Antibacterial Soap Containing Triclosan Could Be Unsafe

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA) has acknowledged that there could be safety concerns regarding triclosan, an ingredient found widely in consumer products, such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste and cosmetics, clothing and toys.

In an update on the FDA website, the agency stated that triclosan is not currently known to be harmful to human beings; the FDA acknowledged that the agency is reviewing all of the available evidence on the safety of triclosan in consumer products, and that the findings of this review would be released to the public in the spring of 2011. The FDA statement also pointed out that the agency has no evidence that triclosan is any better than soap and water for cleaning purposes, but that it lacks sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan.

"Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans. But several scientific studies have come out since the last time FDA reviewed this ingredient that merit further review,” clarified the statement. "Animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation. However, data showing effects in animals don't always predict effects in humans. Other studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.”

"It's about time FDA has finally stated its concerns about antibacterial chemicals like triclosan,” said Sarah Janssen, M.D., a staff scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC; New York, NY, USA), a public health advocacy group. "The public deserves to know that these so-called antibacterial products are no more effective in preventing infections than regular soap and water and may, in fact, be dangerous to their health in the long run.”

Triclosan, a polychloro phenoxy phenol, is an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It is an ingredient in many detergents, dishwashing liquids, soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, antimicrobial creams, various toothpastes, and an additive in various plastics and textiles. However, beyond its use in toothpaste to prevent gingivitis, there is no evidence that triclosan provides an extra benefit to health in other consumer products; in fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has actually registered triclosan as a pesticide.

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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