Facebook Pixel

Safety of Triclosan in Antibacterial Soaps Questioned

By HERWriter
 
Rate This

The FDA is taking another look at antibacterial soap, specifically at the ingredient triclosan. More and more, its safety and efficacy is being called into question.

Rep. Edward Markey, who is the chairman for the House Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, has addressed his concerns about the safety of triclosan to the FDA .

"In a letter to Markey released today, the FDA said it shares Markey’s concern about the potential effects of triclosan and triclocarban as 'endocrine disruptors' that can adversely affect the function of hormones. Evidence of such effects has emerged since the FDA last addressed the use of triclosan in consumer products in 1994."

The FDA said that there is no proof that triclosan adds any health benefit at all to the antibacterial soaps in which it is used. The agency has said that it will perform a safety review. This review should be completed in one year.

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/04/08/fda-looks-at-ingredient-in-antibacterial-soap-for-hormone-effects

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Jody Smith
Champion
HERWriter View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Tags: