to indiscriminately kill all the bacteria, viruses and microscopic fungi that are common in household products.
However, there are fears that these biocides may be doing us more harm than good by eliminating the trillions of microorganisms in our bodies that help protect us from disease.
Some research suggests that using mouthwashes containing a common biocide called chlorhexidine can eliminate 90 percent of the mouth’s protective bacteria and increase high blood pressure, a key risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
Chlorhexidine can be found in a number of common products in Britain, including Corsodyl daily mouthwash and Boots Expert Chlorhexidine Dental Tape dental floss.
Another biocide, called benzalkonium chloride, is found in some facial cleansers that claim to kill bacteria, as well as hand sanitizers and wet wipes.
Others are common in anti-dandruff and anti-lice shampoos.
Now, a bill, which will be debated today in the House of Lords, seeks to limit the use of biocides in over-the-counter products.
Commonly used soaps, shampoos and dental products could be damaging your immune system, scientists have warned.
Former Green Party leader and colleague Natalie Bennett, who is introducing the bill, wrote in a policy report that biocides are hidden in the daily routines of many Britons.
‘How was your morning? Maybe, singing happily, you jumped into the shower and reached for this week’s special antibacterial body wash, loudly labeled “kills 99% of bacteria,” he said.
‘Then you brushed your teeth with the much-hyped new antibacterial toothpaste and used mouthwash containing chlorhexidine.
‘You put on some new socks you got for Christmas, promising “extra antibacterial freshness” made from silver-infused material.
“Before you go to breakfast, you have subjected your microbiome… to a shower of biocides, that is, poisons.”
While acknowledging that research is lacking on the impact of biocides on the microbiome, Baroness Bennett concluded that chemicals “can’t be good.”
He added that use of the chemical in common household applications is unnecessary given that there are many non-biocide alternatives.

Chlorhexidine can be found in a number of products common in Britain, including Corsodyl daily mouthwash.

Boots Expert Chlorhexidine Dental Tape dental floss also highlights its ability to ‘reduce oral bacteria’

Another biocide, called benzalkonium chloride, is found in Nilaqua No-Rinse Body Wash Antimicrobial Skin Cleansing Foam, which touts its effectiveness by proudly claiming that it “kills 99.9999% of germs.”
Dr. Paul-Enguerrand Fady, an expert at the Center for Long-Term Resilience, who was involved in drafting the bill, said The mirror that the regulation of these products was “like the Wild West.”
“Rather than acting on the assumption that everything is fine, this bill would put the onus on manufacturers to prove that it is,” he said.
“We want these products to stop being available on shelves, like candy, and become something that requires at least minimal contact with a qualified professional to purchase.”
Professor Andrew Seaton, president of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and consultant in infectious diseases at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, added: “Outside of healthcare, the benefits of biocides are speculative at best. but the damage is potentially significant and irreversible.”
Supporters of the bill advocate for a broad-spectrum ban on unjustified use of biocides in over-the-counter products rather than focusing on a specific chemical.
They claim this approach is necessary to avoid a “whack-a-mole” situation where manufacturers simply switch to a different biocide to circumvent the legislation.
It does not propose an outright ban, but if a company wants to include a biocide in a product it must “demonstrate that the effectiveness of the product is significantly improved by the use of the biocide without undue environmental impact.”
However, industry groups have expressed objection to the bill.

Some research suggests that using mouthwashes containing a common biocide called chlorhexidine can eliminate 90 percent of the mouth’s protective bacteria and increase high blood pressure, a key risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. stock image
Dr Emma Meredith, chief executive of the Cosmetic Perfumery and Toiletries Association, said such a ban was unnecessary due to existing safety regulations.
It also warned that if such a proposal succeeds, it risks banning “safe cosmetic preservatives”, which could increase the risk of cosmetic products being contaminated by harmful microorganisms.
The manufacturers of the products named by the newspaper did not respond to requests for comment.
Researchers are still exploring the health benefits of having a healthy microbiome, from better mental health to lower cancer risk.
But a widely accepted theory is that its presence helps prevent potentially harmful organisms from infecting us by “expelling” them from areas of the body, preventing them from colonizing.
There is also concern that biocides may contribute to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AMR occurs when harmful pathogens become increasingly immune to the available drugs used to kill them.
This may mean that healthcare procedures used to keep patients undergoing surgery or a treatment such as chemotherapy could become less effective, increasing the risk of potentially dangerous or even fatal bacterial infections.
The bill is just approaching its second reading in the House of Lords and would have to go through many other stages, including debate and passage in the House of Commons, before potentially becoming law.