From the Department of Things We Already Knew But Research Hasn't Officially "Proven": Researchers at Northwestern University recently completed the first study on how childhood exposure to germs affects inflammatory and immune responses later in life. The results seem to support Grandma's claims that a little dirt does a body good. That's right: people may be keeping their kids too clean.

"Contrary to assumptions related to earlier studies, our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases," said lead study author Thomas McDade of Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research (IPR). "In the U.S., we have this idea that we need to protect infants and children from microbes and pathogens at all possible costs. But we may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input needed to guide their function throughout childhood and into adulthood."

It's not as if we didn't know there are nasty ramifications of using too many antibacterial products. Triclosan and other antibacterials are causing environmental havoc for marine life and water supplies. But now we have concrete evidence that allowing our immune systems to develop in a normal, "germy" environment builds stronger bodies in the long run.

That's not to say you shouldn't maintain a basic level of cleanliness at home—but there's no reason to break out the bleach and go for sterile. Plain old soap and water and a proper scrubbing technique are enough to keep hands clean. As for your house, steer clear of disinfecting wipes and wipe up with vinegar and water.

(Photo credit:audi insperation, flickr)

Prepare yourself: The holiday season is a full contact sport. Packed shopping malls, family gatherings, bustling airports, hectic grocery stores, the party circuit ... No matter how you look at it, you're going to be in close proximity to the unwashed masses over the next month or so—and unwashed they're sure to be, unless there's some new handwashing trend we haven't spotted yet. Frequent, thorough handwashing remains your best defense against catching whatever bug is going around in your neck of the woods. But when you can't make it to a sink with soap, sanitizing lotions can help fill the gap.

Hand sanitizers aren't magic elixirs. They don't remove chemicals you may have picked up on your hands (such as fire retardants from that brand new electronic gizmo you just unwrapped), so hand-to-mouth chemical transfer at mealtime could still be an issue. Sanitizer ingredients—including the harmful ones such as fragrances and antibacterial agents—remain on your skin after use, giving them the chance to become fully absorbed into your body. (Eww.) We recommend passing up that ubiquitous bottle of Purell and reaching for something with more natural, nurturing ingredients.

Two products we like:

• Clean Well makes a completely alcohol-free, Triclosan-free formula that still claims to kill 99.99% of harmful germs on contact, including MRSA, E. coli and Salmonella. Available in small spray bottles or as wipes, it's kid-safe (no harmful ingredients if kids get some in their mouths), cruelty-free (no animal testing) and 100% biodegradable.
• Surya Brasil sanitizers are a good choice if you prefer the reliable germ-killing properties of alcohol (which can be drying to skin when used frequently). The rest of the ingredients, which include júa and açai and are all from renewable resources, are certified organic through Eco Cert. Even more remarkable is what's not inside: no mineral oil, parabens, petrochemicals, carbomer, synthetic fragrance or artificial coloring. This product is also cruelty-free.

(Photo credit:lusi, SXC)

Handwashing isn't a sexy topic—so we're going to scrub this one up by the numbers.

Two reasons to wash your hands frequently:

1. Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick and spreading illnesses, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
2. Handwashing is an effective way to avoid transferring toxic chemicals from your hands to your mouth, especially for children. Notes the Environmental Working Group (EWG), "Scientists have found that children actually ingest more chemicals off their hands than from mouthing toxic products directly, such as arsenic from playing on older wooden swing sets or fire retardants found on some electronics."

One magic number to remember when washing your hands:

• Scrub hands with soap for 20 seconds—about as long as it takes to hum "Happy Birthday" in your head.

Four reasons to avoid anti-bacterial soap:

1. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee found that antibacterial soaps offer no advantages or benefits over plain soap and water.
2. The American Medical Association advises against using antibacterial soap at home because it may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
3. Triclosan, the common agent in antibacterial soap, is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity as well as impaired thyroid function.
4. Wastewater treatment is unable to completely remove triclosan from water, exposing marine wildlife to the toxic chemical in lakes, rivers and oceans.

Three soap ingredients to avoid:

1. Fragrance
2. Triclosan
3. Triclocarbon

Two reasons handwashing is better than waterless sanitizing lotions and gels:

1. Hand sanitizers don't prevent hand-to-mouth chemical transfers.
2. Sanitizers (including harmful ingredients such as fragrance, antibacterial agents, drying alcohol) remain on the skin, to become fully absorbed.

(Photo credit:eflon, flickr)

I would not put an anti-bacterial agent like Triclosan on my countertop, no less in my mouth!

Yet there are mouthwashes and toothpastes that contain Triclosan and many other harmful agents. I was recently surprised to find that alcohol in mouthwash has been linked to oral cancer.

Good oral hygiene, like flossing and brushing throughout the day--each day--is so important to maintain good health.

 You can achieve that “fresh” feeling, naturally, here are some tips and links that you may find helpful:

1. Support Eco-friendly toothpaste companies that support the environment by not polluting it via you and your daily oral hygiene. Companies that do not include Triclosan, Parabens, Artificial food colorings and Artificial sweeteners in their formulations.
   
2. When brushing turn the water off and hum a little two-minute tune in your head. Two minutes is recommended as a good amount of time to brush and you definitely do not want the water running that long.
3. Use earth and mouth friendly mouthwashes to gargle, if gargle you must. I like to gargle with simple salt water each day, it is very soothing.
4. Recycle or re-purpose your toothbrush when it is spent. There are so many wonderful uses for old toothbrushes!
5. Support companies that do not test on animals, our fine furry friends will be ever so grateful!

Keep those pearly whites "green" and have an ever so beautiful day!

(Photo credit:jelene on flickr)

Water treatment plants may be cooking up more than (supposedly) clean water. A new report shows that the same conditions that allow beneficial bacteria to do their job during sewage treatment may also be creating a new class of antibiotic-resistant "super bacteria." These super bacteria make their way into rivers and public waterways, potentially infecting wildlife and people with infections that are difficult to treat.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) national sewage sludge survey noted toxic heavy metals, steroids and pharmaceuticals, including the antibacterials triclocarban and triclosan, in sewage sludge. According to Beyond Pesticides Daily News, the implications are significant: "Sewage sludge is widely recycled on agricultural lands and nonagricultural landscapes as fertilizer, and for land reclaiming and filling. The application of sewage sludge on terrestrial systems means that these antimicrobial compounds, as well as the host of other heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, hormones, organics and PBDEs found in this report may be absorbed by crops, earthworms and other soil organisms and find their way up the food chain and into human diets. Many of these chemicals, such as triclosan, are persistent and do not break down easily. Their effects on soil microorganisms are still not understood. Major questions remain, such as whether these compounds harm soil microbes, or aquatic life if leached into streams."

Sound ominous? Have no fear—the EPA maintains that it is not appropriate to speculate on the significance of the results at this time.

(Photo credit:jlj4774, flickr)

I’m not naming names, but I know a guy who won’t wipe his, er, tenders unless his Paul Bunyan-sized man paws are mummy wrapped in at least six layers of toilet paper. That's some extreme—and extremely wasteful—CYA germ control. All this after he carefully positions a cushy TP nest in the toilet, a safety net for, um, other things. Tsk, tsk! Mother Nature would disapprove, even if she did call.

Yeah, yeah. I’ve nagged you about reckless TP habits before. But never quite like this. So go ahead and balk—or gag—at my latest suggestion for greenwashing your hindquarters, but you've got to “hand” it to me for going where no other grogger (green blogger?) has gone before.

Ready? Here she blows: Just DIY. Skip the toilet paper altogether and go comm-hando!

Be like billions of brave souls around the world (India, the Middle East, the campground) and wipe with, yes, YOUR HAND, preferably the left one. Naturally, this is a last resort proposition, aimed at hardcore greenies willing to go the extra personal, extra sustainable mile to save the planet. Hey, survivalist Bear Grylls handles his waste stream (when he's not hot-tubbing at swanky resorts between takes).

Unfortunately, this brazen brand of hands-on cleanup requires more water (and effort) than flushable TP. Then there are the inevitable gobs of heavy-duty anti-bacterial hand sanitizers and soaps, most of which pack their own eco-drawbacks. Be sure to skip cleansers that contain triclosan, a potentially cancerous, hormone-meddling additive. Who knew Purell was so darn impure? Load up instead on CleanWell, a nontoxic, biodegradable germ-killer.

Already handling your business? Sure, I'm proud of you. But let's skip the high-five on this one, okay? Or, if you just can't swallow the handy wipe approach, but still want to taper your TP consumption, lean back and let this freaky toilet do the dirty work for you.

(Photo credit:Dominic's Pics, Flickr)