Toothpaste cancer alert = Colgate, Sensodyne, Mentadent, Aquafresh, Tesco

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http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/17956139?source=Evening%20Standard & ct=5

 

http://tinyurl.com/cy4js

 

Toothpaste cancer alertBy Mark Prigg Science Correspondent And RebeccaLawrence, Evening Standard

 

Dozens of toothpastes sold at supermarkets are at thecentre of a cancer alert today.

 

Anti-bacterial cleaning products, includingdishwashing liquid and handwash, are also affected.

 

Researchers have discovered that triclosan, a chemicalin the products, can react with water to producechloroform gas. If inhaled in large enough quantities,chloroform can cause depression, liver problems and,in some cases, cancer.

 

An Evening Standard investigation found dozens ofproducts on supermarket shelves containing thechemical, from brand names including Colgate,Aquafresh, Dentyl and Sensodyne.

 

Marks & Spencer confirmed today it was removingproducts containing triclosan from all its stores andhas been working with Greenpeace to developalternative products.

 

Asda said it was investigating the problem and wouldbe urgently talking to its suppliers.

 

Giles Watson, a toxicology expert at wildlife charityWWF, warned that the long-term effects of exposure tochloroform were still unknown and advised consumers tocheck the bottles before buying products.

 

"These products produce low levels of chloroform, butthat adds up over time. The amount of gas formed isvery low but I think the key thing is that we justdon't know what the effects are. However,manufacturers do have to list triclosan on theiringredients, so if consumers are worried the bestadvice is to avoid products with the chemical."

 

A Tesco spokesman said: "We do not use triclosan inany of our own-brand products, apart from oneanti-bacterial handwash, which is being reformulated,and our toothpaste. We

 

believe that triclosan is a very effective ingredientin toothpaste as it helps fight gum disease andimprove overall oral care."

 

The Department of Trade and Industry said use oftriclosan was tightly controlled under EU laws broughtin last year, but that they were under constantreview.

 

Researchers in the US found that the chlorine added towater in Britain reacted with

 

triclosan to

 

produce chloroform-gas. They found that it waspossible for the chloroform produced when soapcontaining the chemical mixes

 

with chlorinated water to be absorbed through the skinor inhaled.

 

Professor Peter Vikesland, of Virginia TechUniversity, who carried out the research, said: "Thisis the first work that we know of that suggests thatconsumer products, such as antimicrobial soap, canproduce significant quantities of chloroform." He hascalled for governments around the world to regulatethe chemical more closely.

 

Products affected

 

Triclosan is in:

 

Dentyl mouthwashColgate Total fresh stripeColgate TotalSensodyne Total CareTesco own brand toothpasteMentadent P; Aquafresh