Deodorant, shaving cream, toothpaste, trash cans, clothing, cutting boards, credit cards: These are just a few of the ways consumers can come into contact with triclosan. A growing body of evidence suggests that it can be harmful. Should you be concerned?
Triclosan, an antibacterial and antimicrobial chemical, has been used in personal care products and as a pesticide for decades. Scientists in recent years have stepped up their research into its potential health risks, says University of Maine biochemist Julie Gosse, PhD.
Gosse has published studies on triclosan’s effects on mitochondria — cell components that play a role in human reproduction and other functions. “We know that it harms mitochondria, and we know that mitochondria function is essential for reproduction, and we know that triclosan affects reproduction,” she says.
The EPA, which has authority over its use in products such as toys and textiles, assessed triclosan in 2008 to find out if it harms human health. It found nothing of concern.
The FDA banned the chemical’s use in antibacterial liquid soaps in 2016. It did the same last year for over-the-counter antiseptic products, such as hand washes and surgical scrubs, in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other health care settings. The agency banned it from antibacterial soaps because, it said, companies failed to prove triclosan was safe.
The FDA’s ban was limited, in part, because of the way products are regulated. Soaps that make antibacterial claims are considered over-the-counter drugs and subject to FDA approval. But the agency has different regulatory power over products considered cosmetics, such as shaving gels and lotions, in which triclosan may be used as a preservative. These products don’t have to gain FDA approval before being sold.
Research on Triclosan
So how much do consumers need to worry?
In a statement announcing the ban in antibacterial soaps, the FDA said manufacturers had not proved its safety or shown it offered better protection than soap and water. “Some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.” Potential health risks the agency cited were bacterial resistance and “hormonal effects.”
And a great deal of the research on the potential health impact of triclosan, including that done by Gosse, has been done on rodents and other animals. Few human studies have been done.
Schettler says that while we need more human data, it is important to look at animal studies. “We use animal studies all the time for predicting the effects of chemicals in people,” he says. Read more
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