tag:theconversation.com,2011:/us/topics/triclosan-11583/articlesTriclosan – The Conversation2018-07-11T11:15:22Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/980632018-07-11T11:15:22Z2018-07-11T11:15:22ZTriclosan, often maligned, may have a good side — treating cystic fibrosis infections<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/226366/original/file-20180705-122274-zwsz42.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Antibiotic-resistant bacteria inside a biofilm.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-inside-biofilm-3d-733165693?src=S-PIB9t8jY1oDGnWwDSB3w-1-0">Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Maybe you’ve had the experience of wading in a stream and struggling to keep your balance on the slick rocks, or forgetting to brush your teeth in the morning and feeling a slimy coating in your mouth. These are examples of <a href="http://www.biofilm.montana.edu/biofilm-basics/index.html">bacterial biofilms</a> that are found anywhere a surface is exposed to bacteria in a moist environment.</p>
<p>Besides leading to falls in streams or creating unhealthy teeth, <a href="https://theconversation.com/unlocking-the-secrets-of-bacterial-biofilms-to-use-against-them-59148">biofilms</a> can cause large problems when they infect people. Biofilms, multicellular communities of bacteria that can grow on a surface encased in their own self-produced matrix of slime, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128002629000019?via%3Dihub">can block immune cells</a> from engulfing and killing the bacteria or prevent antibodies from binding to their surface. </p>
<p>On top of this, bacteria in a biofilm <a href="http://www.jbc.org/content/291/24/12565.long">resist being killed</a> by antibiotics due to the sticky nature of the matrix and activation of inherent resistant mechanisms, such as slow-growing cells or the ability to pump antibiotics out of the cell. </p>
<p>Biofilms are one of the primary growth modes of bacteria, but all antibiotics currently used clinically were developed against <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/4/5286/htm">free-swimming planktonic bacteria</a>. This is why they do not work well against biofilms. </p>
<p><a href="https://msu.edu/%7Ewatersc3/">My laboratory</a> studies how and why bacteria make biofilms, and we develop new therapeutics to target them. Because <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-018-0019-y">antibiotic resistance</a> is the most problematic aspect of biofilms during infections, we set out to identify novel molecules that could enhance antibiotic activity against these communities. </p>
<p>We discovered that an antimicrobial that has recently obtained a bad reputation for overuse in many household products could be the secret sauce to kill biofilms.</p>
<h2>The hunt for antibiotic superchargers</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/226772/original/file-20180709-122277-1xmz7kg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/226772/original/file-20180709-122277-1xmz7kg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/226772/original/file-20180709-122277-1xmz7kg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/226772/original/file-20180709-122277-1xmz7kg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/226772/original/file-20180709-122277-1xmz7kg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/226772/original/file-20180709-122277-1xmz7kg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/226772/original/file-20180709-122277-1xmz7kg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dr. Alessandra Agostinho Hunt measures biofilm formation of <em>Psuedomonas aerugionsa</em> by pipetting in the purple dye crystal violet to stain the microbial structure.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Derrick Turner/Michigan State University</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>To find such compounds, we developed an <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8412">assay</a> to grow plates of 384 tiny <a href="http://aac.asm.org/content/62/6/e00146-18.long">biofilms</a> of the bacterium <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1517/14728220903454988?journalCode=iett20"><em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em></a>. We did this to screen for molecules that enhance killing by the antibiotic <a href="https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_tobramycin_nebcin/drugs-condition.htm">tobramycin</a>. We chose this bacterium and this antibiotic as our test subjects because they are commonly associated with <a href="https://www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Daily-Life/Germs-and-Staying-Healthy/What-Are-Germs/Pseudomonas/">cystic fibrosis lung infections</a> and treatment.</p>
<p>People with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at particular risk from <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19374653">biofilm-based infections</a>. These infections often become chronic in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients and are often never cleared, even with aggressive antibiotic therapy.</p>
<p>After we screened 6,080 small molecules in the presence of tobramycin, we found multiple compounds that showed the antibiotic enhancement activity we were searching for. Of particular interest was the antimicrobial <a href="https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm205999.htm">triclosan</a> because it has been widely used in household products like toothpaste, soaps and hand sanitizers for decades, indicating that it had potential to be safely used in CF patients. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jat.1660">Triclosan</a> has also garnered a <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-dispense-with-antibacterial-soaps-65297">bad reputation</a> due to its overuse, and states like Minnesota have banned it from these products. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-dispense-with-antibacterial-soaps-65297">Food and Drug Administration banned</a> its use from hand soaps in September 2016. This ruling was not based on safety concerns, but rather because the companies that made these products did not demonstrate higher microbial killing when triclosan was added, compared to the base products alone.</p>
<p>Another fact that piqued our interest is that <em>P. aeruginosa</em> is resistant to triclosan. Indeed, treatment with either tobramycin or triclosan alone had very little activity against <em>P. aeruginosa</em> biofilms, but we found that the combination was 100 times more active, killing over 99 percent of the bacteria.</p>
<p>We further studied this combination and found that it worked against <em>P. aeruginosa</em> and other bacterial species that had been isolated from the lungs of CF patients. The combination also significantly enhanced the speed of killing so that at two hours of treatment, virtually all of the biofilm is eradicated. </p>
<p>Our efforts are now focused on pre-clinical development of the <a href="https://www.tobipodhaler.com/index.jsp?usertrack.filter_applied=true&NovaId=2935377102246013691">tobramycin-triclosan combination</a>. For CF, we envision patients will inhale these antimicrobials as a combination therapy, but it could also be used for other applications such as diabetic non-healing wounds. </p>
<p>Although questions about the safety of triclosan have emerged in the mainstream media, there are actually dozens of studies, including in humans, <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_166.pdf">concluding that it is well tolerated</a>, summarized in this extensive EU report from 2009. My laboratory completely agrees that triclosan has been significantly overused, and it should be reserved to combat life-threatening infections.</p>
<p>The next steps for development are to initiate safety, efficacy and pharmacological studies. And thus far, our own studies indicate that <a href="http://aac.asm.org/content/early/2018/04/10/AAC.00146-18.full.pdf+html">triclosan is well tolerated</a> when directly administered to the lungs. We hope that in the near future we will have enough data to initiate clinical trials with the FDA to test the activity of this combination in people afflicted with biofilm-based infections.</p>
