New information raises questions about triclosan safety

Colgate Total toothpaste, the only brand containing triclosan, came under fire after the U.S. FDA released previously redacted research on its risks.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Triclosan made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks. New research on the risks on triclosan in personal care products, and newly released data on the FDA's original approval in triclosan in toothpaste, shined a less-than-flattering light on the controversial chemical.

• The Environmental Health News covered a new study from New York's SUNY-Downstate Medical Center showing that fully half of newborns in a study were exposed to triclosan in the womb, while triclosan also showed up in the urine and blood of the mothers.
  
  "Our study suggests that expectant mothers may be highly exposed to these compounds, which have endocrine-disrupting capabilities," said study coauthor Laura Geer, an environmental health scientist at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in New York
  
• The Bloomberg News shared new information on how the FDA granted approval for triclosan in Colgate Total toothpaste in 1997.
  
  As Mississippi Messages readers know, triclosan is a common additive in many soap products, and has been linked to a variety of public health and environmental health risks in recent years. Just this spring, Minnesota legislators voted to ban in soaps and body wash products effective January 1, 2017.
  
  The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is also reviewing the safety and effectiveness of triclosan based soaps. The agency had, until recently, refused to share with the public the research it relied on in making their decision. In response to a "Freedom of Information Act" request and follow-up inquiries from Bloomberg News, the FDA has finally shared that data.
  
  According to the Bloomberg News article:
  "The recently released pages, taken alongside new research on triclosan, raise questions about whether the agency did appropriate due diligence in approving [Colgate Total toothpaste] 17 years ago, and whether its approval should stand in light of new research..."
  
• Lastly, the Natural Resources Defense Council's Switchboard Blog highlights some of the public health risks of triclosan, and includes tips on how to reduce your exposure to triclosan-based products.
  
  The first item on their list? You guessed it: eliminate the use of antibacterial hand soaps.
  

Mississippi Messages readers are reminded to avoid using triclosan-based products and always look for safer alternatives. The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website & mobile app has excellent information on products that contain risky chemicals, including triclosan.