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TRICLOSAN

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COMMONLY FOUND IN


SYNONYMS

BR-73001, AK-73001, ST50826110, C12059, D06226, J10025, M-6446, S00100, 5-CHLORO-2-(2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXY)PHENOL, 97%, FT-0609773

Common Concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • MODERATE
    Asthma / Respiratory
  • SOME
    Skin Allergies & Irritation
  • SOME
    Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
  • No Data
    Cancer
  • No Data
    Environment


Top Scoring Factors

Evidence of chronic aquatic toxicity; acute aquatic toxicity; general ecotoxicity


Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
Health Issue Level of Concern Source
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Very toxic to aquatic life

high

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

high

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Asthmagen (sensitizing)

moderate

Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC): AOEC Exposure Code List (2020 Update)

European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has high chronic toxicity to aquatic life

some

EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database

European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has very high acute toxicity to aquatic life

some

EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database

This review article reports triclosan can act as an endocrine disruptor

some

Andrea B. Dann & Alice Hontela. 2011. Triclosan: environmental exposure, toxicity and mechanisms of action. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT 31(4), 285-311.

risk of promoting bacterial resistance

some

Gilles Bedoux, Benoit Roig, Olivier Thomas, Virginie Dupont & Barbara Le Bot. 2012. Occurrence and toxicity of antimicrobial triclosan and by-products in the environment. Environmental science and pollution research international 19(4), 1044-65.

risk of developing antimicrobial-resistant bacteria

some

Allison E. Aiello, Elaine L. Larson & Stuart B. Levy. 2007. Consumer antibacterial soaps: effective or just risky?. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 45 Suppl 2, S137-47.

Known to cause cancer

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Known to cause reproductive toxicity

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

alters endocrine function in a variety of species

some

Leah M. Zorrilla, Emily K. Gibson, Susan C. Jeffay, Kevin M. Crofton, Woodrow R. Setzer, Ralph L. Cooper & Tammy E. Stoker. 2009. The effects of triclosan on puberty and thyroid hormones in male Wistar rats. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 107(1), 56-64.

alters endocrine function in a variety of species

some

Leah M. Zorrilla, Emily K. Gibson, Susan C. Jeffay, Kevin M. Crofton, Woodrow R. Setzer, Ralph L. Cooper & Tammy E. Stoker. 2009. The effects of triclosan on puberty and thyroid hormones in male Wistar rats. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 107(1), 56-64.

decreases thyroid hormone levels

some

Katie B. Paul, Joan M. Hedge, Ruby Bansal, R. Thomas Zoeller, Robert Peter, Michael J. Devito & Kevin M. Crofton. 2012. Developmental triclosan exposure decreases maternal, fetal, and early neonatal thyroxine: Dynamic and kinetic evaluation of a putative mode-of-action. Toxicology.

decreases thyroid hormone levels

some

Katie B. Paul, Joan M. Hedge, Michael J. Devito & Kevin M. Crofton. 2010. Short-term exposure to triclosan decreases thyroxine in vivo via upregulation of hepatic catabolism in Young Long-Evans rats. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 113(2), 367-79.

Triclosan may negatively affect immune function in people

some

Erin M. Rees Clayton, Megan Todd, Jennifer Beam Dowd & Allison E. Aiello. 2011. The impact of bisphenol A and triclosan on immune parameters in the U.S. population, NHANES 2003-2006. Environmental health perspectives 119(3), 390-6.

triclosan affected estrogen-mediated responses and suppressed thyroid hormone

some

Tammy E. Stoker, Emily K. Gibson & Leah M. Zorrilla. 2010. Triclosan exposure modulates estrogen-dependent responses in the female wistar rat. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 117(1), 45-53.

A peer-reviewed study reports that triclosan impairs cardiac and skeletal muscle function.

some

Gennady Cherednichenko, Rui Zhang, Roger A. Bannister, Valeriy Timofeyev, Ning Li, Erika B. Fritsch, Wei Feng, Genaro C. Barrientos, Nils H. Schebb, Bruce D. Hammock, Kurt G. Beam, Nipavan Chiamvimonvat & Isaac N. Pessah. 2012. Triclosan impairs excitation-contraction coupling and Ca2+ dynamics in striated muscle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 109(35), 14158-63.

Causes skin irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

NTP Toxcast scored 2.5-3.5

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis

Organohalogen compounds are often found to be persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative, and associated with chronic health concerns

some

Prasada Rao S. Kodavanti & Bommanna G. Loganathan. 2017. Organohalogen Pollutants and Human Health. International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 359-366.

Causes serious eye irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Suspected of causing cancer

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Known to cause cancer

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Known to cause reproductive toxicity

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Carcinogenic to humans

some

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Agents classified by the IARC Monographs (through Volume 127)

Clear evidence of endocrine disruption in at least one animal study

some

EU Endocrine: EU Endocrine Disrupters

Known To Be Human Carcinogen

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens

Probably carcinogenic to humans

some

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) - Cancer

Reasonably Anticipated To Be Human Carcinogen

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens

Causes skin irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

central nervous system impairment

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

embryo/fetal damage

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

liver damage

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Harmful if swallowed

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Possibly carcinogenic to humans

some

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Agents classified by the IARC Monographs (through Volume 127)

Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

suspected of causing cancer

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

toxic if inhaled

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

may cause drowsiness or dizziness

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

Harmful if swallowed

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

Causes skin irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

causes serious eye irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

EPA testing shows this substance has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life

low

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA Fathead Minnow Acute Toxicity Database

EPA testing shows this substance has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life

low

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA Fathead Minnow Acute Toxicity Database

The European Union Ecolabel program reports this substance in inherently biodegradable.

low

EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database



Understanding scores

EWG provides information on cleaning product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Healthy Cleaning ingredient hazard score, from A to F, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend


4

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