<p>We think our approach of enhancing biofilm activity with the addition of novel compounds will increase the usefulness of currently used antibiotics. Learning about how these compounds work will also shed light on how bacterial biofilms resist antibiotic therapy.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/98063/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Chris Waters receives funding from the NIH, NSF, Michigan State University, and Hunt for a Cure Foundation to support this research.</span></em></p>Triclosan, an ingredient in soap and many household cleansers, has gained a bad reputation. A recent study looking for a way to boost an antibiotic, however, found that tricloscan did a great job.Chris Waters, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Michigan State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/974322018-05-30T18:21:39Z2018-05-30T18:21:39ZTriclosan, a common antimicrobial in toothpaste and other products, linked to inflammation and cancer in the gut<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220857/original/file-20180529-80637-rbu0il.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">An ingredient in toothpaste and other personal care products may be harming the microbes in our gut and leaving us vulnerable to disease.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dental-hygiene-man-holding-toothbrush-toothpaste-95637691?src=DE3eKOyPTZI3MFu8UdnKAQ-1-12">Ilya Andriyanov/shutterstock.com</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The antimicrobial chemical triclosan is in thousands of products that we use daily: hand soaps, toothpastes, body wash, kitchenware and even some toys. Work in our lab suggests that this compound may have widespread health risks, including <a href="http://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aan4116">aggravating inflammation in the gut and promoting the development colon cancer by altering the gut microbiota</a>, the community of microbes found in our intestines. </p>
<p>Our results, as far as we know, are the first to demonstrate that triclosan can promote the colonic inflammation and associated colon cancer in mice. This study suggests that health authorities must reassess regulation of triclosan for its effect on human health. That’s key because it is impossible to avoid contact with this chemical.</p>
<p>Triclosan is one of the most widely used antimicrobials and is incorporated in more than 2,000 consumer products. Millions of pounds of the chemical are used in the U.S. each year. The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm">National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey</a> showed that triclosan was detected in about <a href="http://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.10768">75 percent of the urine samples</a> of individuals tested in the United States and that it is among the <a href="http://doi.org/10.1021/es500495p">top 10 pollutants found in U.S. rivers</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220863/original/file-20180529-80640-1sobzhy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220863/original/file-20180529-80640-1sobzhy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220863/original/file-20180529-80640-1sobzhy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220863/original/file-20180529-80640-1sobzhy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220863/original/file-20180529-80640-1sobzhy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220863/original/file-20180529-80640-1sobzhy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220863/original/file-20180529-80640-1sobzhy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Lead author Haixia Yang reports results in mice suggesting that the antimicrobial ingredient triclosan could damage and inflame the gut in mice.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">UMass Amherst</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://blogs.umass.edu/guodongzhang/">Our lab</a> at the University of Massachusetts Amherst collaborated with scientists from 13 universities to explore the effects of triclosan on inflammation in the colon. We first tested triclosan in normal, healthy mice and found that the chemical caused low-grade inflammation. In our next round of experiments we induced gut inflammation in mice using chemicals and then fed them food containing a low dose of triclosan for three weeks. We also did the same thing with mice that were genetically engineered to spontaneously develop <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/data-statistics.htm">inflammatory bowel disease, which affects some 3 million Americans</a>, and with mice in which we chemically induced colon cancer. </p>
<p>After feeding the mice triclosan at concentrations reported in human blood plasma, the colon inflammation in the mice worsened. The chemical also accelerated the development of colitis – inflammation that leads to rectal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal spasms in humans – and the growth of tumors. In one group of mice, it reduced lifespan. </p>
<p>We also wanted to figure how exactly triclosan was causing harm. Because it is a bacteria-killing compound, we thought that it might be disrupting the community of microbes in our guts, which is vital for maintaining good health. The mice that suffered inflammation from triclosan exposure had a lower species diversity of microbes in the gut and lower populations of the so-called “good” bacteria, <em>Bifidobacterium</em>.</p>
<p>Our team and researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison used germ-free mice – which have absolutely no bacteria in their gut – and found that feeding triclosan to these animals had no effect. This finding suggests that the harmful effects of triclosan are due to changes in the microbiome. In addition, we found a protein called the Toll-like receptor 4, an important mediator of communication between the microbes and the host’s immune system, is critical for the harmful effect of triclosan. Mice that lacked this protein seemed immune to the biological effects of triclosan. </p>
<p>Little is known about the impact of this chemical on human health or other species. Our study indicates there is an urgent need to further evaluate the impact of triclosan exposure and update the potential regulatory polices.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97432/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Haixia Yang does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Triclosan is found in thousands of personal care products from toothpaste to soap. New research links it to inflammation and cancer in the gut in mice, by disrupting their microbiome.Haixia Yang, Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Food Science, UMass AmherstLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/953852018-05-09T15:53:14Z2018-05-09T15:53:14ZFour simple ways you can reduce pollution in your local river<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218255/original/file-20180509-184630-1uxh1iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">intararit / shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Plastic pollution in the oceans has got a lot of attention lately, seemingly triggered by the BBC’s Blue Planet II and its haunting image of a pilot whale <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a8HGJid-Jo">grieving her dead calf</a>. But water pollution isn’t just a problem in the sea – local waters are suffering too, often from pollutants found in common household products. </p>
<p>Even in very low amounts, some medications, hygiene products and pesticides may cause aquatic organisms to <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171205092134.htm">change their behaviour</a> or find their homes are <a href="https://sciencing.com/water-pollution-affect-fish-4565696.html">no longer habitable</a>. The issue has been on the authorities’ radar for some time, not least the European Union which introduced the first <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/first-watch-list-emerging-water-pollutants">watchlist</a> of emerging pollutants in 2013.</p>
<p>But you can help too, with a few simple changes to your everyday habits.</p>
<h2>1. Check for antibacterial products</h2>
