In addition to hand sanitizers, the antibacterial and antifungal ingredient triclosan can be found in many soaps, deodorants, mouthwash, toothpaste, and other products. But Google triclosan, and you're likely to find just as many articles about the dangers as you do about the products. Oh, and the other thing? If you're washing your hands or body with a triclosan-containing cleanser, it doesn't even work any better than regular soap and water.
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| Personal care products containing triclosan Source: Beyond Pesticides |
Triclosan History
Triclosan (also called triclocarban) is a synthetic antbacterial and antifungal pesticide that has been around since 1969, and was first used in hospital settings in the 1970s. For those of you with a chemistry background, it's a chlorinated aromatic compound with functional groups of phenols and ethers. Triclosan is fat-soluble and can easily cross cell membranes. Once inside the cell, triclosan poisons a specific enzyme that many bacteria and fungi need for survival.
In addition to its uses in personal care items, triclosan is also used in institutional and industrial equipment applications where it is incorporated into conveyor belts, fire hoses, dye bath vats, ice-making equipment, and HVAC coils.
Triclosan is also used as a preservative in many products including adhesives, fabrics, vinyl, plastics, toys, toothbrushes, floor wax, footwear, clothing, sealants, carpeting, and many others.
Triclosan 101
- Typical triclosan concentrations in personal care products are 0.15 to 0.3%. Most triclosan is absorbed into the human body through the skin and lining of the mouth.
- Worried about cold and flu season? Keep in mind that those are usually caused by viruses; triclosan is an antibacterial and has no effect on viral illnesses.
- 75% of humans have triclosan in their bodies; it is found in human blood, urine, and breast milk. People who use it in personal care products have higher levels.
Human Health Effects
- Allergies: killing "good" bacteria can open the door to the development of allergies. This finding is tied to the broader "Hygiene hypothesis," which purports that early childhood exposure to common pathogens is essential in building healthy immune responses. Lack of such exposure, according to the theory, can lead to an overactive immune system that misfires against harmless substances such as food proteins, pollen or pet dander. Killing bacteria with synthetic pesticides such as triclosan may disrupt the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria and lead to dysregulation of the immune system.
- Asthma: triclosan may make asthmatics even more sensitive to environmental allergens.
- Hormone disruption: animal studies show that these chemicals can interfere with hormones critical for normal development and function of the brain and reproductive system. Triclosan has also been associated with lower levels of thyroid hormone and testosterone, which could result in altered behavior, learning disabilities, or infertility. Triclocarban has been shown to artificially amplify the effects of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, which could promote the growth of breast and prostate cancer.
- Cancer: animal studies show a possible relationship between triclosan and breast cancer and liver cancer. This great overview discusses the evidence and makes the point that research into triclosan's potential to cause cancer in humans is needed.
- Antibiotic resistance: some studies have reported that the use of triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. This is because antibacterial products do not kill all bacteria and germs they come into contact with; the strongest survive, mutate, and become more and more resistant to treatment.
Who Regulates Triclosan?
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates triclosan-containing products if they will be used on the human body. Products are considered to be drugs if they make a health claim such as "kills germs;" if they make a claim like "improves skin" they are considered to be cosmetics.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates other products like bathroom cleaners.
In light of questions raised by recent animal studies of triclosan, both agencies are reviewing evidence of this ingredient's safety in consumer products. In December 2013, the FDA issued a news release stating that manufacturers of triclosan-containing personal care products must provide data showing safety and efficacy if they want the products to stay on the market. (For a great overview of the inadequacies of the regulatory process, read this article from Bloomberg.)
In the meantime, the official regulatory stance is that "triclosan is not known to be hazardous to humans (and) FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time."
Still, some companies, like Proctor and Gamble, are banning triclosan from its personal care products. Others like Colgate Palmolive (makers of Colgate Total, the only toothpaste with triclosan and the topic of much debate) maintain that the benefits outweigh any potential risks, and that the research is inconclusive.
And for my friends in Minnesota, triclosan will be banned in 2017!
Here's a great timeline...you can also see it here.
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| Source: Bloomberg |
What You Can Do...
- Well your mom was right...wash your hands. Here's a quote directly from the FDA:
"At this time, FDA does not have evidence that triclosan added to antibacterial soaps and body washes provides extra health benefits over soap and water. Consumers concerned about using hand and body soaps with triclosan should wash with regular soap and water."
- Read the labels: Triclosan is also called Microban, Irgasan, Lexol, Ster-Zac, Cloxifenolum, and Biofresh.
- Avoid products that say "antibacterial" or "antimicrobial"
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if you do not have access to soap and running water (but be careful your little ones don't drink it or lick it!).
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