alik_05
04-17-2005, 11:32 PM
Health Risk: Toothpastes and Cleaning agents - [Health]
Dozens of toothpastes were at the centre of a cancer alert Friday. 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 possibly cancer.
A toxicology expert warned that the long-term effects of exposure to chloroform are 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."
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.
US researchers 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.
Triclosan is in products such as:
* Dentyl mouthwash
* Colgate Total fresh stripe
* Colgate Total
* Sensodyne Total Care
* Tesco own brand toothpaste
* Mentadent P; Aquafresh
ThisisLondon
Dozens of toothpastes were at the centre of a cancer alert Friday. 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 possibly cancer.
A toxicology expert warned that the long-term effects of exposure to chloroform are 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."
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.
US researchers 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.
Triclosan is in products such as:
* Dentyl mouthwash
* Colgate Total fresh stripe
* Colgate Total
* Sensodyne Total Care
* Tesco own brand toothpaste
* Mentadent P; Aquafresh
ThisisLondon