"If something has a benefit and no harm, then you should probably use it. But if something has no benefit and potentially real harm, then you shouldn't. The latter is the case with antibacterial products”. (Carroll par. 1) Users of antibacterial products do not realize the harm that comes from them, harm that outweighs the benefits. When the first antibacterial product, penicillin, was invented in 1928, it was called a miracle. Online textbook of bacteriology pages 1-4) Deaths and diseases were reduced exponentially, and penicillin saved countless lives during World War II. There were many types of antibiotics in the 1970s, so we thought we “won the war against bacteria” . We had treated important bacteria such as tuberculosis, salmonella and pneumonia. However, antibiotics had to be used sparingly to preserve their effectiveness, but now we use them for almost every occasion. (Eyes of Nye; Meat without Drugs) The problems have been building since the 1970s and will continue to grow if we don't stop them now. However, some oppose this idea and want to continue using antibacterial products on a large scale. We must realize that antibacterial products harm the environment, ourselves and the effectiveness of antibiotics. We are spreading harmful chemicals, creating superbugs, and weakening our medicine. If we ignore this, there may not be a positive outcome for this situation. The condition of our environment is not positive at this time. First, chemicals including Triclosan (used in antibacterial soap) and sulfamethoxazole (used in antibiotics) are ending up in our water sources. This is creating irregularities in our aquatic environment, such as mutated fish. (USGS p. 1) A recent study by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency……half of the document……dh/eh/esa/hra. "Triclosan and drinking water". Triclosan and drinking water (2014). Minesota State Health. Minnesota Department of Health, March 2014. Web. May 25, 2014. "Drug-Free Meat: Sign the Petition!" Meat Without Drugs. Consumers Union & FixFood, 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. Rhodan, Maya. “Minnesota bans antibacterial triclosan.” Time. Time, May 19, 2014. Web. May 28, 2014. "Triclosan: Health Effects." Problems: Antibacterials: Triclosan: Health Effects - Beyond Pesticides. Beyond pesticides. Network. May 27, 2014. “U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” FDA Looks Closely at “Antibacterial” Soap. US Food and Drug Administration, 24 December 2013. Web. 11 May 2014.