And bring the reading glasses, as well.
The past two days, news stories have been popping up about how antibacterial soaps don’t protect consumers against diseases. People who use antibacterial soaps are still getting the sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever sickies in the same numbers as those who use regular soaps. There’s a wee catch, however. See if you can spot it in this next paragraph:
The study, published in Tuesday’s edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine, concluded that the [antibacterial soap] products did not reduce the risk for symptoms of the viral infections that are among the most common causes of colds, coughs and stomach aches.
Look again.
...antibacterial soap…viral infections…
People. The products are not designed to block viral infections. Viruses can’t be blocked, alleviated, or cured using the same kinds of tools as bacterium. They’re different animals (literally). Different approaches have to be used, even if the ways that the germs are transmitted is very similar (viral and bacterial colds and flu can both be spread by touch and by inhalation.) I can’t figure out what’s worse: that these studies were run at all; that the results of these studies were published as if it’s some surprising piece of information; or that more of these studies will likely be run, rerun, and published to the general public. Then, the articles are published with titles like “Anti-bacterial soaps lack punch” instead of the more accurate “Anti-bacterial soaps don’t fight viruses”. Next: Ice Is, Indeed, Cold Hard Water and Cannot Be Effectively Used to Produce Heat. Brought to you by the Institute of The Strangely Obvious, published by Professor Duh G. Rilly. (Here’s a very good page on how antibacterial soaps work. Basically, hot water and soap will get rid of most bacterium; and if you’re not leaving the soap on your skin for 2 minutes or longer you’re not getting the antibacterial benefits…which can be a double-edged sword, as we do need a certain amount of bacteria on our skin and in our systems.) I just like the screaming orange colour, myself.
Keywords: | language |
Posted by Laughing Muse • 517 views • Share this link • Newer • Older
Click here to join