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What is Triclosan. Banned triclosan and other harmful additives: the whole truth about toothpaste

19.07.2020

Trekrezan: instructions for use and reviews

Latin name: Trekrezan

ATX code: A13A

Active substance: oxyethylammonium methylphenoxiacetate

Producer: JSC Usolye-Sibirskiy Khimfarmzavod (Russia)

Description and photo update: 27.07.2018

Trekrezan is a drug of immunomodulatory, adaptogenic and general strengthening action.

Release form and composition

Trekrezan is produced in the form of tablets: flat-cylindrical, white or white with a yellow or cream shade (10 pcs. In a contoured cell-free or cell package; 10, 20 or 50 pcs. In a glass jar with a plastic lid; in a cardboard box 2 or 5 cell-free, or 1, 2 or 5 cell packs, or 1 can).

Composition of 1 tablet Trekrezan:

active substance: oxyethylammonium methylphenoxyacetate (trerezan) - 200 mg;
additional components: calcium stearate (calcium stearic acid), milk sugar (lactose monohydrate), potato starch.

Pharmacological properties

Pharmacodynamics

Trekrezan belongs to the group of adaptogenic drugs. It stimulates the formation of α- and γ-interferons, activating the humoral and cellular links of immunity, has a positive effect on the immune status of the body, and helps to enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages. Currently, the exact mechanism of action of oxyethylammonium methylphenoxyacetate remains uncertain.

The active substance of the drug, due to its immunological effects, enhances the body's endurance against the background of physical and mental stress, reduces the negative effects of various toxins, increases resistance to hypoxia, low and high temperatures and to any other adverse effects from the environment.

Trekrezan is also characterized by pronounced antitoxic properties used for poisoning with organic solvents, heavy metal salts, ethanol.

Pharmacokinetics

According to the available data, oxyethylammonium methylphenoxyacetate is characterized by high bioavailability and rapid metabolic transformation in the liver. The agent is excreted by the kidneys mainly in the form of glucuronides. With prolonged use, it does not accumulate in the body.

In adolescents 12-18 years old, the elderly, as well as in patients with renal and / or hepatic insufficiency, there is no significant change in the pharmacokinetics of this substance.

Indications for use

acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI), influenza, colds (prevention / treatment) in order to increase immunity;
poisoning with salts of heavy metals;
alcohol withdrawal syndrome;
secondary immunodeficiency states (including during the period of prolonged antibiotic therapy).

Also Trekrezan is used to increase physical and mental performance, prevent overwork, enhance the body's resistance to various stressful influences (overheating, hypothermia, hypoxia, etc.).

Contraindications

age up to 12 years;
impaired absorption of galactose and glucose, lactase deficiency, hereditary lactose intolerance;
pregnancy;
period of breastfeeding;
hypersensitivity to any of Trekrezan's constituents.

The drug should be used with caution in the presence of diabetes mellitus.

Instructions for the use of Trekrezan: method and dosage

Trekrezan tablets are taken orally.

SARS (for prevention), increased immunity: 200 mg (1 tablet) per day, course - 7-14 days;
colds, acute respiratory viral infections, influenza (as part of complex therapy), a period of heavy physical and high intellectual exertion (to improve performance), various stressful effects (to increase resistance): on the first day - 600 mg (3 tablets) per day, then 200 mg daily (1 tablet) per day for 7 days; course duration - 8 days, the total dose of the drug is 2000 mg;
alcohol withdrawal syndrome (to reduce the severity of its manifestations), poisoning with salts of heavy metals: daily 400-600 mg (2-3 tablets) per day for at least 5 days.

If necessary, after 1–2 months after the end of the admission, a second course is possible.

If after 3 days of using Trekrezan there is no improvement in well-being and the severity of the symptoms of the above conditions does not decrease, you should consult a specialist for advice.

Side effects

Against the background of drug treatment, in rare cases, the appearance of allergic reactions in the form of anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock, hypersensitivity reactions, Quincke's edema is possible.

Overdose

Signs of intoxication resulting from an overdose of the drug have not been registered. If this condition is suspected, symptomatic treatment is recommended.

special instructions

With the development of ARVI, it is imperative to consult a doctor if the following disorders occur (since they may indicate a severe course of the disease):

high fever (increased body temperature above 39 ° C);
the presence of symptoms of acute respiratory illness and body temperature above 38.5 ° C for 3 days or more;
increased body temperature, accompanied by shortness of breath, severe pain, seizures, impaired consciousness;
temperature above 37.5 ° C for 14 days or more.

Influence on the ability to drive vehicles and complex mechanisms

During the period of use of Trekrezan tablets, there was no negative effect on the patient's ability to drive complex mechanisms and vehicles.

Application during pregnancy and lactation

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are contraindicated to use Trekrezan, since the safety profile of the drug has not been studied in this category of patients.

Childhood use

It is contraindicated to take Trekrezan to children under 12 years old, since there is no information confirming the safety and effectiveness of its use in this group of patients.

Drug interactions

No undesirable interaction of the drug with other drugs has been recorded.

Analogs

There is no information about Trekrezan's analogues.

Terms and conditions of storage

Store in a dark, dry place out of reach of children.

Shelf life is 2 years.

Apparently, they never caught sight of Leskov's warning, later repeated by Chesterton, that reading alone is a dangerous occupation. True, both classics spoke exclusively about the Bible, but what they said is quite applicable to any other book. Indeed, without the explanations of the mentor, you constantly run the risk of understanding everything as it is written.

E. Lukin. "Thirty-three brave heads"

Triclosan is one of the most controversial ingredients used in modern cosmetics. The refusal of some large companies to use it has given rise to many myths about the dangers of triclosan to human health. Rumors supported by the mass media, which are not based on real research and confirmed facts, give rise to the idea of \u200b\u200b"cosmetics containing triclosan are not trustworthy" in the consumer's mind. The reason for writing this article was a negative opinion about the MODUM rinse agent containing triclosan, expressed on the forum of one of our consumers. Together with the chief technologist of the "Modum - Our Cosmetics" factory, we propose to consider triclosan from various points of view - chemistry, ecology, toxicology, etc. - and understand whether this component is really "harmful".

In September 2013, Procter & Gamble announced its intention to phase out triclosan from its products. Numerous community sites and activist blogs erupted in applause, congratulations and cheers for this "public pressure" historic decision to stop using a toxic substance and called on the company to "keep it up." However, P & G's statement sounds much more restrained, and there is not a word about the toxicity of triclosan - on the contrary, the opposite is emphasized. We provide the text of the statement in full (in the original, you can find it at p&G website).

Triclosan

What is Triclosan?

Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient that slows down or stops the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and molds. It is now used in a wide range of products, from hand soaps to medical devices, shoes, seals, carpets, and more. P&G currently only uses triclosan in antibacterial dishwashing soaps, professional hand soaps, and some personal care products.

Be safe

Triclosan has been used safely in consumer products for decades and has been extensively researched and approved by regulatory authorities around the world.

Triclosan slows down or stops the growth of bacteria that can be harmful, such as salmonella or E. coli.

Feel safe

Although triclosan is known to be safe from numerous studies and compliance audits, there is still debate about its effectiveness in reducing bacteria compared to conventional soap. As we have limited use of this ingredient, we have decided to phase it out by 2014.

For those who prefer triclosan-free products, if the product contains triclosan, the presence of this ingredient will be indicated on the label.

Elena Krasney , chief technologist of SOAO "Perfume and cosmetic factory" Modum-our cosmetics "

Apparently, they never caught sight of Leskov's warning, later repeated by Chesterton, that reading alone is a dangerous occupation. Both classics, however, spoke exclusively about the Bible, but what they said is quite applicable to any other book. Indeed, without the explanations of the mentor, you constantly run the risk of understanding everything as it is written.
E. Lukin. "Thirty-three brave heads"

The reason for writing this article was a negative opinion about the Modum rinse containing triclosan, expressed on the forum of one of the consumers. Together with the chief technologist of the "Modum - Our Cosmetics" factory, we propose to consider triclosan from various points of view - chemistry, ecology, toxicology, etc. - and understand whether this component is really "harmful".

In September 2013, Procter & Gamble announced its intention to phase out triclosan from its products. Numerous community sites and activist blogs erupted in applause, congratulations and cheers for this "public pressure" historic decision to stop using a toxic substance and called on the company to "keep it up." However, P & G's statement sounds much more restrained, and there is not a word about the toxicity of triclosan in it - on the contrary, it emphasizes the opposite. Here is the full text of the statement (the original can be found on the P&G website).

Triclosan

What is Triclosan?

Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient that slows down or stops the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and molds. It is now used in a wide range of products, from hand soaps to medical devices, shoes, seals, carpets, and more. P&G currently only uses triclosan in antibacterial dishwashing soaps, professional hand soaps, and some personal care products.

