In a world increasingly obsessed with cleanliness, antimicrobial chemicals have become a staple in everyday life. From soaps and cosmetics to cleaning sprays and period products, they promise to protect us by “killing 99.9% of bacteria”. But these products come at a hidden cost: they don’t just target harmful germs, but also the beneficial bacteria that are vital for our health.
Each of us is home to over 30 trillion bacteria that cover every inch of our bodies, from our gut and skin to our lungs and eyelashes. This complex and dynamic ecosystem is the microbiome, and it plays a crucial role in digesting food, protecting against infections and supporting the immune system.
Disrupting the microbiome has been linked to serious health problems such as asthma, obesity, cancer and life-threatening infections. There is growing evidence that antimicrobial chemicals can damage the microbiome. Scientists call this “microbiotoxicity”.
The UK’s House of Lords recently debated a groundbreaking proposal to address this issue. The consumer products (control of biocides) bill, introduced by Baroness Natalie Bennett, the former leader of the Green party of England and Wales, could make the UK the first country to regulate these chemicals to protect the human microbiome. If the bill becomes law, it would require manufacturers to show that their products are microbiome-safe, and may restrict unnecessary use of antimicrobials.
While antimicrobials are found in everything from medication to food additives, this bill focuses only on those in everyday consumer products, such as soaps, cosmetics, clothing and cleaners. It doesn’t restrict antimicrobials used for medical or public health reasons, where they can save lives.
However, if the bill becomes law, it could pave the way for more safeguards against antimicrobials more generally and would highlight the urgent need for international action to protect the microbiome.
