Study shows triclosan chemical in hand sanitizer may impair muscle function and hurt your heart
Sorry, germophobes, but that bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse might be hard on your heart. A recent study shows that triclosan, a chemical found in antibacterial soaps and sanitizers, may damage muscle function, including slowing down that essential cardiac muscle. After exposing mice daily to the chemical, the researchers noted that triclosan reduced gripping strength in the rodents by 18 percent and slowed down heart function by a terrifying 25 percent. Is hand sanitizer going to stop your heart? Probably not. But Dr. Isaac Pessah, the study’s lead author, wants consumers — and the FDA — to be aware of its effects. “The risks [of triclosan] definitely outweigh the benefits,” he says.
