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Get the Facts: Triclosan

Triclosan may be present in cutting boards, school supplies, textiles, toothpaste, antibacterial soaps, cosmetics, cleaning supplies and other products.

This pesticide (yes, we said pesticide) is a hormone disruptor found in thousands of products like toothpaste, cutting boards, yoga mats, hand soap, and cosmetics. It can also encourage the growth of drug-resistant bacteria, and has been found in waterways and human breast milk.

Potential health effects include:

  • Endocrine (hormone) disruption
  • Potential antibiotic resistance
  • Pregnancy problems
  • Impaired muscle function
  • Water pollution
  • Altered thyroid hormone receptor
  • Learning disabilities
  • Infertility
  • Liver and inhalation toxicity
  • Skin, eye, and lung irritation

Commonly used in:

  • Antibacterial soaps
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorants
  • Cosmetics
  • School supplies (pencils, calculators, scissors)
  • Plastic toys
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Laundry products
  • Cutting boards
  • Textiles (clothing, shoes, bedding)
  • Carpets
  • Sealants/Adhesives

Consumer tips:

Check the label: avoid products with the words triclosan and triclocarban on the ingredient labels of personal care products, soaps and hand sanitizers. Triclosan may also be marketed under the trade name Microbanâ„¢ when used in plastics and clothing, and Biofreshâ„¢ when used in acrylic fibers.

Be wary of products like cutting boards that are labeled as “anti-microbial” or “anti-bacterial.”

Stick to washing your hands with hot water and soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers when on the go.

* Under our weak federal laws, it’s impossible for us to know all the uses of triclosan in consumer products. As a result, this is not an exhaustive list of all products containing triclosan.

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