Calls for toxic chemicals used in soap and toothpaste to be banned

Experts are calling for a toxic chemical to be banned from use in soap. Photo/Getty Images

Experts are calling for two toxic chemicals to be banned from use in soaps in New Zealand.

Last year in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of triclosan and triclocarban in hand and body soaps.

Research suggests those chemicals had a number of adverse health and environmental impacts but they remain widely used in New Zealand products.

This week, a group of 200 scientists and medical professionals have called on the international community to further restrict the use of the chemicals.

Cawthron environmental toxicologist Dr Louis Tremblay said New Zealand needed to follow suit and ban the unnecessary use of these chemicals in personal care products.

"Triclosan is a wide-spectrum antimicrobial agent used in consumer products including liquid soaps, toothpaste, and plastic children's toys.

"It lasts a long time in the environment and can lead to detrimental effects on aquatic organisms. These chemicals bio-accumulate in aquatic plants and animals, with traces present in human blood and breast milk.

"Research suggests these chemicals can exacerbate allergies, affect reproduction and development, and overuse might contribute to microbial resistance," Tremblay said.

Soaps containing triclosan had been shown to be no more effective at controlling the spread of diseases in the home than soaps without triclosan.

Tremblay said the adverse effects of these chemicals were mainly due to overuse which could result in accumulation. In an environment of increasing number of microbes resistant to common antibiotics, chemicals like triclosan could play a role in keeping people safe when used under the right conditions and purposes.

"Triclosan is active to a range of microbes, so it's a good weapon for use in medical and veterinarian settings, where there are potentially high concentrations of pathogens. Under these circumstances, it makes sense to use this type of chemicals to reduce the spread of disease.

"We should keep in mind that chemicals play an important role in maintaining our quality of life. However, we must use them in ways that maximise their intended benefits while minimising the risk to ourselves and our unique ecosystems.

"More research is needed in New Zealand to better characterise the impacts of so-called emerging contaminants like triclosan and others found in commonly used products."

Recommendations from the Florence Statement

1. Avoid the use of triclosan, triclocarban, and other antimicrobial chemicals except where they provide an evidence-based health benefit (e.g., physician-prescribed toothpaste for treating gum disease) and there is adequate evidence demonstrating they are safe.

2. Where antimicrobials are necessary, use safer alternatives that are not persistent and pose no risk to humans or ecosystems.

3. Label all products containing triclosan, triclocarban, and other antimicrobials, even in cases where no health claims are made.

4. Evaluate the safety of antimicrobials and their transformation products throughout the entire product life cycle, including manufacture, long-term use, disposal, and environmental release.