Triclosan in Your Home
Reports & Consumer Guides
Pesticide in Soap, Toothpaste and Breast Milk - Is It Kid-Safe?: Triclosan in Your Home
July 17, 2008
Where can you find triclosan in your home?
Triclosan can be found almost everywhere. Mouse over the map below to see common household products and furnishings that may contain triclosan. What's shown is based on EWG's review of 65 industry documents and government databases on approved uses for this persistent, ubiquitous pesticide.
Table 1. Triclosan can be found in more than 140 types of personal care and home products
EWG identified triclosan-containing products from 3 government databases, Skin Deep cosmetics database, and 61 industry documents [see representative examples]
| Where is triclosan found? | |
| Bedroom |
Bed spreads6 Blankets1,5,6 Comforters6 Duvets6 Mattress and pillow coverings4,5 Mattress pads6 Mattresses2 Mattress and pillow ticking1,5,6 Pillow fillings and fiber fill1,6 Pillowcases6 Pillow shams6 Sheets5,6 Quilts and quilt fabric1,4 |
| Bathroom |
Bathtubs and bathtub enclosures5 Bath accessories6 Bath rugs6 Caulking (tub and tile)5 No-slip (rubber) bath mats5 Shower curtains2 Shower stalls5 Tile1,4,5 Toilet covers and seats4,5,6 Toilet bowls and urinals2 Towels5,6 |
| Kitchen |
Countertops5 Covers for tabletops and countertops1,4 Cutting boards5,6 Dishwashing liquid9 Food and condiment storage containers5,6 Food service wipes1,4 Napkins1,5,6 Sponges6 Storage containers for appliances2 Tablecloths6 Tabletops5 |
| Personal care products |
Acne treatment3 Antiperspirant/deodorant3,9 Antiseptics and dressings for wound care2 Body spray3 Body wash/cleanser3,9 Combs5,6 Cosmetic containers1 Diaper cream3 Facial cleanser3,9 Facial moisturizer/treatment3 Facial tissues2 Hairbrushes - bristles and handles1,4,5,6 Hand lotion9 Incontinence care products1,4,5,6 Lipstick3,9 Liquid hand soap3 Razors2 Shave gel9 Toothbrushes - bristles and handles2 Toothpaste3,9 |
| Lawn and garden |
Garden hose10 Mulch2 |
| Clothing and other apparel |
Aprons (food service, home)1,4,5,6 Athletic shirts/athletic wear1,4,5,6 Baby bibs1,4,5 Boots7 Caps6 Clothing inner linings6 Clothing trim5 Coats (coats' shells and fill)6 Dresses1,4,5,6 Footwear5 General wear clothing5 Gloves (non-medical)1,4,5,6 Golf shirts6 Gowns (medical and consumer)1,4,5 Hosiery1,4,5,6 Intimate apparel1,4,5,6 Non-woven products6 Rain wear10 Running gear1,4,5 Shoe inner soles1,4 Shoe lining1,4 Shoes1,4 Sleepwear6 Socks1,4,5 Sports apparel1,4,5,6 Sweatshirts/t-shirts4 Uniforms (service, medical, dental, sports)1,4,5,6 Wet suits1,4,5,6 |
| Sports, parks and recreation |
Automotive interiors5 Boating/marine equipment5 Convertible tops6 Exercise and gym equipment5 Playground equipment1,4 Playing cards6 Portable toilets1,4 Swimming pool liner10 Tents2 Toys1,4,5 Whirlpools5 |
| Home furnishings and materials |
Air filter materials2 Awnings (indoor and outdoor)2 Blanket brushes4 Cloths5 Curtains5,6 Draperies5,6 Furniture fabrics and coverings2 Furniture foam cushions1,4 Handles and knobs5 HVAC coils8 Tarpaulins6 Wall coverings6 Window curtains5 |
| Cleaning products |
Brooms6 Brushes1,4 Buckets6 Carpet shampoos2 Cleaning fluids9 Fabric softeners2 Floor waxes/sealers/emulsions2 Garbage bags/garbage can liners2 Garbage cans/waste bins2 Laundry detergents2 Mops4,6 Stone surface cleaners 9 Vacuum bags5 Vacuum cleaner components5 |
| Floor coverings |
Door and floor mats1,4 Rugs and carpets2 |
| Storage containers and linings |
Blanket bags1 Clothing storage containers1,4 Garment bags1,4 Tray liners4 |
| Other home products |
Electronics storage containers5 Floral containers1,4,5 Humidifier components5 Instrument cases5 Pet bedding4 Pet shampoos9 Pet training pads4 Phones5 |
| In your wallet |
Credit cards5 Currency (paper money)5 Driver's licenses1 Personnel cards1 |
| Miscellaneous |
Cubicle curtains1,4 Food distribution carts1,4 Food service trays1,4 Menu materials1,4,5 |
| Medical |
Bed pans4,5 Medical devices2 Medical and dental trays1 Wheels for medical carts1,4 X-ray holders1,4 |
| Construction & Consumer Product Materials |
Adhesives2 Caulk2 Cellulosic material2 Coatings2 Concrete2 Fabric2 Films2 Floor drains5 Flooring (concrete, plastic, floor covering)2 Grease traps Grout2 Hosing5 Ink2 Insulation2 Paints2,5 Paper and paperboard products1,4 Paper mulch1,4 Plastic2 Plumbing (outer metallic coating)1,4,5 Polyethylene2 Polypropylene2 Polyurethane2 Rope2 Rubber2 Sealants2 Slurries2 Styrene2 Synthetic polymer2 Textiles2 Vinyl2 |
| Industrial |
Appliance housings5 Air filters5 Air filtration media5 Carts5 Closure cans5 Conveyor belts2 Dye bath vats2 Earplugs5 Fire hoses2 Ice making equipment (water pans, piping, tubing, guards)2 Respirator mask components5 Tabletops5 Trays5 Wipes5 Wraps (silage)5 |
1 Ciba 2006
2 EPA 2008a
3 EWG 2008
4 Huntsman International 2007
5 Microban Products Company 1997, 2000
6 Sanitized Inc 1998
7 Thomson Research Associates 2007
8 Aeris Technologies 2007
9 US Department of Health and Human Services 2008
10 Sanitized Inc 2003