"Problems With a Key Hand-Cleansing Chemical"

"Think of all the things you've touched today - the door handles pulled, the elevator buttons pushed, the railings held, the coins counted. All of them were coated with germs. Afterward, so were your hands."

"How often - and how thoroughly - did you wash them?

In the battle against bugs, we often turn to antibacterial products. But a key ingredient in many of them, triclosan, may have its own problems.

Triclosan, a type of chemical known as a chlorinated aromatic compound, has been linked with health issues, including hormone disruption. Many medical experts say it's no better than good old soap and water anyway."

Sandy Bauers reports for the Philadelphia Inquirer's GreenSpace column June 9, 2013.