Be safe

Triclosan has been used safely in consumer products for decades and has been extensively researched and approved by regulatory authorities around the world.

Triclosan slows down or stops the growth of bacteria that can be harmful, such as salmonella or E. coli.

Feel safe

Although triclosan is known to be safe from numerous studies and compliance audits, there is still debate about its effectiveness in reducing bacteria compared to conventional soap. As we have limited use of this ingredient, we have decided to phase it out by 2014.

For those who prefer triclosan-free products, if the product contains triclosan, the presence of this ingredient will be indicated on the label.

Along the way, P&G links to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) triclosan page. It also says that the harmfulness of triclosan for humans has not been established, although research does not stop, and their necessity is emphasized (which is understandable: safety is above all, and reliable data are needed for correct conclusions). But it looks like the FDA page was read diagonally by the cheers ...

The impression is that we are faced with some kind of phenomenon of mass Internet consciousness. It is known that crowd thinking has a number of features. Psychologists say: the crowd does not reason or ponder, it perceives ideas in exclusively holistic images; the judgments of the crowd are always introduced from the outside, imposed and never the result of thoughtful and comprehensive analysis. The crowd does not strive for knowledge of the truth and constantly falls under the influence of illusions, but at the same time it never doubts its own righteousness, the judgments of the mass consciousness are always categorical and intolerant. In the case of the Internet community, this is aggravated by the fact that the world wide web is full of easily accessible and easily perceived information, which, however, very often lacks originality and reliability: texts and abstracts that are massively replicated by copy-paste method do not stimulate independent thinking, but they offer ready-made assessments and behaviors that are easy to understand and repeat. As a result, a lot of user groups appear who are happy to promote their ideas and beliefs (fortunately, the tool for this is always at hand), not particularly caring about the correctness and validity of the statements made.

Sometimes it goes to the extreme. Here is a vivid example: "What does triclosan in toothpaste lead to, but does it lead to muscle atrophy. You simply cease to withstand the load. Have you noticed how people have gotten tired over the past 20 years? (the author's spelling, if you can call it that, is preserved). Wondering what triclosan has to do with being overweight? There is no answer, just "everyone ran - and I ran", I want to speak out and get the approval of readers, but facts - well, what are the facts, why, we already know that "there are enemies around, we are being poisoned, chemistry is harmful and we will all die" , what other arguments are needed! ..

Triclosan from a chemist's point of view

Student (thoughtfully under his breath):
- And what I just don't have in the flask - both iron filings and double bonds ...
ChemPort.ru

Triclosan is a chlorine substituted diphenyl ether with a hydroxyl group in the o-position relative to the ether bond. Chemical name: 5-chloro-2- (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol), also known as 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether.

Structural formula:

This white crystalline substance, practically insoluble in water, is moderately soluble in dilute solutions of alkalis, readily soluble in most polar organic solvents and oils. Thermally and chemically stable. Does not hydrolyze in acids. Slight hydrolysis (about 0.5%) is observed when boiling in a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution for 15 hours. Triclosan is moderately stable in the presence of oxidizing agents, but can slowly degrade when exposed to UV radiation. It is practically non-volatile in the solid state; can be distilled with steam: during the distillation of 800 ml of a 0.125% solution of triclosan, about 200 mg of it were found in the first 500 ml of distillate.

Triclosan is synthesized from 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-methoxydiphenyl ether in the presence of aluminum chloride. The degree of product purity depends on the purity of the starting reagents and on the reaction conditions: the higher the alkalinity of the medium or the temperature, the more unwanted by-products are formed.

What does all this mean when translated from "professional" to "human" language? The fact that triclosan is a chemically quite stable substance that does not tend to react with "neighbors" in a bottle or tube, but requires adherence to simple rules (for example, the ingredient itself and products with it should not be stored in sunlight). The likelihood that you can "breathe in triclosan" in the bathroom, washing your hands with antibacterial soap or brushing your teeth, is vanishingly small: it is partly volatile only when boiling an aqueous solution, which, you must agree, is hardly found in household use of products with it.

Triclosan products are often accused of interacting with chlorinated tap water to form chloroform. However, this statement is unfounded: such a reaction can really take place, but only at a chlorine concentration in water of about 20%, which, you see, is beyond the capabilities of even the most malicious public utilities and fanatically brushing teeth of consumers. Moreover, the scientists themselves who published these results stated that they did not investigate this possibility when using a triclosan toothpaste. The groundlessness of such fears was also confirmed experimentally using a highly sensitive method of analysis: with a lower detection limit for chloroform of about 41 ppb (corresponds to 0.0000041%), it was not possible to find it in the samples studied even in such small quantities.

