Biocides: The Hidden Toxins in Everyday Products and How to Take Back Control

Biocides have attracted a lot of media attention this past week. These toxic chemicals appear in many soaps, shampoos, hand gels, and even clothes. They persist and accumulate in human cells, with research from the University of Plymouth linking them to high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke.

“It is a barrage of biocides, in other words poison…..which has a significant effect on physical and mental health” writes Baroness Natalie Bennet, who has introduced a Bill to the House of Lords to ban their use. She also points out that daily exposure to products advertised as ‘anti microbial’ can wipe out 90% of the good bacteria we need in our mouths and gut, and make their use in medical settings such as hospitals, ineffective.

Eventually biocides end up being washed down the drain, polluting water environments, entering soils and contaminating nature and food supplies.

It would be easy to feel angry about government failure to regulate the use of these dangerous substances to date. We could however use this as an opportunity to literally take matters into our own hands. Being mindful about what goes in, on and around our bodies is an empowering stance to take. It is where, with a little attention, we can start protecting our health, and those of the people we love.

This doesn’t mean freaking out and sweeping the bathroom shelf into the bin. Instead taking the opportunity to make sustainable substitutions for health, one product at a time. Supporting well-being, whilst reducing the demand for planet-harming chemicals. Easy alignment between personal and planetary health.