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 and Food & Water
Watch, 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 a recommendation by the FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee
on October 20, 2005 in 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.
Johnson & Johnson to Phase Out Triclosan. Health care and cosmetics giant Johnson and Johnson has announced that it will soon begin phasing out a number of potentially dangerous chemicals from its personal care brands, including triclosan. The company cites consumer concern over the safety of triclosan as among its reasons for the alteration in its products, hinting that it was uncomfortable with growing body of science linking triclosan to a number of health concerns. The phase out is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2015.
Canada Declares Triclsoan Toxic to the Environment. The Canadian government declared triclosan toxic to the environment, a move which would see the use of the chemical curtailed sharply in Canada. The draft risk assessment found triclosan to be toxic to the environment but did not find enough evidence to say it is hazardous to human health. A toxic designation under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act triggers a process to find ways to curtail a chemical’s use, including a possible ban in a range of personal-care products.
Video: Triclosan 101. Allison Aiello, PhD discusses the antibacterial ingredient triclosan,
its efficacy, and potential health impacts as part of the Pesticides and
Health Panel at "Healthy Communities: Green solutions for safe
environments," Beyond Pesticides' 30th National Pesticide Forum, March
30-31, 2012, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
From PRI: Triclosan Safety Questioned. Public Radio International's Living on Earth (download the show) recently interviewed Beyond Pesticides about the toxic antibacterial agent triclosan, which is found in many consumer products like toothpaste, countertops and children’s toys. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was also interviewed.
Resources
Sign
the Pledge. Join the campaign to end the consumer use of
Triclosan.
Triclosan
Model Resolution. Get your municipality, institution or company
to adopt this resolution to not buy products with Triclosan and supporting
broader elimination of non-medical uses.
Regulatory
and Policy. The latest information and history on legal procedures
to ban consumer uses of Triclosan.
Find Triclosan-free
products from a list of
companies who have already signed the pledge to be Triclosan-free.
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, Center for Environmental Health and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics urges Bath and Body Works to stop selling Triclosan products. With flavors like “tangelo orange twist,” and “sugar lemon fizz,” popular body care chain, Bath and Body Works, has marketed an entire line of antibacterial body care products to teens and young adults. Unfortunately, these products contain the toxic hormone disruptor and water contaminant, Triclosan, which could be hazardous to teenagers whose bodies are still developing. Join us in asking Bath and Body Works to stop selling Triclosan products that claim to “Spread Love, Not Germs.”
Overwhelming support for the petition to ban Triclosan.
Over 10,000 individuals told EPA, via email and docketed comments, to
ban the dangerous antibacterial Triclosan. Additionally, scores of public
health and advocacy groups, local state departments of health and the
environment, as well as municipal and national wastewater treatment
agencies submitted comments requesting an end to Triclosan in consumer
products. EPA published the petition for public comment in December
2010 and closed the comment period on April 8, 2011. Beyond Pesticides
once again urged the agency to ban the uses of Triclosan in consumer
products citing risks to human and environmental health.
Act by April 8, 2011. Let EPA know that it's time to ban Triclosan.
EPA has extended the comment period for another 60 days to April 8,
2011.Your voice is critical in generating public comments on a petition,
published in the Federal Register, to ban the antibacterial chemical
Triclosan. As you may know, this chemial, now found in the bodies of
75% of the US population, is linked to endocrine disruption, bacterial
and antibiotic resistance, dioxin contamination, and contaminated fish
and biosolids.
EPA announced a 60-day public comment period for the petition
filed by Beyond Pesticides and Food and Water Watch to ban the controversial
antimicrobial pesticide Triclosan for non-medical use. The petition,
filed on January 14, 2010, identifies pervasive and widespread use of
Triclosan and the agency's failure to address Triclosan's impacts on
human and environmental health, conduct assessments for residues in
drinking water and food and concerns related to antibacterial resistance
and endocrine disruption. The petition cites various violations of numerous
environmental statues including the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking
Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Comments are accepted until April 8, 2011 at www.regulations.gov.
Direct comments to docket number: EPA–HQ–OPP–2010–0548.
When commenting, please specify the statute to which your comments refer
(FIFRA, FFDCA, SDWA, CWA, or ESA) and the specific issue(s) raised in
the petition regarding that statute on which you are commenting. (December,
2010)
Congresswoman
Urges FDA to Ban Triclosan. House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise
M. Slaughter and two colleagues asked
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban Triclosan due to
the hazards that this chemical poses, including antibiotic resistance
and potentially leading to higher health care costs, citing both Beyond
Pesticides and Food and Water Watch's petition currently pending before
the agency (November 2010).
Newly
released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) finds that levels of Triclosan in humans have increased by 50%
since 2004 (August 2010).
Beyond
Pesticides tells FDA that Triclosan is too hazardous to the aquatic
environment. In response to the agency's request for environmental
data regarding tricosan's use in certain over the counter products,
Beyond Pesticides and others reminded the agency that it must recognize
that significant adverse environmental impacts will occur with continued
Triclosan use (May 2010).
FDA says, "existing
data raise valid concerns" regarding exposure to Triclosan. FDA
is considering action in light of a petition
submitted by Beyond Pesticides, and others, and in response to a letter
from Rep. Markey (April 2010).
Beyond Pesticides,
Food & Water Watch and more than 80 organizations petitioned
EPA to ban Triclosan for non-medical applications on the basis that
uses violate federal laws regulating pesticides, clean and safe drinking
water, and endangered species (January 2010).
Looking for a product
free of Triclosan? Find one from a
list of companies that have signed the pledge to be Triclosan-free.
Take Action! Learn how you can help end the unnecessary use of this
toxic antibacterial chemical. Stay in the loop on Triclosan and
other issues by joining us on Facebook.
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 and Food & Water
Watch, 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.