Why Is There Still an Endocrine Disruptor In My Toothpaste?

Three years ago John first wrote There’s A Frog Disruptor In My Soap, including a scary list of products containing the bacteriocide Triclosan. We keep asking Why Is There Still a Frog Disruptor In My Toothpaste? and nothing changes. With the current swine-flu induced handwashing craze, more people are dosing themselves with more Triclosan, even though alcohol-based products work just as well, and Germ Fighters Lead to Hardier Germs.

But this may finally be changing.

Dan Shapley of The Daily Green tells us about a petition has been filed by the Food and Water Watch to the Food and Drug Administration, making the following claims:

The presence of triclosan in the human body (as evidenced by scientificstudies of its activity in blood, urine and breast milk) imposes an immense and dangerous ―body burden. This presence raises concerns about a multitude of threats to humans;

Bacterial resistance to antibiotic medications and antibacterial cleansers is just one category of threats emanating from the growing body burden of triclosan. Suchresistance renders humans (especially vulnerable subpopulations) wide open to bacteria-induced illnesses and death;

Endocrine disruption is another potential result of triclosan bioaccumulation in the body. This effect, in turn, poses serious threats to thyroid and other organ functions, and it can also influence the development of cancer;

Wastewater contamination by triclosan is a serious health threat. Importantly, triclosan products used in the home and in the workplace typically yield residues that flow into wastewater from rinsing, cleaning and other normal activities. Because these residues are not rendered harmless by the wastewater treatment process, they are free to reenter the environment—and ultimately the human body.

And they put this stuff in toothpaste.

The list of organizations supporting the petitition is extensive and impressive, and includes the Sierra Club, the Center for Environmental Health, the Natural Resources Defense Council and more. Perhaps the new and improved FDA will finally listen. Read the petition PDF here

Updated List of Products with Triclosan

Food and Water Watch provides an updated list of products that contain Triclosan:

Neutrogena Deep Clean Body Scrub BarLever 2000 Special Moisture Response Bar Soap, AntibacterialCVS Antibacterial Hand SoapDial Liquid Soap, Antibacterial Bar SoapSoftsoap Antibacterial Liquid Hand SoapCetaphil Gentle Antibacterial Cleansing BarClearasil Daily Face WashClean & Clear Oil Free Foaming Facial CleanserDawn Complete Antibacterial Dish LiquidAjax Antibacterial Dish LiquidColgate Total ToothpasteRight Guard Sport DeodorantOld Spice Red Zone, High Endurance and Classic DeodorantsVaseline Intensive Care Antibacterial Hand Lotion

Support Companies That Do Not Use Triclosan

CleanWellLUSHNature’s GateVermont CountryNaked Soap WorksMiEssencePurell Instant Hand SanitizerIvoryPaul’s OrganicDr. Bronner’s Magic SoapsTom’s of MaineThe Natural DentistListerine Essential CarePeeluWeledaToxic Free Basics

More on Triclosan:There’s A Frog Disruptor In My SoapAntibacterial Cleaners Do More Harm Than Good"Frog Disruptor In My Soap", RevisitedWhy Is There Still a Frog Disruptor In My Toothpaste?Germ Fighters Lead to Hardier GermsGerm Fighters Lead to Hardier Germs

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