<p>Everyday tasks such as washing your hands or brushing your teeth could mean you are unwittingly polluting a river. Hand gel or toothpaste may contain anti-bacterial agents such as <a href="https://qz.com/1009999/a-chemical-banned-in-hand-soap-is-still-in-toothpaste-sold-in-the-us-and-scientists-say-thats-ridiculous/">triclosan</a>, which mimics the hormone estrogen in animals and can inhibit
their <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/13/news/la-heb-triclosan-antibacterial-soap-20120813">reproductive systems and ability to swim</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=479&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218258/original/file-20180509-185500-vie12i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">‘Biomagnification’ means toxins (crosses) become more concentrated further up the food chain.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biomagnification.svg">Sballesteros15</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
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<p>Once in the water, triclosan <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/triclosan/en/l-3/3-environment.htm">sticks to the soil</a> on the riverbed where it will be consumed by all the tiny creatures that call the river home. It then accumulates as it is passed on through the food chain, meaning larger predators are worst affected. </p>
<p>Due to these concerns, some <a href="https://www.unilever.com/about/innovation/Our-products-and-ingredients/Your-ingredient-questions-answered/Triclosan-and-triclocarban.html">companies</a> have began removing triclosan from their products, but in the meantime you can get ahead of the game and chose not to use products that contain it.</p>
<h2>2. Ditch the slug pellets</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.slugoff.co.uk/killing-slugs/">Metaldehyde</a> is the active ingredient found in many slug pellets. It is of course toxic – that’s why it’s used to kill slugs. But the pellets are washed into drains and ditches, and from there they wind their way into river systems, affecting <a href="https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/metaldehyde-poisoning/overview-of-metaldehyde-poisoning">animals much larger</a> than slugs or snails. And just like triclosan, metaldehyde is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2013/jul/10/slug-pesticides-metaldehyde-drinking-water">passed on up the food chain</a> to predators like hedgehogs or birds. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218259/original/file-20180509-34024-vhk2fe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218259/original/file-20180509-34024-vhk2fe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218259/original/file-20180509-34024-vhk2fe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218259/original/file-20180509-34024-vhk2fe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218259/original/file-20180509-34024-vhk2fe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218259/original/file-20180509-34024-vhk2fe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218259/original/file-20180509-34024-vhk2fe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Bad news for slugs – and fish.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Lisa S / shutterstock</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>Metaldehyde is a particular problem when it gets into waterways. In your garden it usually <a href="http://pubs.rsc.org/is/content/articlepdf/2017/ew/c7ew00039a">breaks down within a few days</a>. But when it enters the water system, the chemical is much more stable which slows down the degradation, allowing it to hang around in the environment, where it and can then be consumed by aquatic life. </p>
<p>Alternatives to metaldehyde include <a href="https://www.gardenmyths.com/how-to-get-rid-slugs-with-copper/">copper strips</a>, said to deter slugs, or <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-zombie-slugs-could-be-the-answer-to-gardeners-woes-94348">parasitic nematode worms</a> which naturally kill slugs and snails. Or you could simply <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/08/five-steps-gardeners-take-control-of-slugs-natural-way">encourage predators</a> such as hedgehogs and frogs into your garden. </p>
<h2>3. Do less laundry</h2>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=microplastics&sort=relevancy&language=en&date=all&date_from=&date_to=">Microplastics</a> are small fragments of plastics less than 5mm in size. There has been a lot of talk about the problems caused when these fragments are ingested by fish or other aquatic animals, but less attention has been paid to the plastics <a href="https://bioenv.gu.se/english/staff/carney_almroth_bethanie/a-sea-of-plastic--are-plastic-particles-toxic-to-fish-">leaching toxic materials</a> as they break down into their original components. These <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/08/090820-plastic-decomposes-oceans-seas.html">toxic products</a> have been linked to neurological, fertility and immune health problems.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218274/original/file-20180509-185500-dljlc2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/218274/original/file-20180509-185500-dljlc2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218274/original/file-20180509-185500-dljlc2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218274/original/file-20180509-185500-dljlc2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218274/original/file-20180509-185500-dljlc2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218274/original/file-20180509-185500-dljlc2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/218274/original/file-20180509-185500-dljlc2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Under the microscope, a fleece is revealed to be thousands of tiny plastic fibres.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">ChWeiss / shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Large items such as plastic packaging or tyres are often the source, as they break down into smaller and smaller fragments over time until they are tiny bits of microplastics floating through the water. </p>
<p>But synthetic clothing is another significant source. Every time you wash <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/sep/27/washing-clothes-releases-water-polluting-fibres-study-finds">synthetic fibres</a>, small parts of the material will fragment away and wash into the water system. So the next time you go to wash the fleece that you only wore for ten minutes a couple of weekends ago, think: is this really necessary?</p>
<h2>4. Don’t flush those meds</h2>
<p>Pharmaceutical products are another cause for concern as even in very small quantities they may be considered toxic. Medicines and drugs such as painkillers, antidepressants and contraceptives all end up in waterways as they <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29108330">pass through the human body unaffected</a> and are flushed down the toilet. These drugs can affect the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3944/cocktail_of_drugs_is_polluting_our_rivers">natural reproductive cycle, behaviour and growth</a> of many fish species. </p>
<p>We’re not suggesting people should stop taking their medication. But you can help by making sure old pills are disposed of properly. Many people flush them down the loo, or chuck them in the bin when really they should be <a href="http://blog.lloydspharmacy.com/health/tips-safe-disposal-medicines/">returned</a> to a pharmacy where they can be properly disposed of. </p>
<p>It’s too easy to associate river pollution with large factories and heavy industry but we too play a part by just going about our everyday lives. Such simple small changes could make a real difference to the water quality of your local river and it’s so easy to do.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/95385/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Samantha Richardson receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg VB North Sea Region Programme for the Sullied Sediments (<a href="http://northsearegion.eu/sullied-sediments/about/">http://northsearegion.eu/sullied-sediments/about/</a>) project.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mark Lorch receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg VB North Sea Region Programme for the Sullied Sediments (<a href="http://northsearegion.eu/sullied-sediments/about/">http://northsearegion.eu/sullied-sediments/about/</a>) project.
