Triclosan - Toothpaste Cancer Alert

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

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Toothpaste cancer alert

By Mark Prigg Science Correspondent And Rebecca

Lawrence, Evening Standard

 

Dozens of toothpastes sold at supermarkets are at the

centre of a cancer alert today.

 

Anti-bacterial cleaning products, including

dishwashing liquid and handwash, are also affected.

 

Researchers have discovered that triclosan, a chemical

in the products, can react with water to produce

chloroform gas. If inhaled in large enough quantities,

chloroform can cause depression, liver problems and,

in some cases, cancer.

 

An Evening Standard investigation found dozens of

products on supermarket shelves containing the

chemical, from brand names including Colgate,

Aquafresh, Dentyl and Sensodyne.

 

Marks & Spencer confirmed today it was removing

products containing triclosan from all its stores and

has been working with Greenpeace to develop

alternative products.

 

Asda said it was investigating the problem and would

be urgently talking to its suppliers.

 

Giles Watson, a toxicology expert at wildlife charity

WWF, warned that the long-term effects of exposure to

chloroform were still unknown and advised consumers to

check the bottles before buying products.

 

" These products produce low levels of chloroform, but

that adds up over time. The amount of gas formed is

very low but I think the key thing is that we just

don't know what the effects are. However,

manufacturers do have to list triclosan on their

ingredients, so if consumers are worried the best

advice is to avoid products with the chemical. "

 

A Tesco spokesman said: " We do not use triclosan in

any of our own-brand products, apart from one

anti-bacterial handwash, which is being reformulated,

and our toothpaste. We

 

believe that triclosan is a very effective ingredient

in toothpaste as it helps fight gum disease and

improve overall oral care. "

 

The Department of Trade and Industry said use of

triclosan was tightly controlled under EU laws brought

in last year, but that they were under constant

review.

 

Researchers in the US found that the chlorine added to

water in Britain reacted with

 

triclosan to

 

produce chloroform-gas. They found that it was

possible for the chloroform produced when soap

containing the chemical mixes

 

with chlorinated water to be absorbed through the skin

or inhaled.

 

Professor Peter Vikesland, of Virginia Tech

University, who carried out the research, said: " This

is the first work that we know of that suggests that

consumer products, such as antimicrobial soap, can

produce significant quantities of chloroform. " He has

called for governments around the world to regulate

the chemical more closely.

 

Products affected

 

Triclosan is in:

 

Dentyl mouthwash

Colgate Total fresh stripe

Colgate Total

Sensodyne Total Care

Tesco own brand toothpaste

Mentadent P;

Aquafresh