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Triclosan

CATEGORY: Not classified

USED IN: Antibacterial personal care products, antimicrobial household products

Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent used in an increasing number of consumer products, including antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, antiperspirants, clothing, bedding and mouse pads. Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor, and research shows that it makes its way into household dust, wildlife, and human bodies, including breast milk.^[1],[2] One study found higher levels of triclosan in the milk and blood plasma of mothers who used personal care products with triclosan compared to mothers who did not.^[3]

A limited body of research has explored how triclosan affects breast cancer cells. The findings of various studies largely contradict each other, so the results are inconclusive.^[4],[5],[6] However, evidence does suggest that triclosan can affect aquatic wildlife^[7] and the hormonal systems of mice.^[8],[9],[10] Triclosan may have impacts on male and female hormones like testosterone and estrogen, and may also affect thyroid systems, which regulate weight and metabolism.^[11]

0. Canosa P, Rodriguez I, Rubi E, Cela R. 2007. Determination of parabens and triclosan in indoor dust using matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry, 79, 1675-1681.
0. Adolfsson-Erici M, Pettersson M, Parkkonen J, Sturve J. 2002. Triclosan, a commonly used bactericide found in human milk and in the aquatic environment in Sweden. Chemosphere, 46, 1485-1489.
0. Allmyr M, Adolfsson-Erici M, McLachlan MS, Sandborgh-Englund G. 2006. Triclosan in plasma and milk from Swedish nursing mothers and their exposure via personal care products. Science of the Total Environment, 372, 87-93.
0. Darbre PD 2006. Environmental oestrogens, cosmetics and breast cancer. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 20, 121-143.
0. Liu B, Wang Y, Fillgrove KL, Anderson, VE. 2002. Triclosan inhibits enoyl-reductase of type 1 fatty acid synthase in vitro and is cytotoxic to MCF-7 and SKBr-3 breast cancer cells. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 49, 187-193.
0. Gee RH, Charles A, Taylor N, Darbre PD. 2008. Oestrogenic and androgenic activity of triclosan in breast cancer cells. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 28, 78-91.
0. 4. Adolfsson-Erici M, Pettersson M, Parkkonen J, Sturve J. 2002. Triclosan, a commonly used bactericide found in human milk and in the aquatic environment in Sweden. Chemosphere, 46, 1485-1489.
0. Kumar V, Chakraborty A, Kural MR, Partha (2009). Alteration of testicular steroidogenesis and histopathology of reproductive system in male rats treated with triclosan.
0. Zorilla LM, Gibson EK, Jeffay SC, Crofton KM, Setzer WR, Coper RL, Stoker TE. 2009. The effects of triclosan on puberty and thyroid hormones in male wistar rats. Toxicological Sciences, 107, 56-64.
0. Ahn KC, Zhao B, Chen J, Cherednichenko G, Sanmarti E, Denison MS, Lasley B, Pessah IN, Kultz D, Chang DPY, Gee SJ, Hammock BD. 2008. In Vitro biologic activities of the antimicrobials triclocarban, its analogs and triclosan in bioassay screens: Receptor-based bioassay screens. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(9).
0. Zorilla LM, Gibson EK, Jeffay SC, Crofton KM, Setzer WR, Coper RL, Stoker TE. 2009. The effects of triclosan on puberty and thyroid hormones in male wistar rats. Toxicological Sciences, 107, 56-64.