Originally published April 22 2005
Cleaning product chemical triclosan can produce a carcinogen when mixed with tap water, new study says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A team of researchers at Virginia Tech University say they have discovered that some household cleaning products – including soaps – create a cancer-causing gas when mixed with chlorine in tap water. Products that contain the chemical triclosan will react with chlorine in standard tap water to produce chloroform, a chemical classified by the federal government as a probable carcinogen. Triclosan is commonly found in antibacterial soap, toothpaste, cosmetics and other personal care products.
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.
Vikesland's work was reported in last week's on-line edition of Environmental Science & Technology's science news section.
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.
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 and possibly regulate the home use of antimicrobials such as triclosan.
"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.
Vikesland's research is funded by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF) and by a National Science Foundation (NSF) graduate research fellowship to Krista Rule, the lead student on the project.
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.
Even low levels of dioxin are a problem because of their tendency to accumulate along the food chain.
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