According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) triclosan is "an ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. It may be found in products such as clothing, kitchenware, furniture, and toys. It also may be added to antibacterial soaps and body washes, toothpastes, and some cosmetics". While the effects triclosan has on humans are unknown, tests have caused "pretty scary reactions in animals", said Lindsey Rupp of Bloomberg News.
Triclosan is used by companies around the world; however, in recent years many European companies have been phasing out the chemical. Alliance Boots, a company merging with Walgreens, committed to phasing out triclosan several years ago. Mike Schade of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families stated, "There is a growing body of scientific evidence that has shown that triclosan is a chemical that is hazardous at very low levels of exposure". Even low levels of triclosan can be absorbed by the skin and enter the bloodstream. Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor which means it interferes with the hormones in your body. These hormones play an important part in regulating the body's systems and interference can lead to:
- infertility
- birth defects
- learning/developmental disabilities
- lower levels of thryoid & testerone
- weakened immune system
- breast cancer tumors
Recently, Colgate has been in the news for having triclosan in their "Colgate Total" toothpaste (after reading the ingredients I noticed that propylene glycol was also in the toothpaste, ew!). Colgate claims triclosan acts as a fluoride that helps to clean teeth and also differentiates their product from others on the market. However, I would rather find a natural alternative for a product used in my mouth. For example "Tom's of Maine: Clean & Gentle" toothpaste boasts naturally sourced ingredients, fluoride (without triclosan!), and glycyrrhizin (derived from licorice root) instead of sodium lauryl sulfate which foams and disperses ingredients.
While the FDA has yet to rule on the safety of triclosan I'd rather be safe rather than sorry. Plus there are alternatives for pretty much every personal care product on the market. My advice is to learn about the ingredients commonly found in your bathroom cabinet and makeup bag and to be aware of which are helpful and which are harmful.
For more information on this topic visit the link below for the video that prompted this post and from which I derived information and screenshots.
Click HERE to learn about Triclosan!
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