From Toys to Toothpaste: Triclosan is Everywhere, but is It Safe?

Most people would rather have a cold or flu than a nasty bacterial infection that's incurable. Unfortunately, this is kind of the choice we're forced to make these days, as more and more research shows our overuse of antibacterial agents -- in consumer products, it's most commonly the ingredient triclosan -- contributes to the development of new "super bugs" that are resistant to antibiotics and antibacterials.

Triclosan is found in everything from Clearasil face wash and Colgate toothpaste to Playskool children's toys. Do we really need that much sterility? It makes sense to keep everything germ-free in a hospital setting where patients have compromised immune systems, but in our daily lives, according to the CDC, antibacterial products can lead to drug resistance, lower immunity and allergies. A recent study by the CDC detected triclosan in the urine of 75 percent of the people they tested.

In April, the FDA issued a statement regarding triclosan's health effects. In it, they note that triclosan alters hormone regulation in laboratory animals and may contribute antibiotic resistant bacteria. Although they state that the chemical does not currently present a health hazard, it does merit "further review" and they are currently reviewing the scientific evidence to determine its safety in consumer products. Some countries have already banned or limited the use of the chemical.

Perhaps most perplexing is why we use the chemical in the first place. Although it's been found to be useful to prevent gingivitis, overall, the FDA statement concludes that it "does not have evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit over washing with regular soap and water."

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has asked Walmart to stop stocking products that contain triclosan, but more needs to be done, since the harmful ingredient is found in 76 percent of soaps on the market (not to mention all of the other products in which it is an ingredient), without any evidence that it actually provides a benefit. The chemical also ends up in our lakes, rivers and waterways, where it can harm aquatic life.

Of course, consumers can forgo antibacterial hand soap in favor of plain old soap and water and check labels to make sure the soap and other cleaning products they use does not contain triclosan or any "anti-bacterial" or "anti-microbial" agents. But oftentimes, triclosan winds up in products that you'd never guess, like shoes and cutting boards.

The FDA should heed to the precautionary principle and remove the ubiquitous triclosan from consumer products. Without any real proven benefit and the potential for serious risk, we're unnecessarily exposing ourselves to a potential hormone disruptor and contributing to the creation of superbugs. Sign this petition telling the FDA to ban the unnecessary triclosan from consumer products.