Occurrence, Efficacy, Metabolism, and Toxicity of Triclosan

Abstract

Triclosan has broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity against most gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. It is widely used in personal care products, household items, medical devices, and clinical settings. Due to its extensive use, there is potential for humans in all age groups to receive life-time exposures to triclosan, and, indeed, triclosan has been detected in human tissues and the environment. Data gaps exist regarding the chronic dermal toxicity and carcinogenicity of triclosan, which is needed for the risk assessment of triclosan. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nominated triclosan to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) for toxicological evaluations. Currently, the NTP is conducting several dermal toxicological studies to determine the carcinogenic potential of triclosan, evaluate its endocrine and developmental-reproductive effects, and investigate the potential UV-induced dermal formation of chlorinated phenols and dioxins of triclosan. This paper reviews data on the human exposure, environmental fate, efficacy of anti-microbial activity, absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination, endocrine disrupting effects, and toxicity of triclosan.

Keywords:

• triclosan
• metabolism
• endocrine disruption effect
• toxicity

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This research was supported by Interagency Agreement 224–07-0007 between the National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences/National Toxicology Program.

This article is not subject to US copyright law.

This article is not an official guidance or policy statements of US Food and Drug Administration. No official support or endorsement by the US Food and Drug Administration is intended or should be inferred.

Notes

*Data obtained from the Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substances Inventory EPA: Washington DC; 2003.