How might the extensive use of antibacterial soap affect the evolution of bacteria?

Question

um like give details if u can!!!! thanx so much....if u have good sources to back it up that would b great!!!

Answer 1

Because the the transient flora (bad bacteria) will eventually build up a resistance to the soap. Eventually it will quit working! And it also kills some of the normal flora (good bacteria) too. It's really better to use regular soap so that bacteria doesn't become resistant!Between soaps and the over use of antibiotic medicine we are only hurting ourselves in the long run!

Answer 2

You already have some great answers but I have to chime in too. First, regular soap will remove bacteria from your hands, so there is really no need to engage in the risks involved with antibacterial soap or other products. Equally important, bacteria - even the "evil" ones - are not something to fear. We need to be exposed to them in order for our bodies to form antibodies and build immunity. There is such a thing as being TOO clean. If we are never exposed to the bad guys, our immune system will not be prepared to fight them off.

And yes, it's true, the bacteria that survive the treatment will produce generations that are resistent to antibiotics - a situation that has already occurred and is worsening.

So if you dropped your toast on the floor...pick it up, blow on it, and eat it. You'll be healthier, eh?

Answer 3

GREAT question! And a subject that people don't really think about. On the small scale, I live on acreage and we have a septic system. We cannot put antibacterial soap through our system because we NEED the bacteria to dissolve the other matter. It's VERY important.

Harmless and beneficial bacteria far outnumber harmful varieties. Because they are capable of producing so many enzymes necessary for the building up and breaking down of organic compounds, bacteria are employed extensively by humans, for soil enrichment with leguminous crops, for preservation by pickling, for fermentation (as in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, vinegar, and certain cheeses), for decomposition of organic wastes (in septic tanks, in some sewage disposal plants, and in agriculture for soil enrichment) and toxic wastes, and for curing tobacco, retting flax, and many other specialized processes. Bacteria frequently make good objects for genetic study: large populations grown in a short period of time facilitate detection of mutations, or rare variations.

Bacteria is a very important part of our ecology, and it would be a huge detriment if we destroyed it all.

Answer 4

That's a great question! I would have to say that more then likely it will not affect the evolution... I think one must take into consideration the planets population, its daily growth rate, and the amount of people that use the soap daily and the usage growth rate, then compare the two... With so many billions of people in the world its hard to imagine a very large part of them are using the soap... So i think it will not effect the evolution.... Great question!!!

Answer 5

Bacteria will inevitable evolve to become resistant to antibacterial substances. The E Coli bacteria used to be relatively harmless. It was human intervention that made it so bad for you.

Answer 6

The bacteria won't be able to survive due to the soap, so the ones wit the most resistance will survive the best, and in turn, they will reproduce, therfore producing even more soap resistant bacteria.

Answer 7

Bacteria are constantly evolving...They have become resistant to many antibiotics and antibacterials...We're breeding 'superbacteria'

http://www.nclnet.org/Resisttext.html