A new study says they may be linked to an increased risk of allergies in our children.
John's Hopkins researchers looked at data from a national health survey to examine the link.
They tested for the presence of IGE antibodies which are part of the body's immune system.
Their levels rise in response to an allergen.
Children with the highest levels of the antibacterial agent triclosan had more than twice the risk of food allergies and nearly twice the risk of environmental allergies.
Researchers reporting in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology believe their findings suggest that these chemicals may play a role in immune system development.
