Chemical in Toothpaste, Antibacterial Soap ‘Promotes Liver Tumors’

Have you heard of triclosan?

It’s a common ingredient found in everything from popular toothpastes to shampoos to dish washing liquids and many other common household cleaners. Nearly all antibacterial soaps sold in the U.S. contain the petrochemical (at this point you really have to go out of your way in your average big box store or shop at a specialty/natural store to find one that doesn’t). It’s also used to make everything from socks to bedding to trash bags.

Well now a new study out yesterday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that triclosan causes cancer and liver fibrosis in mice.

The researchers concluded:

Through a long-term feeding study, we found that TCS enhances hepatocyte proliferation, fibrogenesis, and oxidative stress, which, we believe, can be the driving force for developing advanced liver disease in mice. Indeed, TCS strongly enhances hepatocarcinogenesis after diethylnitrosamine initiation, accelerating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Although animal studies require higher chemical concentrations than predicted for human exposure, this study demonstrates that TCS acts as a HCC tumor promoter and that the mechanism of TCS-induced mouse liver pathology may be relevant to humans.

The study is aptly titled, “The commonly used antimicrobial additive triclosan is a liver tumor promoter.”

Hm. So triclosan, found in virtually all antibacterial soaps in the country and even in toothpastes, could actually promote liver cancer? Wonderful.

According to Mountain Green, triclosan may cause all sorts of health issues:

The detrimental effects of triclosan begin at the skin, with reports of contact dermatitis after exposure; there is also evidence that triclosan may cause photoallergic contact dermatitis, producing an eczematous rash on the face, neck, the back of the hands and arms. The chemical is absorbed into our bloodstreams, with studies finding triclosan in three out of five human milk samples, and in the urine of about three-quarters of Americans. Triclosan is also lipophilic, a fancy term meaning that it is stored in fat cells so that concentration levels rise over time as exposure continues. Studies have suggested that elevated blood levels of triclosan may lead to central nervous system depression and impaired thyroid function, as well as hormone disruption. And, while triclosan has not been linked directly to cancer, the manufacturing process for triclosan may lead to the production of carcinogenic dioxins. Combining triclosan with chlorinated water or UV light, which occurs when using the public water supply, produces a specific type of dioxin which is particularly carcinogenic.

Not to mention it may also contribute to the proliferation of so called “super germs” — antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Maybe that’s why Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed a bill earlier this year banning the use of triclosan in consumer hygiene products sold across the state. It’s set to go into effect January 1, 2017. But what about the rest of the country?

This isn’t the first study that has come out to show triclosan may cause health issues, either. It really makes you wonder why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to allow this potentially dangerous ingredient to be so prevalent in consumer goods which wind up on our skin (the largest organ we have), inside our bodies, and eventually our water supply.

In fact, the FDA’s own website page on triclosan openly admits triclosan might be hazardous to human health:

Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans. But several scientific studies have come out since the last time FDA reviewed this ingredient that merit further review.

Animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation. However, data showing effects in animals don’t always predict effects in humans. Other studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

In light of these studies, FDA is engaged in an ongoing scientific and regulatory review of this ingredient. FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time. [emphasis added]

Does anything about any of that bureaucratic semantic game the FDA is playing there make you feel safer?

How about the fact that there is evidence the FDA actually conspired with Colgate, maker of the #1 selling toothpaste Total, to bury evidence of triclosan dangers back when it got approved for sale in 1997.

In the meantime, it’s better to take Tess’ advice on this one and make your own cleaning supplies at home for pennies on the dollar. At least when you do, you will know what ingredients are going into them and not continuing to put more petrochemicals on (and in) your body.

Better double check your toothpaste, too. It probably sounds ridiculous to read this I’m sure (and is even more ridiculous to type it), but there really is no need to brush your teeth or wash your hands or clean your dishes with something that promotes liver tumors.

What a crazy world we live in.

This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition