Triclosan Essay
The Danger of Antimicrobial Usage: Triclosan Essay
Weren’t anti-microbial agents considered safe for humans to use and not suppose to be harmful in nature? In recent studies, triclosan, an antibacterial compound is shown to be a harmful agent to humans rather than being helpful in keeping bacterial illnesses away. Presently, antimicrobials agents triclosan and triclocarban are examples of widely used antimicrobials agents in personal care products in United States and many other countries worldwide1. Triclosan is a 2,4,4- tricholoro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether and triclocarbon is a 3,4,4 – trichlorocarbanilide organic compound. One of the more common antimicrobial agents used in many househould products each year, triclosan is a synthetic, lipid-soluble, broad spectrum anti-microbial agent that was first used in health care setting in 1972 and then used in the toothpaste making industry in 1985 in Europe 2. From then onwards, triclosan has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in personal care products, household items, and in hospital settings to control the spread of bacterial illnesses in medical devices 2. In addition to FDA approving the use of triclosan as an over the counter drug for use in personal items and household items, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also regulates triclosan as an anti-microbial agent for the protection of polymers and plastics. However, recent studies prove that anti-microbial agent triclosan is turning to be more harmful than beneficial to humans even though it is effective with high efficacy levels in its mechanisms of action by inhibiting bacterial growth. The word “anti-microbial” has an automatic positive connotation and can also be seen as a misnomer because of the negative effects it has on the human population rather than promoting good health.
In the United States, studies prove that triclosan is known for its high anti-microbial effectiveness and is readily
Weren’t anti-microbial agents considered safe for humans to use and not suppose to be harmful in nature? In recent studies, triclosan, an antibacterial compound is shown to be a harmful agent to humans rather than being helpful in keeping bacterial illnesses away. Presently, antimicrobials agents triclosan and triclocarban are examples of widely used antimicrobials agents in personal care products in United States and many other countries worldwide1. Triclosan is a 2,4,4- tricholoro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether and triclocarbon is a 3,4,4 – trichlorocarbanilide organic compound. One of the more common antimicrobial agents used in many househould products each year, triclosan is a synthetic, lipid-soluble, broad spectrum anti-microbial agent that was first used in health care setting in 1972 and then used in the toothpaste making industry in 1985 in Europe 2. From then onwards, triclosan has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in personal care products, household items, and in hospital settings to control the spread of bacterial illnesses in medical devices 2. In addition to FDA approving the use of triclosan as an over the counter drug for use in personal items and household items, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also regulates triclosan as an anti-microbial agent for the protection of polymers and plastics. However, recent studies prove that anti-microbial agent triclosan is turning to be more harmful than beneficial to humans even though it is effective with high efficacy levels in its mechanisms of action by inhibiting bacterial growth. The word “anti-microbial” has an automatic positive connotation and can also be seen as a misnomer because of the negative effects it has on the human population rather than promoting good health.
In the United States, studies prove that triclosan is known for its high anti-microbial effectiveness and is readily
References: 1. Witorsch RJ, Thomas JA. Personal care products and endocrine disruption: A critical review of the literature. Critical reviews in toxicology. 2010;40(S3):1–30. 2. Fang JL, Stingley RL, Beland FA, et al. Occurrence, efficacy, metabolism, and toxicity of triclosan. Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews. 2010;28(3):147. 3. Saleh S, Haddadin RNS, Baillie S, Collier PJ. Triclosan–an update. Letters in applied microbiology. 4. Schweizer HP. Triclosan: a widely used biocide and its link to antibiotics. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 2001;202(1):1–7.