Toothpaste cancer alert

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Toothpaste cancer alert

 

This is LONDON (News and city section)

Mark Prigg Science Correspondent And Rebecca Lawrence, Evening Standard

 

Posted on 04/16/2005 6:33:14 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative

 

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