Triclosan / triclocarban
Toxins · Antimicrobial
Moderate priority
Bottom line
Read Off Label rates Triclosan / triclocarban a MODERATE avoidance priority (4.1/10) based on moderate evidence of low-med harm magnitude and declining exposure prevalence.
FDA 2016 antibacterial soap ban was a major regulatory action.
The intervention here is reducing exposure, not adding a compound.
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/
Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.
Common questions
- How harmful is Triclosan / triclocarban?
- Triclosan / triclocarban is rated MODERATE avoidance priority (4.1/10) on the Read Off Label scale, derived from moderate evidence of low-med harm magnitude and declining exposure prevalence.
- How does Triclosan / triclocarban cause harm?
- 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
- How do you reduce exposure to Triclosan / triclocarban?
- FDA 2016 antibacterial soap ban was a major regulatory action.
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.