What is really unpleasant in the method for the synthesis of triclosan is that during the reaction, impurities of other substances can be formed, including polychlorinated p-dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans known for their toxicity and even carcinogenicity, albeit in trace amounts: these are not the substances for which you can close your eyes. They will be discussed in the section on toxicology.

Triclosan from the point of view of a microbiologist

- Nothing is clear.
- Udalov opened his eyes, saw that the doctors were looking at him sternly and cautiously.
- What's the matter?
- And the fact that you came from a backward planet, on which the mass of microbes and viruses. Among them are absolutely unknown to galactic science and, possibly, dangerous to others.
K. Bulychev. Dear microbe.

Triclosan in low concentration is active against a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, including some antibiotic-resistant strains. It also effectively inhibits yeasts and molds and even has some antiviral activity. The antimicrobial activity of triclosan depends on the concentration, and a certain threshold level is required, from which the bacteriostatic, and then the bactericidal action begins, and this threshold level is different for each microorganism.

Triclosan blocks one of the key enzymes that is present in almost all bacteria and is absent in humans, disrupting the synthesis of lipids, which are also necessary for building cell membranes. This explains the broad spectrum of action of triclosan.

Most of the data published to date suggests that there is no evidence that the use of triclosan can lead to the emergence of resistant bacterial populations or an increased risk of developing antibiotic resistance. Nevertheless, since the 1990s, some studies have been known about the resistance of microorganisms to triclosan, however, only in mutant strains obtained by genetic engineering methods. The fact is that the mutant strain does not necessarily survive in vivo: a mutation that ensures the absence or weakening of the binding of triclosan to the active center of the enzyme responsible for lipid synthesis in the cell affects its activity, because the spatial structure of molecules is extremely important for the course of biochemical processes ... Accordingly, the viability of such strains in the natural environment also decreases. Later studies (for example, published in the October issue of the Journal of Food Protection for 2013) confirm this thesis: the response to triclosan in all studied strains of enterococci isolated from meat and dairy products was the same - triclosan effectively inhibited them already at a concentration of 250 mg / l (0.025%). However, a 2006 review of microbial resistance to triclosan, published in the journal Microbial Drug Resistance, reported that a number of studies have been conducted since the early 2000s confirming the potential risk of cross-resistance, and several naturally occurring strains have been identified bacteria resistant to triclosan. At the moment, there are few such examples, there is still a lot of contradiction between the experimental results, there is no connection between the use of triclosan in therapeutic doses and the development of antibiotic resistance, so it is difficult to conduct a full risk analysis. The European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) sees no evidence that triclosan increases antibiotic resistance, but research in this area is ongoing.

Triclosan from the point of view of a toxicologist

Gr. Shchin drilled a hole in my wall and let poison gases through it.
A. and B. Strugatsky. Tale of Troika-2

It has been established that triclosan has low acute oral and dermal toxicity in animal experiments: for example, the LD50 for rats when administered orally is 3700 mg / kg (corresponds to the class of low-hazard substances); LD50 for rabbits when ingested through the skin - 9300 mg / kg (corresponds to the class of non-hazardous substances). For both animals and humans, triclosan is a skin and eye irritant, but it has a very low sensitizing potential. For industrial exposure, the risk of inhalation of triclosan dust should be minimized as much as possible: this is a major occupational risk as triclosan dust is highly irritating to the respiratory tract.

Triclosan itself does not cause an allergic reaction, but, for example, recent studies in mice have shown that in mice with induced asthma, triclosan causes an increase in the allergic reaction to egg albumin. However, it is worth noting that in this experiment the concentration of triclosan was very high - 0.75-3%, i.e., much higher than that allowed for use in cosmetics.

Comprehensive studies made it possible to conclude that triclosan, used in the recommended concentrations and recommended applications, meets modern safety requirements and can be considered as practically non-toxic. Even when swallowed, it is quickly excreted from the body. Toxicological data indicate the absence of bioaccumulation of triclosan in humans, both through the skin and orally.

