TRICLOSAN
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Contamination concerns (high)
Cancer 

Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity 

Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity 

Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
toothpaste | 3 products |
facial cleanser | 1 products |
Contamination concerns
Chemical |
---|
CHLOROFORM |
DIOXINS |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Classified as irritant | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature |
Use restrictions
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients |
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit) | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics |
Endocrine disruption
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Affects thyroid hormone-associated gene expression and disrupts postembryonic development. Findings on the control of amphibian metamorphosis enhance our understanding of the regulation of postembryonic development by thyroid hormone in mammals and other | Veldhoen N, Skirrow RC, Osachoff H, Wigmore H, Clapson DJ, Gunderson MP, Van Aggelen G, Helbing CC, 2006 "The bactericidal agent triclosan modulates thyroid hormone-associated gene expression and disrupts postembryonic anuran development," Aquat Toxicol. 2006 Dec 1;80(3):217-27. Tata JR. "Amphibian metamorphosis as a model for studying the developmental actions of thyroid hormone." Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 1998;59(6):433-42. |
One or more studies show moderate endocrine disruption | Zorrilla LM, Gibson EK, Jeffay SC, et al 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. |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Lab animal and cell studies show triclosan can weaken cardiac and skeletal muscle contractions. | Cherednichenko G, Zhang R, Bannister RA, Timofeyev V, Li N, Fritsch EB, et al 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): 14158-14163. |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Triclosan may negatively affect immune function in people | Rees Clayton EM, Todd M, Beam Dowd J, Aiello AE 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. |
Ecotoxicology
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Wildlife and environmental toxicity | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data gaps
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
1875 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Informational
Concern | Reference |
---|---|
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Data Sources
- CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP.
- Emerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature
- Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007.
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- Veldhoen N, Skirrow RC, Osachoff H, Wigmore H, Clapson DJ, Gunderson MP, Van Aggelen G, Helbing CC, 2006 "The bactericidal agent triclosan modulates thyroid hormone-associated gene expression and disrupts postembryonic anuran development," Aquat Toxicol. 2006 Dec 1;80(3):217-27. Tata JR. "Amphibian metamorphosis as a model for studying the developmental actions of thyroid hormone." Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 1998;59(6):433-42.
- Zorrilla LM, Gibson EK, Jeffay SC, et al 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.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- Cherednichenko G, Zhang R, Bannister RA, Timofeyev V, Li N, Fritsch EB, et al 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): 14158-14163.
- Rees Clayton EM, Todd M, Beam Dowd J, Aiello AE 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.
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® RATINGS
EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below 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. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer