Triclosan / triclocarban
Toxins · Antimicrobial
Moderate priority
What this is
FDA 2016 antibacterial soap ban was a major regulatory action. Long-running key finding: no evidence antibacterial soaps work better than plain soap for household handwashing. Persists in water treatment sludge applied to agricultural soil as biosolids.
Mechanism
Chlorinated bisphenol antimicrobials formerly ubiquitous in antibacterial soaps, toothpastes, cutting boards/fabrics; endocrine and thyroid effects; drives antibiotic resistance; FDA banned from consumer soaps 2016
Dose & route
Plain soap and water; avoid antibacterial-labeled products
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27625421/
- https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6140667/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.