Evaluation of genotoxicity in vitro and in vivo in some studies showed a positive result, however, according to the results of the overwhelming majority of experiments, no gene toxicity was detected in triclosan. Of the 18 mutagenicity tests, only one cell test was positive, which was not confirmed when re-examined. Cytogenetic analysis of the cells of the oral mucosa in people who used a toothpaste with triclosan showed no DNA damage, cytokinetic defects, influence on proliferative potential and cell death when using a mouthwash containing triclosan, which indicates the absence of genotoxicity.

Both in vitro and in vivo and epidemiological studies have found very little evidence of a negative effect of triclosan on pregnancy and postpartum offspring. Experiments on rabbits and rats have shown no teratogenicity and no effect on fetal development at doses up to 350 mg / kg body weight per day. Moreover, the doses of triclosan reported to cause rare reproductive effects in laboratory animals are several orders of magnitude higher than those that occur in humans in real life. Based on this, it was concluded that there was no noticeable effect of triclosan on reproductive function.

Carcinogenic potential studies in mice, hamsters and rats (oral) have shown no carcinogenicity. Long-term studies in rats, hamsters and monkeys have also shown no carcinogenic potential. According to a review published in the February 2014 issue of the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, a number of studies have even reported triclosan inhibition of cancer cell growth. According to the EU classification system, triclosan is not classified as a carcinogen. Epidemiological data on the carcinogenicity of triclosan in humans are also lacking. The hype raised on the Internet about the alleged stimulation of breast and ovarian cancer by triclosan is based on two or three studies performed on cultures of estrogen-dependent tumor cells, and the results obtained in these studies are far from unambiguous, and even more so from the interpretation that is attributed to them. In addition, direct extrapolation of the data obtained in an in vitro experiment to the behavior of a substance in a living organism is incorrect, so in any case additional and thorough study of this issue is required. In the meantime, we repeat, there is no reason to consider triclosan a carcinogen.

Data obtained on laboratory animals (mice, rats, frogs and zebrafish), in some cases, indicated changes in hormonal levels, in particular, the level of thyroid hormones. However, a 2014 critical review of the endocrine activity of triclosan in humans, published in 2014, suggests that the intake of triclosan in cosmetics and personal care products does not indicate that such cosmetics can negatively affect the thyroid gland. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that such reactions are species-specific: the effects noted in animals will not necessarily be found in animals of another species or in humans, and the applicability of these results to humans is highly controversial (for example, it is believed that the metabolism and excretion of substances from the body from laboratory animals are closest to humans, hamsters; rats, in contrast to humans, are more susceptible to changes in the level of thyroid hormones due to the biochemical characteristics of the body). For example, in a clinical blood study in people who used a 0.3% triclosan toothpaste twice daily for two weeks, no effect of triclosan on thyroid hormone levels was noted. In addition, the doses of triclosan in animal experiments that showed a decrease in the production of thyroid hormones were significantly higher than those that can be observed with daily use of cosmetics with triclosan.

Again, some indications of pro- and anti-estrogenic effects have been noted in experiments on fish and frogs. In "test tube" tests, triclosan binds to both androgen and estrogen receptors with low selectivity; however, three out of four studies showed the absence of estrogenic or uterotrophic activity of triclosan in experimental rats. In estrogen receptor tests on the culture of estrogen-dependent cells, triclosan showed no direct estrogenic activity by itself; in the presence of estradiol, it competed with this hormone by binding to estrogen receptors: at a concentration of triclosan 1000 times higher than that of estradiol, the activity of the latter dropped by 50%. However, clear conclusions from this observation were not made, especially those that would allow one to conclude that there is a danger to humans.

Opponents of triclosan often like to declare its negative effect on the heart muscle, while keeping silent about the fact that the experiments in which these data were obtained were carried out on laboratory mice and zebrafish fry, and there is no data on a similar effect on humans. The entire long history of animal testing of both drugs and cosmetic raw materials unambiguously testifies that the biochemistry of our organisms is in many ways similar, but by no means identical, which, however, does not diminish the advantages of this primary screening tool - you should not just blindly tolerate the results for one kind to another. So the effect of triclosan on fish and frogs can be considered as a significant environmental factor that requires close attention, but is in no way an indisputable confirmation of the same effect on humans.

The lowest acceptable dose of triclosan that does not cause adverse effects is 12 mg / kg body weight per day. Simple calculations show that with a weight of 60 kg, this will amount to 0.72 g of triclosan per day, which is much higher than the actual amount, even though the bioavailability of triclosan in oral hygiene products is regarded as 100%, and in applied to the skin - from 6 to 10%.

