Canada to declare Triclosan as toxic to environment

The Canadian government is considering to declare triclosan as toxic to the environment, a move which will help reduce use of the bacteria killer in personal care products.

Health Canada-conducted studies found that triclosan impacts the body’s endocrine system and contributes to antibiotic resistance development, reports leaderpost.com.

According to the government’s draft risk management report, triclosan is toxic to the environment with not enough evidence to declare hazardous to human health.

The Canadian government reviewed triclosan’s safety under the government’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) and its proposed toxic designation comes as other regulators also wrestle as to what has to be done with triclosan.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also states the valid concerns about the health effects on the daily triclosan exposure and plans to introduce its own risk management in future.

Under the American regulator’s position triclosan ‘is not known to be hazardous to humans’ but ‘animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation’ and that it needs further review, the report stated.

Triclosan is used in toothpastes, mouthwashes and anti-bacterial soaps and various other personal care products.

In 2006 the government first announced a $300m startup budget to identify 200 ‘high priority’ chemicals to undergo assessment over five years and during the first phase it banned the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles.

Last fall, CMP reviewed another funding when health minister Leona Aglukkaq and environment minister Peter Kent announced the program’s renewal with more than $500m over five years.

The government then said that it would be looking at other chemicals including phthalates, flame retardants, boron, selenium and others along with finalizing its risk assessment of triclosan.