Antimicrobial agent triclosan, used in soaps and detergents, may cause cancer

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Triclosan, a popular antimicrobial agent in soaps, detergents, and plastics, has been found to promote liver cancer in mice after long-term exposure.

In this study, mice were fed chow consisting of 0.08% triclosan. The mice had enlarged livers and liver fibrosis after 8 months of exposure, which is equivalent to approximately 18 human years. Liver fibrosis has been shown to promote liver cancer in previous studies. Additional studies examined how triclosan affects liver tumor formation.

Those results indicated mice exposed to triclosan developed more tumors, and the tumors were larger compared with tumors found in mice not exposed to the agent. Triclosan is absorbed into the human body through the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. “We could reduce most human and environmental exposures by eliminating uses of triclosan that are high volume, but of low benefit, such as inclusion in liquid hand soaps,” said one of the study co-authors.

Triclosan is currently under review by the US FDA due to previous studies linking it to hormone disruption and impaired muscle contraction. Major consumer products manufacturers, such as Procter and Gamble and Unilever, are already eliminating the agent from their products.