However, due to the peculiarities of the structure of the molecule and the synthesis method, traces of such undesirable substances as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans can be found in triclosan as impurities. Their presence or absence depends on the type and purity of the feedstock used in the synthesis of triclosan, as well as on the reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.). In this regard, triclosan used in pharmacopoeia and cosmetics must be checked even for trace amounts of these impurities. In addition, only high-purity pharmacopoeial-quality triclosan can be included in the composition of oral hygiene products, and this approach is strictly followed. The price of this triclosan is higher than the usual brand, for example, for deodorants or antibacterial soaps, but safety comes first. For example, the United States Pharmacopoeia, starting with the 24th edition (1999), establishes requirements not only for the identification and determination of the main substance, but also the methods of quantitation and the maximum allowable amounts of impurities:
- less than 10 μg / g (0.00001%) of monochlorophenols;
- less than 10 μg / g (0.00001%) 2,4-dichlorophenol;
- less than 0.25 μg / g (0.00000025%) 1,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin;
- less than 0.5 μg / g (0.0000005%) 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin;
- less than 0.25 μg / g (0.00000025%) 2,8-dichlorodibenzofuran;
- less than 0.5 μg / g (0.0000005%) 2,4,8-trichlorodibenzofuran;
- less than 1 pg / g (1 10-12%) 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin;
- less than 1 pg / g (1 10-12%) 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran.

These amounts are much lower than the values \u200b\u200brecognized as safe, so that triclosan, in the current practice of its use in cosmetics, can hardly be considered as any significant source of these substances.

Triclosan from the point of view of an ecologist

Below, under the cliff, cool Kitezh majestically carried in its crystal streams the poisonous orange sewage.
A. and B. Strugatsky. The Tale of the Troika.

As for ecotoxicology, it should be noted that there are few data on the toxicity of triclosan for terrestrial organisms: for example, it has been established that it is very low toxic to birds and earthworms. Triclosan is toxic to plants growing on sandy soil, and exhibits high toxicity in relation to a number of inhabitants of fresh water bodies - plants, fish and invertebrates, and its toxicity increases with acidification of water. Freshwater algae are especially sensitive to triclosan.

Both triclosan itself and its minor metabolite methyltriclosan have a high potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms. Bioaccumulation of triclosan also increases with increasing acidity of the water.

When using cosmetics, triclosan can enter the environment from domestic wastewater, as well as from the wastewater of enterprises that produce products with it. This poses a potential risk to aquatic organisms.

The risk of formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the case of photodegradation of triclosan in river water or during wastewater treatment, as it was established by experiments, does not present a threat at the moment. Likewise, the Australian National System for the Notification and Evaluation of Industrial Chemicals believes that there is no need for an urgent assessment of the impact of triclosan on ecosystem health. The ecological risk assessment for terrestrial ecosystems also showed the absence of a significant hazard for natural communities and individual species on which the research was carried out.

However, the potential environmental impacts on microbial communities and aquatic ecosystems should not be underestimated or ignored. Continuous monitoring of triclosan in the environment is necessary, as is the continuation of toxicological and ecotoxicological studies.

Triclosan in cosmetics

Every one necessarily causes benefit, used in its place. On the contrary: the exercises of the best dance master in chemistry are inappropriate; the advice of an experienced astronomer in dancing is stupid.
K. Prutkov

The pioneer of the use of triclosan in cosmetics was the USA: it was there that the first antibacterial soap with triclosan was patented in 1967, and in 1986 the first liquid soap with this ingredient appeared under the Dial trademark. At the same time, triclosan was included in the text of the European Community directive on cosmetics (76/768 / EEC) as a preservative with a permitted concentration of no more than 0.3%. Since then, this antiseptic has started a triumphant march around the world in antibacterial soaps, hand and body lotions, deodorants and even oral hygiene products: the inscription "contains triclosan" on the packaging was very popular. In the late 1980s, Colgate-Palmolive began developing a triclosan toothpaste: during research it was found that a special polymer allows triclosan to remain on the surface of the teeth for up to 14 hours, which can effectively combat bleeding gums and bad breath. Since 1992, this paste under the Colgate Total brand has been successfully marketed outside the United States, where it was only approved by the FDA in 1997 after a careful study of the evidence that triclosan does help with the symptoms of gingivitis and does not pose a health hazard. ... Colgate Total is now the world's best-selling toothpaste. In addition to toothpastes, triclosan has been introduced into mouth rinses for the same purpose.