</span></em></p>How to cut down on toxic chemicals found in common household products.Samantha Richardson, PhD Researcher in Chemistry, University of HullMark Lorch, Professor of Science Communication and Chemistry, University of HullLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/709772017-01-19T04:04:43Z2017-01-19T04:04:43ZMany household products contain antimicrobial chemicals banned from soaps by the FDA<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/153332/original/image-20170118-26555-u4jg7i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Any antimicrobial chemicals in there?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/modern-apartment-living-room-open-kitchen-552165496">Home image via www.shutterstock.com.</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>This year marks 20 years since Hasbro was <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1997-04-19/business/fi-50365_1_health-claims">fined for false advertising</a>, claiming their Playskool toys laden with the antimicrobial chemical triclosan would keep kids healthier. It is also the year when soap manufacturers will finally have to remove the chemical from their products. </p>
<p>Triclosan is one example of a potentially hazardous chemical used in some antimicrobial products. The Food and Drug Administration recently <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm517478.htm">banned it</a>, along with 18 others chemicals, from <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-dispense-with-antibacterial-soaps-65297">hand soaps</a> because of unacceptable risks to humans and the environment. Exposure to triclosan in general is linked with disruption of hormone function and the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. </p>
<p>The FDA asked manufacturers to demonstrate that these chemicals are safe for long-term use and more effective than regular soap. Neither has been proven.</p>
<p>But these same chemicals are still used in many other products – including plush toys, pool wings, pacifier pockets, building blocks and even craft supplies like markers and scissors – without any label required. Some of these products are marketed as being antimicrobial, but many aren’t. </p>
<p>Because these products are not under the purview of the FDA, they aren’t subject to the ban, and companies aren’t required to reveal what makes them antimicrobial. This means it is hard for consumers to know what products contain these chemicals.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/152330/original/image-20170110-29003-oe8np4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/152330/original/image-20170110-29003-oe8np4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/152330/original/image-20170110-29003-oe8np4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/152330/original/image-20170110-29003-oe8np4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/152330/original/image-20170110-29003-oe8np4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/152330/original/image-20170110-29003-oe8np4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/152330/original/image-20170110-29003-oe8np4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Triclosan and 18 other chemicals have been banned from soaps and washes.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Why was triclosan banned in soaps?</h2>
<p>Manufacturers failed to demonstrate that antimicrobial soaps were any more effective than regular soaps. Essentially, there are no reported benefits of antimicrobial soaps to outweigh the risks of using antimicrobial chemicals. So, are these chemicals any more effective in other products?</p>
<p>Overall, peer-reviewed research showing that household products and building materials containing antimicrobial chemicals, such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21402423">cutting boards</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16541695">industrial flooring</a>, harbor fewer bacteria is scant. Research further demonstrating that these products protect human health is essentially nonexistent. This indicates that, much like in soaps, triclosan in other products isn’t doing much good. </p>
<p>The FDA’s decision applies only to over-the-counter soaps sold to consumers, and not to soaps used in health care settings or any other consumer products or building materials not under the purview of the FDA. </p>
<p>But some health care providers are deciding to skip the antimicrobials. For example, Kaiser Permanente, a major health care system, stopped purchasing soaps containing triclosan several years ago. And in 2015 <a href="https://share.kaiserpermanente.org/article/kaiser-permanente-rejects-antimicrobials-for-infection-control/">the system announced</a> it would no longer use paint and interior building products containing antimicrobial chemicals, citing a lack of evidence that they actually prevent disease along with safety concerns.</p>
<p>Not only does research suggest that antimicrobial products are ineffective at reducing microbes on the product, but several studies also suggest they may be causing an increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic-resistant infections, such as MRSA, cause an estimated <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/">23,000 deaths every year in the United States</a>. </p>
<p>Research that I <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b00262">conducted</a> at the <a href="http://biobe.uoregon.edu/">Biology and the Built Environment (BioBE) Center</a> at the University of Oregon demonstrated a troubling link, finding higher concentrations of triclosan and antibiotic resistance genes in <a href="https://vimeo.com/190146352">dust</a> in an athletic and educational facility. We are currently investigating how these antibiotic resistance genes can get into bacteria.</p>
<p>At the moment, it’s unclear how much of the triclosan we find in dust comes from soaps or other products, but <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00262">triclosan has been found in almost every dust sample assayed worldwide</a>. This suggests that the more antimicrobial chemicals we use in our homes, classrooms and offices, the more antibiotic-resistant bacteria we see there. </p>
<figure>
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/190146352" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">‘What’s in your dust?’ from the BioBE Center.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Again, it is worth noting that we have no evidence that using any antimicrobial products other than toothpaste, whether they are soaps or other household goods, makes us any healthier. There is even some evidence to the contrary: Without adequate exposure to the right microbes, our children may be at a <a href="http://www.microbe.net/2016/08/01/paper-of-interest-pediatric-asthma-and-the-indoor-microbial-environment/">higher risk of developing conditions like allergies and asthma</a>. </p>
<h2>Why it’s hard to know what products contain these chemicals</h2>
<p>Let’s say, then, that we want to avoid products that contain triclosan or any of the other 18 antimicrobials banned in soap by the FDA. Should be fairly easy, right? Not so: Manufacturers are not required to tell us what makes their products antimicrobial. </p>
<p>Soaps are personal care products, which means they fall under the FDA’s jurisdiction. The agency requires that active ingredients such as triclosan be listed. For instance, triclosan is also found in some toothpastes, in which it has been proven <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1601-5037.2005.00150.x/full">effective against plaque</a>, and it is listed on the label.</p>
<p>If you want to avoid buying soaps containing these chemicals before the ban goes into effect on <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/06/2016-21337/safety-and-effectiveness-of-consumer-antiseptics-topical-antimicrobial-drug-products-for">Sept. 6</a> you just need to read the label. But products that are not under the agency’s jurisdiction are subject to different requirements, and don’t have to list the chemicals they contain. It is incredibly difficult – if not impossible – to find out exactly which products contain which antimicrobial chemicals.</p>
