The chemicals we willingly put in our mouth everyday may be causing more harm than good.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014 | Chemical Related Cancers or Diseases | Author: | Original Article

New research of consumer products has revealed that the cancer causing agent, Triclosan, an antibacterial chemical, is used in Colgate Total toothpaste and is also included in numerous other common products we use every day. We may want to think twice about using these products. Triclosan has been linked to a range of adverse health effects including skin irritation, endocrine disruption, bacterial and compounded antibiotic resistance. It has also been found, as we send it down the drain, to lead to the contamination of water sources and disrupt fragile aquatic ecosystems.

Sounds like the type of chemical we should try to avoid. Triclosan’s success on the consumer market has been aided by the false public perception that antibacterial products are best to protect and safeguard against potential harmful bacteria. Many articles including “Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or just Risky?”(2007) have shown and concluded that antibacterial ingredients in soaps show no health benefit over plain soap yet the ingredient is still commonly used and marketed as a helpful and desired ingredient. Importantly in 2010, the Food and Drug administration (FDA) stated that, “existing data raises valid concerns about the health effects of repetitive daily human exposure to Triclosan” and announced plans to address the use of Triclosan in cosmetics or other products. To date it has taken no action and FDA is now also facing criticism for not doing its due diligence in studying the chemical before it was approved. 

It is promising that, as a direct result of pressure from consumer groups regarding the elimination of Triclosan in consumer products along with the mounting scientific evidence documenting its established adverse health effects, major manufacturers have quietly reformulated their products without Triclosan.

Be sure you know what you are using and research it prior to use. Companies seem to always want to sell it first and research it later.