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Triclosan
Triclosan,
one of the most prevalent antibacterial compounds found in products, is
the focus of a campaign undertaken by a coalition of health and environmental
groups led by Beyond Pesticides, aimed at removing triclosan from the
market. Studies have increasingly linked triclosan (and its chemical cousin
triclocarban), to a range of adverse health and environmental effects,
from skin irritation, allergy susceptibility, bacterial, endocrine disruption
and compounded antibiotic resistant, tainted water, and dioxin contamination
to destruction of fragile aquatic ecosystems.
When introduced to
the market in 1972, triclosan was confined to hospital and health care
settings. Since then triclosan has exploded onto the market place in hundreds
of consumer products ranging from antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes,
cosmetics, fabrics, toys, and other household and personal care products.
Triclosan’s impact on the consumer market has been aided by the
false public perception that antibacterial products are best to protect
and safeguard against potential harmful bacteria. However, an article
in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, entitled "Consumer
Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky?" (2007), concludes
that antibacterial soaps show no health benefits over plain soaps. This
follows an 11-1 vote of the FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee
on October 20, 2005 on a statement that antibacterial soaps and washes
are no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections.
Research into triclosan’s health and environmental impacts is only
just underway, despite its widespread consumer use. Studies have found
that it persists in the environment, contributes to the increasing rates
of bacterial resistance, has endocrine disrupting properties and causes
adverse health problems in humans and wildlife species.
Resources
- Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water Watch petitioned EPA to ban triclosan for non-medical applications on the basis that those uses violate federal laws regulating pesticide registration, clean and safe drinking water, and endangered species. (January 2010)
- Triclosan Model Resolution. Get your municipality, institution or company to adopt this resolution to not buy porducts with triclosan and supporting broader elimination of non-medical uses. (March 2009)
- Past regulatory action.
- Factsheets:
- What’s Lurking in Your Soap? The Trouble with Triclosan. Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water Watch (March 2009)
- Triclosan: What the Research Shows. Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water Watch (March 2009)
- What's the Right Answer to the Germ Question? As children go back to school, protect them from germs without using hazardous chemicals in lunch bags,soaps and sanitizers. (August 2009)
- Beyond Pesticides Triclosan Factsheet. (October 2004)
- Triclosan Hazards...Continued. Trade group misleads on common antibacterial agent. (January 2005)
- Triclosan—a controversial antibacterial. Townsend letter for doctors and patients. (May 2006)
- Common Products Containing Triclosan.
In a new document, Transforming Government’s Approach to Regulating Pesticides to Protect Public Health and the Environment, grassroots priorities for the Obama Administration, Beyond Pesticides calls for the ban of the non-medical uses of the hazardous antibacterial triclosan. Show your support and comment and/or sign-on here.