<p>Products that are marketed as being antimicrobial, for instance, often contain these chemicals. But not all products that contain antimicrobial chemicals are advertised as such.</p>
<p>Concerned consumers can get recommendations from advocacy groups like the <a href="http://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-triclosan">Environmental Working Group</a> and <a href="https://www.beyondpesticides.org/programs/antibacterials/triclosan/products-containing-triclosan">Beyond Pesticides</a>. However, that information is focused largely on triclosan and not the additional 18 chemicals banned from soap. And as manufacturers reformulate products without making public announcements, information may be <a href="https://www.beyondpesticides.org/programs/antibacterials/triclosan/products-containing-triclosan">incomplete or out of date</a>. </p>
<p>Consumers looking for a simple way to get comprehensive information about antimicrobial products are out of luck. But one consumer with an awful lot of resources is actually starting to collect this information: Google. The tech giant went to such great lengths to uncover the ingredients for products used in their facilities that it developed an online tool called <a href="http://healthybuilding.net/news/2016/10/05/portico-press-release">Portico</a>. Unfortunately for us, Portico isn’t yet available to the public. </p>
<p>It would help if regulators adopted consistent standards requiring common labeling practices, and if manufacturers were required to disclose hazardous ingredients. We need to know what chemicals are in the products, especially when those chemicals could have adverse effects on our health and our environment. </p>
<p>What can consumers do? We can apply pressure by calling on retailers to carry antimicrobial-free products and to require clear labels on products that contain chemicals banned by the FDA.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/70977/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Erica Hartmann receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. </span></em></p>Products not under the FDA’s jurisdiction don’t have to list whether they contain any of the antimicrobial chemicals banned in soap by the agency.Erica Hartmann, Assistant Professor, Northwestern UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/649652016-09-08T06:26:37Z2016-09-08T06:26:37ZThe US has banned antibacterial handwashes – here’s why Australia should too<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/137016/original/image-20160908-25279-ws8vv3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Companies promoting these products have until now been able to make exaggerated claims about their relative germ-killing ability.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-260417144/stock-photo-hygiene-cleaning-hands-washing-hands.html?src=NNCw8qYFa5OBp5X7sM-_RA-1-0">Alexander Raths/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm517478.htm">last week ruled</a> to disallow the use of the more than a dozen antibacterial compounds in so-called “antibacterial” handwashes. Australia’s regulator is now assessing whether it will follow suit.* </p>
<p><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/triclosan/en/l-2/2-uses-cosmetics-disinfectant.htm#0">Triclosan</a> is one of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/cleaning-your-hands-may-be-more-complicated-than-you-think-26315">most common</a> antibacterial ingredients in domestic and medical handwash products, toothpastes and cosmetics. It is also used as a pesticide in many plastic consumer goods such as toys, and textiles such as carpets.</p>
<p>The FDA ruling applies only to consumer antibacterial handwashes and soaps designed and marketed for use in general domestic settings in the US. It doesn’t apply to those formulated specifically for hospital and other medical settings. </p>
<p>Manufacturers have a <a href="http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm378393.htm">year to comply</a> with the ruling. </p>
<p>Companies promoting these products have until now been able to make exaggerated claims about their relative germ-killing ability. As a result, they have enjoyed almost four decades of unfettered sales in a US handwash market, which is <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/five-reasons-why-you-should-probably-stop-using-antibacterial-soap-180948078/?no-ist">estimated</a> to be <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-16/useless-soap/6779734">worth</a> about US$1 billion.</p>
<p>In theory, in order to be allowed to market products with a claim of antibacterial activity, there must be evidence to prove the claim as well as data showing it’s safe to use, including in the long term. Without data proving effectiveness and safety, products are not supposed to be approved. </p>
<p>It turns out that for triclosan and consumer handwashes, there was neither. </p>
<h2>Effectiveness</h2>
<p>Many studies have shown that the use of consumer antibacterial wash products is <a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/Supplement_2/S137.long">no better</a> at removing germs than plain soap and water. </p>
<p>Any idea that these products were better than plain soap and water at cleaning hands was simply a carefully crafted, widely propagated illusion. </p>
<p>The absence of data showing that antibacterial handwash products are superior to plain soap and water is a glaring omission in the regulatory documentation. It also raises the question of how we were sold a lie for so long.</p>
<h2>Safety and other issues</h2>
<p>The burden of proving the safety of compounds such as triclosan rests with the companies that want to make and market the products. Government regulators are the gatekeepers who weigh up the evidence and make a ruling. </p>
<p>In the case of the FDA, after being <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm378542.htm">afforded the opportunity</a> to present data to comprehensively answer safety questions, the companies have elected not to do so. In fact, it’s the absence of data showing the safety of frequent, low-dose, chronic exposure to triclosan, that has contributed to its regulatory demise.</p>
<p>When triclosan was first introduced, few would have predicted how widely it would be used. More than <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bernd_Nowack/publication/235370379_Comparative_evaluation_of_antimicrobials_for_textile_applications/links/54c75fed0cf238bb7d0a7d41.pdf">1,500 metric tonnes of triclosan are produced</a>, used and released into the environment annually. </p>
<p>Issues such the ability of chemicals to disrupt human hormone systems were not routinely considered when triclosan was first developed. Triclosan may be able to <a href="https://theconversation.com/cleaning-your-hands-may-be-more-complicated-than-you-think-26315">mimic the action of the human hormone oestrogen</a> and in doing so, could disrupt hormone systems in humans and many other animals. </p>
<p>The potential for this compound to negatively impact natural ecosystems was also underestimated. </p>
<p>It remains unclear whether triclosan is able to interfere with human hormones or to have detrimental effects on ecosystems. But if they do have these effects, the consequences are serious, raising the stakes if triclosan use is allowed to continue. </p>
<p>Triclosan has also been <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/triclosan/en/l-2/5-risk-resistance.htm#0">implicated</a> in the rise of resistance to antibiotics – those life-saving, bacterial infection-fighting medicines we are <a href="https://theconversation.com/perspectives-on-antibiotic-resistance-how-we-got-here-where-were-headed-60140">running out of</a>. </p>
<p>While the question of whether the widespread domestic use of products such as triclosan contributes to the rise of antibiotic resistance remains contentious, regulators have finally erred on the side of caution, albeit for other reasons.</p>
<p>The FDA’s ruling may mark the beginning of the end for triclosan and antiseptics like it in domestic settings, although their use in medical settings will still be permitted. Other triclosan products such as hand rubs, wipes, toothpastes and cosmetics are not affected by this ruling. </p>
<p>Jittery consumers, however, may balk at continuing to put triclosan in their mouths two or three times a day when brushing their teeth. Ultimately, if consumers stop buying their personal care products, companies will <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com.au/triclosan-cancer-causing-ingredient-in-colgate-toothpaste-2014-8">re-consider their use</a> of triclosan.</p>
<h2>The bottom line</h2>
<p>Triclosan-laden and many other antibacterial handwashes will begin to disappear from supermarket and drug store shelves over the next 12 months, at least in the US. Meanwhile, be <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-should-i-use-antibacterial-hand-sanitisers-21384">reassured</a> that washing your hands with <a href="http://www.who.int/gpsc/clean_hands_protection/en/">plain soap and water combined with an effective technique</a> is the best and safest way to clean your hands.</p>
<p>*A statement from Australia’s regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Australian Government Department of Health is aware of the FDA recommendations related to antibacterial soaps and any substances involved, and will review the information to see whether any action is required in the Australian context.</p>
</blockquote><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/64965/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Christine Carson receives funding from federal government funding agencies and from industry to conduct research.</span></em></p>The US FDA has ruled to disallow the use of the more than a dozen antibacterial compounds in so-called “antibacterial” handwashes. Australia should now follow suit.Christine Carson, Research Associate at the University of Western Australia &, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical ResearchLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/418762015-06-02T10:12:05Z2015-06-02T10:12:05ZWhat does exposure to environmental chemicals mean for our health?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/83585/original/image-20150601-6967-1ywo4zf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Environmental chemicals are found in a range of common household products. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-85926235/stock-photo-image-of-many-plastic-bottles-with-water-in-a-shop.html?src=VohMyolLWzvRSkwCCzAqNg-1-3">Water bottles via www.shutterstock.com.</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>It is not possible to live in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-myths-about-the-chemicals-you-breathe-eat-and-drink-26849">chemical-free world</a> on Earth. Chemicals are all around us, and some, <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140605140007.htm">like oxygen and hydrogen</a>, are essential components for <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/index_en.htm">living creatures</a> including us humans. However, some other chemicals may be harmful to our health. </p>
<p>Some environmental chemicals (which are often, but not always, human-made) have been linked to physical and cognitive health conditions and even <a href="http://www.clinicalepigeneticsjournal.com/content/7/1/55">DNA change</a>. Many of these chemicals, such as arsenic, phthalates, polyfluoroalkyl and volatile organic compounds, to name a few, are found in a range of common household or industry products that we use or are exposed to on a regular basis, including cleaning supplies, car exhaust and certain kinds of cosmetics.</p>
<h2>How do we study exposure to environmental chemicals and health?</h2>
<p>One of the prime sources for data on exposure to environmental chemicals and human health comes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/about_nhanes.htm">NHANES</a>). </p>
<p>This is a program of epidemiological studies run by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHANES monitors the health status of adults and children in the US with a representative sample and uses both interviews and physical examinations. </p>
<p>Some of the information collected includes urine and blood samples, which we can use to track exposure to environmental chemicals. This gives us a picture of the emerging risk hazards from chemicals – we can test the volume of a given chemical in urine or blood and see what the associations are with a range of health conditions. Researchers have been doing this since the 1980s, and scores of studies have been released detailing the associations between concentrations of environmental chemicals in the body and different health outcomes.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/81767/original/image-20150514-28638-r5gomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/81767/original/image-20150514-28638-r5gomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81767/original/image-20150514-28638-r5gomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81767/original/image-20150514-28638-r5gomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81767/original/image-20150514-28638-r5gomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81767/original/image-20150514-28638-r5gomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81767/original/image-20150514-28638-r5gomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Overview of main health effects on humans from some common types of pollution.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Health_effects_of_pollution.png">Medical gallery of Mikael Häggström 2014</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Effects on physical health</h2>
<p>The association between exposure to these kinds of chemicals and human health has been well documented in research using data from NHANES. While many environmental chemicals have been studied, I’ll focus on a few chemicals that are fairly well-known.</p>
<p>Looking at NHANES data from 2009-2010, I found an association between <a href="http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08037051.2014.925228">high blood pressure</a> in adults and higher concentrations of heavy metals, arsenic and phthalates in urine. Other research has also associated higher urinary arsenic concentrations that could be found in contaminated groundwater or in foods (eg, grains) with impaired <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935115001085">kidney function</a> and <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041201400350X">gout disease</a>.</p>
<p>Bisphenol-A and triclosan, used in consumer products including soaps, detergents, toys and surgical cleaning treatments, among other things, have been found to affect <a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1002883/">immune function</a> and the <a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104748/">age at which menstruation starts</a>.</p>
<p>Phthalates, a chemical that makes plastic and vinyl more flexible, are found in plastic bottles and in pharmaceutical pills and cosmetics. They have been found to play a role in <a href="http://www.ehjournal.net/content/7/1/27">increased body mass index</a>, <a href="http://www.ehjournal.net/content/13/1/6">diabetes</a>, <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/08/13/peds.2012-4022">worse insulin resistance</a>, higher <a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1206211/">allergy</a> rates and <a href="http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2014-2555?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed">decreased testosterone</a> in both adults and children. </p>
<p>Environmental chemicals may be associated with oral health problems as well.
