Ingredient of the Month
In this column we will continue to explore Green Chemistry and how it impacts the transition to a more sustainable society. This month’s focus is on antimicrobial chemicals. The word “antimicrobial” is regulated by the FDA. They control the meaning of most of the “anti” words out there: antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory etc. The legal definition of anti-microbial is called the “30 second kill rate”. This means that 99.99% (they aren’t allowed to say 100%) of all critters: fungus, bacteria, mold and virus must be dead within 30 seconds. This is a lot to ask for from a product. There are…
OK – What about antibacterial soap products? Enhancing the germ killing effects of soap and water with industrial level germ killing chemicals may seem like a good idea on the surface. However, once we look deeply nto it red flags start popping up all over the place. Anti-microbial soap products, and pretty much every non-alcohol based consumer sanitizer, uses Triclosan as the germ killing ingredient. Triclosan is the trade name for polychlorinated phenoxy phenols. Read the words carefully. This is not a breakfast drink. Triclosan kills germs at 6 parts per million. Think about it. 6 molecules per million and…
Welcome to another addition of our mini course in Green Chemistry. I cannot guarantee that paying attention to the synthetic chemicals around you will give you a longer or healthier life. I can however guarantee that if you do NOT pay attention to the molecules, you might really mess yourself up. Guess what? YOU are the guinea pig! The mix of synthetic chemicals in your body and your body’s reaction to them – right now – is unique upon the planet. If we think of ourselves as test tubes, the make up and mix of each one will be unique.…
Welcome to a new feature of VermontSoap.com; The Ingredient of the Month. In this space we will explore the relationship between natural and artificial ingredients that are ubiquitous in our modern lifestyles and their relationship to the biological systems that are we are an integrated part of. Organic Chemistry does not have to be a mysterious and arcane field. You shouldn’t need a PhD to read your toothpaste label. Large companies have a stake in our collective ignorance. The less we know, the more cheap crap they can sell us! Stay tuned to this column and you will begin to…
