Triclosan antibacterial found in soap in the spotlight

By Candy Lashkari

If a chemical is banned in other countries and by the European Union, it does merit a study by the FDA, even if there is no existing study to suggest that it is harmful to humans. While there may be no current evidence available that triclosan is hazardous to humans, it has been linked to hormone alterations in animals.

Triclosan is a chemical found in antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers, toothpastes, children’s toys, and other consumer goods, including socks. Even though FDA scientists had studied the chemical in 1997, the results of that study merely found that it enhanced toothpaste.

Congressman Edward Markey, D-Mass has been actively asking the FDA and the Environment Protection Agency to ban triclosan from being used in personal hygiene products and children’s toys. "Despite the fact that this chemical is found in everything from soaps to socks, there are many troubling questions about triclosan's effectiveness and potentially harmful effects, especially for children," Markey said.

Markey has been campaigning for a ban on using triclosan in soaps, any products designed for children, and any product which comes in contact with food, such as chopping boards. "The proliferation of triclosan in everyday consumer products is so enormous, it is literally in almost every type of product -- most soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics, clothes and toys," Markey said. "It's in our drinking water, it's in our rivers and as a result, it's in our bodies. . . . I don't think a lot of additional data has to be collected in order to make the simple decisions about children's toys and soaps that people use. It clearly is something that creates a danger."

Brian Sansoni of the Soap and Detergent Association defended the use of the chemical triclosan by saying the concerns were unfounded. The $30 billion U.S. cleaning products industry has been using the chemical for more than three decades.

"These products and ingredients have been reviewed, regulated and researched for decades," said Brain Sansoni. "We believe the science strongly supports the safety and efficacy of these products. It's more important than ever that consumers continue to have access to these products. It's a time of increased threats from disease and germs."

Doug Throckmorton, deputy director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research had this to add to the matter, “For triclosan, the science is changing," Throckmorton said. "Based on what we know, we don't have evidence to suggest this chemical is a threat to human health. However, we have to understand better the health effects and we have to work with other agencies to collect that information and then decide whether or not we need to change how it's regulated”

It has also been alleged that triclosan increases bacterial resistance to antibiotics. In view of the fact that many experts feel that soap containing triclosan does little extra to remove bacteria than a soap which does not have the chemical, it may be better to do away with it altogether.