In a recent study, I found that people with <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-015-4749-3">gum disease, bone loss around the mouth, and teeth loose not due to injury</a> were found to have higher levels of heavy metals, phthalates, phenols, parabens and pesticides (among other chemicals) in their urine. Such harmful exposure could cause defects in the development of <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/pjab/85/10/85_10_500/_article">tooth enamel</a>.</p>
<h2>Environmental chemicals in the brain</h2>
<p>Environmental chemicals could also influence brain development, particularly in children and older adults. </p>
<p>For example, frequent use of household products with higher levels of pyrethroid insecticides and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals are linked to <a href="http://www.karger.com/?DOI=000342310">learning problems</a> and <a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1001898/">impaired attention</a> in children. </p>
<p>In the elderly, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041201200253X">vision, hearing and balance</a> might be altered through chronic exposure to a range of chemicals including heavy metals, phthalates, arsenic, pesticides, phenols, hydrocarbons and polyfluorinated compounds. And it has been further observed that these chemicals might lead to <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11356-015-4261-9">difficulties in thinking or remembering</a> as well. It is thought that these chemicals may <a href="http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1081/DCT-200039780%20">disrupt nerve regulation</a> in the brain.</p>
<h2>Effects on emotions</h2>
<p>If environmental chemicals could impair our organs and change our <a href="http://www.jimmunol.org/content/135/2/820.long">nervous system</a>, then they might have effects on our emotional health as well. </p>
<p>In recent research, I found that higher levels of parabens and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in urine might suggest that some people need more <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11356-015-4561-0">emotional support</a>, such as talking over problems or help making difficult decisions, than others with lower concentrations do. Such relationship exists whether or not people might have other health conditions. </p>
<p>These chemicals are both quite common. Parabens are often used as preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons are found in exhaust, asphalt, coal tar, smoke, soil and charbroiled foods. </p>
<p>These chemicals may trigger a physical reaction that ultimately leads to the disruption of emotions. Daily exposure to these chemicals could lead to a person developing a dependency on them. This can induce inflammation or immune function to alert cell injury or damage. And that could, in turn, chronically disturb neuron functioning, leading to the <a href="http://www.jimmunol.org/content/135/2/820.long">disruption of emotions</a>, and hence a need for more emotional support. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/82292/original/image-20150519-30528-3j2xkb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/82292/original/image-20150519-30528-3j2xkb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82292/original/image-20150519-30528-3j2xkb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82292/original/image-20150519-30528-3j2xkb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82292/original/image-20150519-30528-3j2xkb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=486&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82292/original/image-20150519-30528-3j2xkb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=486&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82292/original/image-20150519-30528-3j2xkb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=486&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">We can’t live in a chemical-free world.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-150303686/stock-photo-row-of-modern-townhouses-in-vancouver-canada.html?src=b0MSJm-Iz_MyRdqxtf0yrQ-1-23">Homes via www.shutterstock.com.</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How do we know when we are exposed to unnecessary environmental chemicals?</h2>
<p>Once we know the relationships of harmful chemicals and health, we can start to figure out how to lessen or prevent exposure to these chemicals. This could mean reducing our use of the consumer products that contain these substances.</p>
<p>Buildings <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11356-014-3468-5">built more than 30 years ago</a> could be another source of exposure and therefore need our attention to renovate. They could emit chemicals that harm our health because they have building materials that may contain these harmful chemicals or have other pollutants like <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935115000304">mold</a>.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://omicsgroup.org/journals/building-engineering-epidemiology-northern-ireland-house-condition-survey-2168-9717.1000112.php?aid=21453">screening program</a> is one of the ways to identify housing and chemical issues at an early stage. </p>
<p>Another way is through an <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-015-4671-8">unpleasant smell</a> which is exactly what it sounds like. The presence of unpleasant odors might direct us to where the excess chemicals around us are. These issues could also be detected by reviewing <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-015-4604-6">self-rated health</a>. This is an indicator of physical and mental health issues, created by asking people questions about their health. </p>
<p>And based on new research about environmental chemicals and oral health, one could also <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-015-4749-3">look at teeth</a> from time to time. </p>
<p>These types of preventative measures could be carried out on a regular basis for individuals and each household to suggest when to examine and remove the unnecessary environmental chemicals in order to improve and sustain our health, well-being and quality of life.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/41876/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ivy Shiue (Scthiue) does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Chemicals in a wide array of consumer products have been linked to conditions affecting physical, cognitive and emotional health.Ivy Shiue (Scthiue), Senior research associate, Northumbria University, NewcastleLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/263152014-07-29T20:27:35Z2014-07-29T20:27:35ZCleaning your hands may be more complicated than you think<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/54398/original/jgv6h3w3-1405924160.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">There is no evidence that the antibacterial ingredients of such soaps do anything more than plain soap and water.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/38511994@N07/4314530838/in/photolist-7zg6GJ-55ooE-6KNooT-33fGbC-6jyonf-8ykYnD-4FbYey-5K3Suv-4vGRwF-bBnYnu-dmhqw-7GMFga-9insQD-3b32DR-4bAWxg-bUJsjL-8M37qe-7ShwtA-b7aLWe-bZdyp1-2sHnhL-5Rte31-9XPJsS-NFvun-4MiENb-hheojc-hhdb6h-himWNS-JTKQi-rgLvP-hkWLaC-5wSXre-iCKfvF-dfS1GB-gd85Sc-7gRAiS-8M6ahd-8M6bzj-8M6c1w-8M37WT-8M6bpu-8M37FB-8M38za-fz8DZW-4xB524-4L9LJG-dQZUuK-crAiC-DTPN5-hkhbzj-7zaodu">Arlington County/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The next time you wash your hands with a liquid soap claiming to be antibacterial, keep in mind that you may not actually be sanitising them. There’s no evidence that the antibacterial ingredients of such soaps, which is usually triclosan, do anything more than plain soap and water.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/triclosan_fs.htm">Triclosan is a potent antibacterial agent</a> able to kill most types of bacteria, both healthy and disease-causing ones. Its use in hospital hand washes has undoubtedly saved millions of lives by preventing infection and is not being questioned.</p>
<p>But it is also used at much lower concentrations in hundreds of household products including antibacterial liquid soaps and other personal-care products, such as toothpastes. And products sold as household antibacterial soaps are often <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-should-i-use-antibacterial-hand-sanitisers-21384">no more effective</a> than plain soap and water. </p>
<p>Indeed, using triclosan at the low levels put into these soaps and other domestic products may even <a href="https://theconversation.com/superbugs-human-ecology-and-the-threat-from-within-10765">encourage bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics</a>. </p>
<p>Exposing bacteria to low levels of germ-killing chemicals can turn on lots of the <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/cellular-microscopic/question561.htm">mechanisms they have to protect themselves</a> against such chemicals. Bacteria can thicken their outer walls, turn on pumps designed to expel toxic chemicals and even produce enzymes to inactivate the chemicals. </p>
<p>Low levels of exposure that don’t kill the bacteria can help them be ready to successfully defend themselves against later challenges.</p>
<h2>Triclosan in the spotlight</h2>
<p>Triclosan hit the headlines in December 2013 when the two agencies that have legal oversight over its use in the United States – the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) <a href="http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm378393.htm#epa">co-announced</a> they were <a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM378615.pdf">taking a closer look</a> at its safety and effectiveness. </p>
<p>In fact, the US Congress had tasked the FDA with reviewing the evidence for the effectiveness of antibacterial soaps way back in the 1970s, but the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/business/triclosan-an-antibacterial-chemical-in-consumer-products-raises-safety-issues.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">assignment was never completed</a>. </p>
<p>The Natural Resources Defense Council, a US-based non-profit environmental advocacy group, was <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-key-antibacterial-soap-ingredient-must-go/">incensed by the delay of more than 30 years</a> and took <a href="http://www.fdalawblog.net/fda_law_blog_hyman_phelps/2013/11/fda-enters-into-consent-decree-agrees-to-timely-complete-triclosan-otc-drug-antiseptic-monographs.html">court action</a> against the FDA for their failure to act.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/triclosan/triclosan-questions.htm">EPA is involved in the review</a> because triclosan is also used as a pesticide. The agency reviews the active ingredients of all pesticides every 15 years, but this latest review is ten years early.</p>
<p>For its current use in household products to continue, the FDA and EPA have to remain convinced that triclosan is both effective and safe. But the effectiveness of triclosan products as antibacterial agents has been contentious for many years because of the <a href="http://www.tufts.edu/med/apua/about_issue/agents.shtml">lack of evidence</a> that they provide a germ-killing benefit.</p>
<p>The exception is for toothpastes containing triclosan, which appear to be <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010514.pub2/pdf/standard">effective for reducing the gum disease gingivitis</a>.</p>
<p>The US state of Minnesota has already placed a <a href="http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=5284">ban on triclosan</a> that will take effect in 2017. Similarly, <a href="http://www.safetyandcarecommitment.com/ingredient-info/other/triclosan">Johnson & Johnson</a>, <a href="http://www.pg.com/en_US/sustainability/safety/ingredients/triclosan.shtml">Procter & Gamble</a> and <a href="http://www.avoncompany.com/corporatecitizenship/corporateresponsibility/resourcecenter/policies_and_procedures/triclosan.html">Avon</a> have committed to phasing triclosan out of all their consumer products by 2015. Such steps are likely to have knock-on effects. </p>
<h2>Safety issues</h2>
<p>Questions about the safety of triclosan have also been raised recently because evidence suggests some chemicals used widely in personal-care products, including triclosan, can mimic or interfere with hormones, at least in laboratory-based experiments and in animal models. </p>
<p>Known as <a href="http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/">endocrine-disrupting compounds</a>, if these chemicals had a similar effect on people, they could potentially disrupt our bodies’ delicately balanced, finely-tuned and exquisitely sensitive endocrine systems. </p>
<p>In laboratory tests and in animals models, triclosan has been shown to behave like the human hormone oestrogen. It can dock at oestrogen receptors on human cells maintained in the lab and start a chain of cellular events in the same way as natural oestrogen. So far, there’s no evidence showing that triclosan is an endocrine-disrupting compound in humans.</p>
<p><a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/tx5000156">But new research shows</a> very low daily doses of triclosan can encourage cancer progression in mice that already have oestrogen-dependent breast cancer.</p>
<p>This work doesn’t prove that triclosan is an endocrine-disrupting compound that mimics oestrogen or that it can promote breast cancer in humans. But it does add weight to the argument that more research is needed into the effects of triclosan in humans and animals given its widespread use. </p>
<p>It also suggests that the recently announced review by the US FDA and EPA is timely and worthwhile. In the meanwhile, plain soap and water may be the way to go for safe, clean hands.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/26315/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Christine Carson has in the past received funding from The Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation and companies in the natural products and complementary and alternative medicines industry.</span></em></p>The next time you wash your hands with a liquid soap claiming to be antibacterial, keep in mind that you may not actually be sanitising them. There’s no evidence that the antibacterial ingredients of such…Christine Carson, Research Associate at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research &, The University of Western AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.