Today, triclosan has been used in cosmetics for over 40 years. In Europe and in our country, its use in cosmetics is legally limited by the upper limit of 0.3%, in Japan - 0.1%. At this concentration and when used appropriately, triclosan products are considered safe. However, the simultaneous use of several products with triclosan, especially if some of them are applied to large areas of the skin (for example, antibacterial lotions and body creams) seems undesirable. The risk of chronic exposure to triclosan when using cosmetics and personal care products with this ingredient is considered low, but some data from volunteers indicate that repeated use of products with triclosan may slightly increase its exposure - of course, not to a dangerous level, but any substance foreign to the body in large quantities are undesirable.

The ability of antibacterial triclosan soaps to effectively fight bacteria, previously widely used in advertising, is now questioned, and with good reason. For example, in 2007, a study was published that found that soap containing 0.1-0.45% triclosan was by no means more effective in preventing the symptoms of infectious diseases and reducing bacteria on the skin of the hands than regular soap. In addition, as we recall, there is some evidence of the risk of developing microbial resistance. All of this prompted the FDA to declare in December 2013 that the risks associated with prolonged daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh its benefits, and is proposing that manufacturers provide better evidence of the safety and efficacy of such products. If it turns out that such products are unsafe, they will have to either change the recipe and labeling, or even withdraw from the market by 2016. However, oral hygiene products are not covered by the statement: the FDA continues to consider them safe and effective.

Indeed, it is known that the basic task of oral hygiene, which we practice every day in our bathroom, is the mechanical removal of soft (non-mineralized) dental plaque. However, simple mechanical cleaning may not be enough. In this case, it is advisable to use additional methods, including those aimed at suppressing pathogenic microflora. An important role here belongs to local antiseptics in the composition of toothpastes and rinses. Triclosan is one of the two most popular antiseptics in this area, along with chlorhexidine. The safety and effectiveness of triclosan for long-term use in oral hygiene products has been proven many times. For example, a study of the effect of triclosan in toothpaste on plaque reduction, which evaluated data collected over 19 years, showed effective inhibition of microorganisms and no change in their susceptibility to triclosan, including in people who have used triclosan toothpaste for a long time. 5 years. At the end of 2013, a review by the Cochrane Collaboration Group on Oral Hygiene was published, devoted to the analysis of information on toothpastes containing triclosan in combination with a copolymer (recall, the copolymer helps to fix triclosan on the surfaces of the oral cavity, thereby extending its exposure time). The review covered the period from 1946 to 19 August 2013 in MEDLINE and 1980 to 19 August 2013 in EMBASE, as well as information recorded in the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Clinical Trials, the Cochrane Group trial registry on Oral Hygiene and the US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Register. As a result, studies were analyzed, in which about 15 thousand people took part. The authors concluded that there is no serious reason to doubt the safety of triclosan in toothpastes.

There is ample evidence that the use of triclosan, in contrast to chlorhexidine, does not lead to oral dysbiosis or the development of resistant strains, and also does not change the color of the tooth enamel. In addition, a number of publications claim that chlorhexidine can even enhance the formation of supragingival calculus, as it promotes accelerated mineralization of microbial biofilms. Triclosan does not have such a disadvantage. Especially effective is the combined use of toothpaste and mouthwash with triclosan: in this case, a statistically significant decrease in the plaque index for 30 days of use compared to the control was noted, and a faster decrease in gingival bleeding.

It has been proven that with radiation therapy for cancer, a mouthwash with triclosan effectively reduces the symptoms of radiation-induced inflammation of the oral mucosa up to complete disappearance. Thanks to its antibacterial action and inhibition of inflammatory mediators, the positive effect of triclosan on wound healing has been experimentally established, while the safety of such treatment is emphasized.

