While best known for its use in hand soaps, if you look
hard enough you will find Triclosan in toothpaste, deodorants, laundry
detergent, facial tissues, and antiseptics for wounds. Triclosan is also being
infused in an increasing number of consumer products owing to its use as a
preservative to ward off bacteria, fungus, mildew and odors in toys,
mattresses, toilet fixtures, clothing (check the label for your PJs!),
furniture fabric, and paints.
Triclosan is a competent antimicrobial agent against
bacteria, viruses, and fungi, but not spores.
At biocidal levels Triclosan
reacts with multiple cytoplasmic and membrane targets while at lower
concentrations, it is bacteriostatic and targets bacteria primarily by
inhibiting fatty acid synthesis. While
indications that Triclosan does have fungicidal and virucidal capabilities, the
mechanism of action have not yet been investigated in depth. Multiple
resistances to Triclosan have been reported in peer-reviewed studies. This has lead to quite an outcry in terms to
the appropriateness of its use in household products.
bacteria, viruses, and fungi, but not spores.
At biocidal levels Triclosan
reacts with multiple cytoplasmic and membrane targets while at lower
concentrations, it is bacteriostatic and targets bacteria primarily by
inhibiting fatty acid synthesis. While
indications that Triclosan does have fungicidal and virucidal capabilities, the
mechanism of action have not yet been investigated in depth. Multiple
resistances to Triclosan have been reported in peer-reviewed studies. This has lead to quite an outcry in terms to
the appropriateness of its use in household products.
Triclosan can pass through skin and is suspected of interfering with hormone
function (endocrine disruption). U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention scientists detected triclosan in the urine of nearly 75 per cent of
those tested (2,517 people ages six years and older). The European Union classifies triclosan as
irritating to the skin and eyes, and as very toxic to aquatic organisms, noting
that it may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
Environment Canada likewise categorized triclosan as potentially toxic to
aquatic organisms, bioaccumulative, and persistent. In other words, it doesn't
easily degrade and can build up in the environment after it has been rinsed
down the shower drain. In the environment, triclosan also reacts to form
dioxins, which bioaccumulate and are toxic. A study conducted in 2006, found
that exposing bullfrog tadpoles to levels triclosan commonly found in the
environment can cause endocrine disruption and more recently, a study conducted
by the University of Minnesota determined that triclosan is being found in
increasing amounts in several Minnesota freshwater lakes. The findings are
directly linked to increased triclosan use over the past few decades.
function (endocrine disruption). U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention scientists detected triclosan in the urine of nearly 75 per cent of
those tested (2,517 people ages six years and older). The European Union classifies triclosan as
irritating to the skin and eyes, and as very toxic to aquatic organisms, noting
that it may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
Environment Canada likewise categorized triclosan as potentially toxic to
aquatic organisms, bioaccumulative, and persistent. In other words, it doesn't
easily degrade and can build up in the environment after it has been rinsed
down the shower drain. In the environment, triclosan also reacts to form
dioxins, which bioaccumulate and are toxic. A study conducted in 2006, found
that exposing bullfrog tadpoles to levels triclosan commonly found in the
environment can cause endocrine disruption and more recently, a study conducted
by the University of Minnesota determined that triclosan is being found in
increasing amounts in several Minnesota freshwater lakes. The findings are
directly linked to increased triclosan use over the past few decades.
Here’s how we would score Triclosan on the key decision
making criteria:
making criteria:
• Speed of Disinfection – C
o Primary uses of Triclosan are as a sanitizer or
bacteriostatic agent
bacteriostatic agent
o Expected contact times to achieve disinfection will be
dependent upon concentration and range from 5 to 10 minutes
dependent upon concentration and range from 5 to 10 minutes
• Spectrum of Kill – B to C
o Achieves disinfection against all microorganisms;
bacteria, viruses and fungi but efficacy is concentration dependent
bacteria, viruses and fungi but efficacy is concentration dependent
• Cleaning Effectiveness – D
o Triclosan itself does not have detergent properties;
cleaning and detergency properties of Triclosan-based formulations results from
the detergents added as part of the formulation.
cleaning and detergency properties of Triclosan-based formulations results from
the detergents added as part of the formulation.
• Safety Profile – C to D
o Has been proven to have endocrine disruption properties
o Status of Health & Safety profile differs between
countries, but
countries, but
• Environmental Profile – D
o Bioaccumulative in the environment and reacts to form more toxic by-products (dioxins)
o Concerns with Aquatic Toxicity
• Cost Effectiveness – B to C
o Products are available from a number of suppliers
**For more in-depth scientific information about Alcohol
and other disinfectant chemistries, stay tuned to
www.infectionpreventionresource.com.
and other disinfectant chemistries, stay tuned to
www.infectionpreventionresource.com.
