TRICLOSAN = MAKE YOUR OWN DETERMINATION

[Guest guest]

4 EXCELLENT ARTICLES/INFO BELOW.

I threw away my liquid hand soap in both bathrooms

with this Triclosan ingredient.

 

 

 

En-JOY.....

==============================================

 

 

 

 

 

[ AN ISSUE ONLY YOU CAN DETERME FOR YOURSELVES.

READ BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH: GOOGLE: " TRICLOSAN " ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

news/articles/17956139?source=Evening%20Standard & ct=5_

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

ct=5)

 

Toothpaste cancer alert

By Mark Prigg Science Correspondent And Rebecca Lawrence, Evening Standard

15 April 2005

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

=========================================================

_http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4406785_

(http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4406785)

Household Soap Agent Linked to Chloroform

 

By Karen Attwood, PA, The Scotsmam - UK, 04/15/05

 

A conservation charity today raised concerns over a common anti-bacterial

agent used in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and cosmetics which research suggests

could be harmful to health.

Triclosan is widely used in a range of consumer products because it offers

effective, long-lasting protection against bacteria, mould and yeast.

It has been on the market for about 30 years and it is estimated that

between 60 and 90 tonnes of the agent goes into consumer and household products

in

the UK each year.

Researchers in America have found triclosan reacts with chlorinated water to

produce significant quantities of chloroform.

The results are worrying as the formation of chloroform from triclosan is

classed as a probable human carcinogen, by experts.

The presence of chloroform in drinking water has been linked with human

bladder cancers, depression, liver problems and miscarriages. The effects of

long-term exposure are unknown.

The research carried out by Professor Peter Vikesland of the Virginia

Polytechnic Institute and State University was published on the Environment

Science

and Technology website last week.

Dr Giles Watson, toxics policy officer for WWF, is advising consumers to

check the bottles before buying products.

He said: “The new study looking at the unwanted by-products of triclosan when

it meets chlorinated water or sunlight adds weight to our long-held belief

that this is not the benign substance we are told it is by its manufacturers.

“Research has shown that triclosan builds up in the environment, has been

found to have contaminated human breast milk and is toxic to aquatic life.

“It is time that we moved away from using chemicals with these sorts of

properties.â€

==============================================================

_http://www.physorg.com/news3705.html_ (http://www.physorg.com/news3705.html)

 

Being too clean could be hazardous to your health and the environment

Physics Research News, 04/13/05

_http://www.physorg.com/_ (http://www.physorg.com/)

Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered that the use of antimicrobial

soaps and other products may unnecessarily be directly exposing consumers to

significant quantities of chloroform. Peter Vikesland, assistant professor in

civil and environmental engineering, has shown in his research that when the

chemical triclosan, present in many antimicrobial soaps, reacts with

chlorine in tap water, chloroform is produced. Chloroform is classified by the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a probable human carcinogen.

 

Triclosan is a synthetic antimicrobial agent, which is classified as a Class

III drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As the result of its

broad-spectrum bacteria-fighting ability, it has found increasingly popular use

in personal care products, cosmetics, antimicrobial creams, acne treatments,

lotions, hand soaps, and dish soaps. It is also used as an additive to

plastics, polymers, textile, and implantable medical devices. Triclosan is most

often used to kill bacteria on the skin and other surfaces and is sometimes

used to preserve a product, including food.

 

The American Medical Association (AMA) has been urging the FDA to closely

_monitor_ (http://www.physorg.com/news3705.html#) and possibly regulate the

home use of antimicrobials such as triclosan. The increasing popularity of

antimicrobial products has preceded the study of the possible harmful affects

of

the use of such products.

 

Past research has shown that chloroform is produced when free chlorine

reacts with organic material. " This is the first work that we know of that

suggests that consumer products, such as antimicrobial soap, can produce

significant quantities of chloroform, " said Vikesland. The implications of

these

reactions to consumers are not known. " There are numerous potential exposure

pathways that can be envisioned, such as inhalation and skin exposure, when

using

antimicrobial soaps to wash dishes or when taking a shower. There is also risk

of exposure when using triclosan laden moisturizers as they may also react

with chlorine in the water, " said Vikesland.

 

Vikesland and his associates have conducted research closely mimicking

conditions found when washing dishes in the home. The results show that it is

possible that the chloroform produced when the antimicrobial soap containing

triclosan mixes with chlorinated water could be absorbed through your skin or

inhaled. Vikesland's research is funded by the American Water Works Association

Research Foundation (AWWARF) and by a National Science Foundation (_NSF_

(http://www.physorg.com/news3705.html#) ) graduate research fellowship to

Krista

Rule, the lead student on the project.

 

Most of the consumer products that contain triclosan eventually end up being

discharged down residential drains. It has previously been shown by

researchers from the University of Minnesota that the photochemical reactions

of

triclosan could be producing dioxins in the presence of sunlight. Dioxins do

not

degrade over time and they can accumulate in body tissues to cause a greater

effect. Even low levels of dioxin are a problem because of their tendency to

accumulate along the food chain.

