Cosmetic Ingredient Awareness: triclosan

May 4, 2011

Krystal C.

When I was on the iVi Scents website (non-toxic bath and body products) looking into making a purchase, I noticed their free-of's list included triclosan. I had no idea what this was and had never heard of it prior to seeing it on their site. So I made a virtual trip to Wikipedia and I found a LOT of useful information - I highly encourage you read this in it's entirety, it is very interesting stuff!

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent.
Despite being used in many consumer products, beyond its use in toothpaste to prevent gingivitis, there is no evidence according to the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that triclosan provides an extra benefit to health in other consumer products. Triclosan safety is currently under review by the FDA.
Triclosan has been used since 1972, and it is present in soaps (0.10-1.00%), deodorants, toothpastes, shaving creams, mouth washes, and cleaning supplies.
In the United States, manufacturers of products containing triclosan must indicate it on the label.
Triclosan has been shown to be effective in reducing and controlling bacterial contamination on the hands and on treated products.
The use of triclosan in household antibacterial products introduces the chemical to surface waters where it can form dioxins. The dioxin compound that formed when triclosan degraded in sunlight was shown in a study by University of Minnesota researchers not to be of public health concern. Dioxin is not one compound, but a family of compounds of widely ranging toxicity. Of the 210 dioxin and furan family compounds, only 17 are considered to be of public health concern.
In 2003, the Scottish Sunday Herald newspaper reported that some UK supermarkets and other retailers were considering phasing out products containing triclosan.
A 2010 study linked triclosan usage in children with the development of allergies, suggesting that children with higher exposure to triclosan are more frequently diagnosed with allergies. Other studies have linked triclosan to allergic contact dermatitis in some individuals.
Reports have suggested that triclosan can combine with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform , which the United States Environmental Protection Agency classifies as a probable human carcinogen. As a result, triclosan was the target of a UK cancer alert, even though the study showed that the amount of chloroform generated was less than amounts often present in chlorinated drinking waters.
Triclosan also reacts with the free chlorine in tap water to produce lesser amounts of other compounds, like 2,4-dichlorophenol. Most of these intermediates convert into dioxins upon exposure to UV radiation (from the sun or other sources). Although small amounts of dioxins are produced, there is a great deal of concern over this effect, because some dioxins are extremely toxic and are very potent endocrine disruptors. They are also chemically very stable, so that they are eliminated from the body very slowly (they can bioaccumulate to dangerous levels), and they persist in the environment for a very long time.
A comprehensive analysis from the University of Michigan School of Public Health indicated that plain soaps are just as effective as consumer-grade antibacterial soaps with triclosan in preventing illness and removing bacteria from the hands.
(courtesy of Wikipedia)

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May 4, 2011

Krystal C.

O no, that's not good - I'm glad you are aware of ingredient's now. I hope you're able to pinpoint which ingredient effected you.

May 5, 2011

Shelly T.

http://personalcaretruth.com/2011/03/triclosan-why-you-should-use-it-and-why-it-should-be-banned/