From soaps to sanitizers, triclosan can be found in a variety of beauty and hygiene products. Triclosan is known to be a germ-killing, antibacterial ingredient.
Popular as it may be, Minnesota has finalized a triclosan ban starting January 1, 2017. This legislation was passed by the state in May of this year, and Minnesota is the first state to ban the substance. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuously working on discovering triclosan's health hazards.
The FDA website states that triclosan is not considered to be hazardous to humans as of now. However, it acknowledges that there are animal studies showing that triclosan penetrates the skin and can cause hormone disruption. Due to this, the FDA has made it mandatory that any company manufacturing products using the chemical must provide evidence that it isn't harmful and that it has justifiable benefits for consumers. Otherwise, the product/s will not be approved and will be discontinued. The FDA has not officially banned the chemical, but is collecting evidence through extensive studies and reviews.
A number of health care experts also argue that triclosan is basically devoid of any added benefits; using the usual soap and water is enough to clean a person's hands.
According to biomedical engineer Colette Cozean, PhD, triclosan poses a number of concerns. Cozean is the CEO of medical device company Innovative BioDefense and reviewer for the National Institutes of Health. She notes that with triclosan, it takes a long time to kill bacteria. The recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is for antibacterial agents to kill germs in 15 seconds, but triclosan takes 1 minute to do the job.
Cozean also points out that, based on studies, triclosan might penetrate the skin and possibly cause hormonal disruption. The chemical is also linked to the weakening of the immune system. Completely wiping out bacteria could destroy the body's natural resistance.