 

Vikesland's work was reported in last week's on-line edition of

Environmental Science & _Technology's_ (http://www.physorg.com/news3705.html#)

science

news section

(_http://pubs.acs.org//journals/esthag-w/2005/apr/science/kb_chlorine.h\

tml_

(http://pubs.acs.org//journals/esthag-w/2005/apr/science/kb_chlorine.ht\

ml) ).

 

Source: Virginia Tech

===============================================================

 

_http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109 & STORY=/www/story/04-15-

2005/0003396630 & EDATE_

(http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109 & STORY=/www/story/04-15-20\

05/0003396630 & EDATE) =

 

Antibacterial Research Should Be Focused on Facts, Not Fear

 

The Soap and Detergent Association, Public Relations News Wire

 

Triclosan-Containing Cleaning Products Have 30+ Year Track Record of Safety,

Effectiveness, Says SDA

 

WASHINGTON, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest attacks on effective germ-

killing products are more about hype and headlines than real-world science,

according to The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA).

SDA, the trade association for the U.S. cleaning products industry,

expressed disappointment at Virginia Tech publicity materials promoting

recent

antibacterial-related laboratory research, with headlines like, " Being Too

Clean Could Be Hazardous to Your Health and the Environment. "

" Headlines such as these are way over the top and denigrate efforts to

rationally discuss scientific research in the public arena, " said SDA in a

statement.

The research in question suggests consumers' usage of antibacterial

cleaning and hygiene products leads to exposure to quantities of chloroform.

The researcher alleges that chloroform is created when the antibacterial

ingredient triclosan comes into contact with chlorine in tap water.

 

SDA points out that:

 

* Under usual conditions of municipal drinking water conditioning and

chlorination, no triclosan would be present and, consequently, reaction

products cannot be formed at the point of chlorination. The researchers

themselves exclude any risks associated with the drinking water supply.

 

* Chlorine concentration in domestic water supplies is generally far below

water-treatment scenarios described in the laboratory experiments.

Maximum chlorine concentrations, as well as the chloroform

concentrations, are regulated to low levels at the tap, eliminating any

potential problem in the household.

 

* This research does not raise new concerns for producers or users of

antimicrobial household products. However, it is strongly advised that

chlorine cleaners and disinfectants must not be used in combination with

other cleaners to avoid degradation -- as indicated on the product

labels.

 

* Triclosan has been used safely and effectively in hygiene products for

more than three decades and is comprehensively regulated by authorities

nationally and around the globe. Consumers can continue to use these

products with confidence.

 

* Cleanliness is especially important in view of the latest research in

the New England Journal of Medicine(1) (Fridkin, et. al.) indicating

staph infections that once targeted hospital patients or those in poor

health are starting to hit the community at-large -- people out and

about, not in the hospital, and who are otherwise healthy.

 

-- Dr. Philip Tierno, an infectious disease expert at New York

University Medical Center, expressed his concern in

news reports(2) by stating that these cases " are so serious, that

almost a quarter of the infections, of which most are skin

infections, require hospitalization. "

 

-- " This is the time to use antibacterial soaps if there were ever a

time, " Dr. Tierno was quoted as saying.

 

In conclusion, SDA expressed its hope that " researchers and their

publicity departments would practice some discretion in how they market

their

research. Stoking groundless fears detracts from rational scientific

discussion that is too often lacking in today's 24/7 media culture. "

Additional weblinks: SDA Antibacterial Information page:

_http://www.cleaning101.com/antibacterial_

(http://www.cleaning101.com/antibacterial)

 

The Soap and Detergent Association (_http://www.cleaning101.com_

(http://www.cleaning101.com/) ), the U.S.

Home of the Cleaning Products Industry(SM), is the non-profit trade

association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and

institutional cleaning products; their ingredients and finished packaging;

and

oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the

cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street,

NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.

 

(1) Fridkin et al., (2005) Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Disease in Three Communities, New England Journal of Medicine, 352:1436-1444.

(2) Dr. Mike Rosen, " Resistant staph spread, " April 7, 2005, WTNH-TV (New

Haven, CT) website,

_http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=3181005 & nav=0RdXYPDa_

(http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=3181005 & nav=0RdXYPDa)

 

 

 

SOURCE The Soap and Detergent Association

Web Site: _http://www.cleaning101.com_ (http://www.cleaning101.com/)

_http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=3181005 & nav=0RdXYPDa_

(http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=3181005 & nav=0RdXYPDa)

 

 

 

 

 

 

------------------------

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME ON THIS PLANET WHERE SO FEW WILL DO SO MUCH FOR

SO MANY

 

" The practice of discernment is part of higher consciousness. Discernment is

not just a step up from judgment. In life's curriculum, it is the opposite

of judgment. Through judgment a man reveals what he needs to confront and

learn. Through discernment, one reveals what he has mastered. " Quote from:

Love

Without End, by Glenda Green

---------------

---------------

..

..