Question

We live in a society that is striving for all our surfaces to be sterile. Just think about it, we have Lysol and antibacterial soap and even washcloths and dishrags that have antibacterial chemicals added to prevent the growth of microbes. What are the potential benefits or problems with this approach? Discuss at least one benefit and one problem.

Answer 1

Benefits of using antibacterial chemicals in various household products like Lysol , washcloths and dishrags provide protection to the body against those "bad guys" which enter the body and can cause severe disease. As the environment is flooded with lots and lots of dangerous bacteria , a person with weak immune system is easily prone to disease. Use of such antibacterial chemicals will help check the entry of unhealthy microbes in the body.

One problem using these antibacterial products too often is that their continued usage can give rise to resistant mutant strains of bacteria which have no effect of killing by the antibacterial chemicals. Some bacteria die will few will be capable of surviving because they are mutated strains and have resistance towards these antibiotics rendering these antibacterial chemicals uneffective.

They can also kill the healthy bacteria of the skin.

Hope it helps you.