BAC also impacts the digestive system. Studies have shown that exposure to small amounts of these antimicrobial substances, particularly BAC, can lead to an increase in colitis. Furthermore, exposure to BAC was discovered to enhance Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling in the systemic circulation by affecting intestinal barrier function, leading to increased amounts of bacterial products in the bloodstream. These findings indicate that commonly used antimicrobial agents may exacerbate the progression of inflammatory bowel disease and its related colon cancer .