Triclosan

By Milton Bertrand

Triclosan is a common ingredient that is added to more than 2000 personal care products. It is intended to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. These products include toothpaste, hand wash, deodorants, mouthwashes, bedding, clothes, carpets, toys, trash bags and others. In a study led by Dr. Jianhua Guo from University of Queensland's Advanced Water Management that triclosan could be contributing to antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial resistance has become a major problem to public health worldwide. It is estimated that 700,000 people die every year from antimicrobial-resistant infections. if no action is taken, this will reach 10 million deaths annually by 2050 [1].

"Wastewater from residential areas has similar or even higher levels of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes compared to hospitals, where you would expect greater antibiotic concentrations”, said Dr. Guo.

"While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of triclosan in antibacterial soap, the previous lack of unequivocal evidence prevented such a policy being adopted in other countries," Professor Yuan said [1]. The FDA ruling applies to consumer antiseptic wash products containing one or more of 19 specific active ingredients, including the most commonly used ingredients – triclosan and triclocarban. These products are intended for use with water and are rinsed off after use.  This rule does not affect consumer hand “sanitizers” or wipes, or antibacterial products used in health care settings [2].

In addition, it is worth noting that clothing, kitchenware, furniture, and toys are products that are not regulated by the FDA these procucts could still contain these ingredients [3].

In a previous published study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Colorado, triclosan hinders muscle contractions at a cellular level, slows swimming in fish and reduces muscular strength in mice [4].

"Triclosan is found in virtually everyone's home and is pervasive in the environment," said Isaac Pessah, professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Biosciences in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "These findings provide strong evidence that the chemical is of concern to both human and environmental health [4]."

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