THE SAFER PATH
Toxins Lurking in Your Soap
By Laurine Brown

School is back in session, and classrooms are packed with sneezers, coughers and runny noses. We share germs as we congregate. We spread infections. Antimicrobial soaps and disinfectants may sound like a good weapon. But chemicals in these products may be no better than soap and water, and may actually do more harm than good. What's the rub?
What is Triclosan?
The antimicrobial chemical most commonly seen in soaps, sanitizers and other consumer products is triclosan. Introduced in 1972 as a surgical scrub, triclosan's uses were originally confined to health care settings. But recently triclosan has exploded onto the consumer market in a wide array of products advertised as “healthier”, like antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, cosmetics, and even things you'd never expect, like lunchboxes, socks, and kids' toys. Triclosan is called a broad-spectrum pesticide by the US EPA and is most often used to kill bacteria on the skin and other surfaces, though it is sometimes used to preserve the products against deterioration due to microbes. Trade names are Microban® and Biofresh®.
No Benefits
Claiming that products containing this antibacterial substance promote good health is misleading. These products may be useful in hospital settings or for people with weakened immune systems because they can inhibit bacterial growth. However, in 2005 an FDA advisory panel of experts found they were no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections in home settings.
Many Risks
Triclosan exposure has become so common that it has shown up in the blood, urine, and breastmilk of people worldwide. Even people who don't use triclosan on their skin are exposed to it through food, water, and even household dust. Despite its wide-spread use, triclosan's health and environmental impacts are only now being studied, but a recent review of over 60 studies suggests considerable cause for concern.
First, such zealous use of triclosan can contribute to stronger germs and less effective antibiotics. By killing some, but not all bacteria, widespread use can lead to resistant strains and cross resistance with antibiotics. This means its use in household products can actually contribute to larger and stronger germ problems. Because of this, as early as 2000, the American Medical Association recommended avoiding use of triclosan in consumer products.
Other human health concerns range from skin irritation or eczema to hormone disruption and even cancer. For example, studies have linked triclosan to increased allergies in children. Studies in lab animals suggest it may alter reproduction, disrupt thyroid hormones and impair cell development. Additionally, triclosan has estrogenic and androgenic hormone properties and could fuel breast cancer. Because over 95% of the uses of triclosan cause it to be washed down the drain, it contaminates waterways and it accumulates in the environment. Unfortunately, it is toxic to aquatic life, yet it is a frequent contaminant of streams and rivers, according to US Geological Surveys. Furthermore, when triclosan reacts with sunlight and chemicals like chlorine in water, it can produce highly toxic chemicals like dioxin and chloroform. These toxins come right back to us in our water and food. Who would have thought washing our hands could be so risky?
What You Can Do
When used in hospitals and other health care settings, or for people with weakened immune systems, triclosan may be helpful. But outside these settings, it offers no additional benefit over good old soap and water, yet it carries numerous health and environmental risks. European countries have taken the lead in restricting triclosan's use and educating the public about alternatives, and currently some public health groups in the US are working to promote safer practices. Here are some guidelines for safer germ protection.

o Wash Hands Often with Plain Old Soap and Water. Regular soaps lower the surface tension of water, helping to wash away unwanted bacteria. Lather hands 20 seconds (long enough hum “Happy Birthday” twice) and then rinse in warm water. Dry hands, preferably with a paper towel or dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to shut off the faucet. If soap and water are not available, the Centers for Disease Control recommends using alcohol-based gel (at least 60% alcohol) to clean hands. When should you wash? Before prepar¬ing or eating food; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; after using the toilet or handling an animal or animal waste (or changing diapers); after handling garbage; and before and after treating a cut or wound or tending to someone who is sick.
o Avoid Products with Triclosan (or its chemical cousin, triclocarbon). Check ingredient lists of soaps, facial cleansers, exfoliants, acne medicines, toothpaste, cosmetics, deodorant and other personal care products. Similarly avoid plastics or fabrics, with Microban® or Biofresh®. Support companies (like Toms of Maine, Dr. Bronners, etc.) and retailers (like The Body Shop and Ikea) that do not use or sell triclosan products; See http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/triclosan.htm for more information. Some natural essential oils offer antimicrobial properties, including Australian tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, and pine oil (use as directed).
o Get Triclosan Out of Your Community. Encourage local schools, government agencies and religious institutions to use their buying power to go triclosan-free. See Beyond Pesticides www.beyondpesticides.org and Food and Water Watch www.foodandwaterwatch.org for more information on how.

References:
o Beyond Pesticides. “Triclosan: Recent Updates” Undated. Viewed 17 Sept 2010 @ http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/triclosan.htm
o Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water Watch. “What's Lurking in Your Soap? The Trouble with Triclosan.” March 2009. Viewed 17 Sept 2010 @ http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/triclosan-lurking-3-09.pdf.
o Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water Watch. “What's the Right Answer to the Germ Question?” August 2009. Viewed 17 Sept 2010 @ http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/backtoschool-flyer.pdf.
o Beyond Pesticides and Food & Water Watch. “Triclosan: What the Research Shows.” March 2009. Viewed 17 Sept 2010 @ http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/triclosan-research-3-09.pdf.
o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Clean Hands Save Lives.” 27 July 2010 @ http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/.
o Environmental Working Group. "Water Pollution Caused by Cosmetic Chemicals, Cleaning Supplies and Plastics: Triclosan" 2007-2010 Environmental Working Group. Viewed 20 Sept 2010 @ www.ewg.org/node/21840.
o Feldman J. “Ridding the World of Triclosan, One Sock at a Time.” Beyond Pesticides. 2008 June. Viewed 17 Sept 2010 @ http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/beyond_pesticides_ridding_the_world_of_triclosan_one_sock_at_a_time/#ixzz0zkGeYfAu
o Food and Drug Adnministration and Department of Health and Human Services. “Triclosan [CAS 3380-34-5]: Supporting Information for Toxicological Evaluation by the National Toxicology Program.” July 2008 @ http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/Chem_Background/ExSumPdf/triclosan_508.pdf.
o Glaser A. “The Ubiquitous Triclosan: A common antibacterial agent exposed.” Pesticides and You. Beyond Pesticides. Vol 24 No 3, 2004. Viewed 17 Sept 2010 @ http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/Triclosan%20cited.pdf.
US Environmental Protection Agency. “Pesticides Re:Registration, Triclosan Facts.” Mar 2010. Viewed 20 Sept 2010 @ http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/triclosan_fs.htm..