Triclosan in cosmetics: is there a future

This theorem is only suitable for arguing about it.
G. Lichtenberg

Cosmetics manufacturers are currently speaking on triclosan rather restrainedly, but, nevertheless, under the pressure of mass consciousness and anti-advertising, they are forced to make decisions that might not have been made in other circumstances. P & G's statement on triclosan is not the only one. In 2012, the Johnson & Johnson group of companies made a statement on triclosan. It emphasizes that triclosan is non-toxic to humans, but J&J is committed to removing it from all its products by 2015, again, not because it is dangerous, but (quote) "for the peace of mind of customers." Avon also declares that it is discontinuing the use of triclosan in its products despite the scientific validity of its safety in consumer products due to "preferences expressed by some of our customers for triclosan-free products." Colgate-Palmolive Corporation in 2011 removed triclosan from Palmolive dishwashing liquid and Softsoap liquid soap, but is not going to abandon this ingredient in toothpastes; on the contrary, the company claims that Colgate Total's 0.3% triclosan paste has been tested on numerous occasions not only in the US but around the world, and its safety and effectiveness has been confirmed by more than 80 scientific studies involving 19,000 people. One of the last, which took 5 years, was completed in 2012 and again confirmed the safety of the product. The company emphasizes that it recognizes the value of the current research, carefully studies new information and continually conducts its own research, and expresses the belief that the safety of triclosan in toothpaste will again be confirmed. In contrast, GlaxoSmithKline has removed triclosan from its toothpastes. Unilever also emphasizes that despite the claims of the opponents of triclosan, their own research shows that triclosan is safe at its current level of use in its products, and that this view is consistent with the findings of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the CIR. The company is, of course, committed to closely following research in this area and carrying out its own to ensure the most complete understanding of the safety of this ingredient.

Nevertheless, facts cleverly borrowed from scientific publications are very actively used for intimidation. On sites promoting "cyclonic" cosmetics, you can sometimes even find a reservation: "after receiving this data, scientists said that they were not going to conduct such experiments on people, so as not to endanger their health once again." Of course, after this, the reader should immediately understand all the enormity of the discoveries made - such that the experimenters' blood froze in their veins ... What were the data themselves and their interpretation by the authors, in this case it is not important. But at the same time, it is customary to forget that for more than 40 years of using triclosan, a huge amount of material has already been collected, including with the participation of people, and there is no reason to stir up panic ... True, the mass Internet consciousness somehow does not add up to critical thinking, and the marketing technique works and works effectively. Such techniques are increasingly used to mock competitors and promote their own goods along the way: "all toothpastes are hazardous to health, and only ours are useful, because they do not contain substances A, B and C". For example, a representative of Beautycounter, a company that manufactures and sells its own cosmetics, categorically states that "many cosmetic ingredients have never been evaluated for safety," but "our cosmetics are not like that, because we are guided not only by legal restrictions, but also by our own list of more than 100 substances that we never include in the composition - print it from our website and always carry it with you! ". For a professional, both the blatant falsity of the first statement and the equally frankly market message of the second are obvious, but are there many professionals among those who choose cosmetics on store shelves or on the Internet?

Triclosan: instead of an afterword

- Lead disease! he howled in an ominous voice, throwing up his hands theatrically. - Food poisoning! Carcinogenic walls, floors and ceilings! ... Exhaust and decibels, rare metals in homes, frequent metals in the field, poisoned water, poisoned air, poisoned bread, poisoned milk, flora is dying, the world is dying!
I. Khmelevskaya. Wild squirrel

Indeed, it can be considered an established fact that antibacterial soap, including those containing triclosan, does not provide significant advantages in removing microbes compared to ordinary soap. Indeed, the use of triclosan in products applied to large areas of the skin surface can lead to an increase in its intake. Indeed, at the moment there is a lot of evidence of the safety of triclosan, including in toothpastes and rinses, as well as its apparent effectiveness in maintaining not only good dental status, but also general health. However, we are not encouraging everyone to use triclosan-based oral hygiene products: they are only good where you need them. Check with your dentist if it is advisable for you to use antibacterial pastes and rinses - it is quite possible that the condition of your teeth and gums allows you to do without them, and thus you will reduce artificially created demand and reduce the uncontrolled use of these funds. But where necessary, used for medical reasons, they can bring real benefits, despite the negative PR of some unscrupulous sellers trying to denigrate competitors in order to increase their own sales. And let's not forget that comprehensive studies of triclosan are still ongoing, and not only in relation to human health, but also in terms of its impact on the environment: it is still a substance with a fairly pronounced activity, and not always positive, like any antiseptic. If a combination of factors turns out to be not in favor of triclosan, it will undoubtedly be banned, but hardly the main reason for this will be its danger to people.

Elena Krasney, Chief Technologist of the Perfume and Cosmetic Factory "Modum - Our Cosmetics"

Triclosan is a powerful synthetic antibacterial agent. Triclosan can be found in various types of soaps. Why is triclosan added to soap?

About triclosan

Advertising claims that soap with triclosan added has antibacterial properties and can kill all bacteria that live on the skin. Triclosan slows down and even completely eradicates mold, fungi and other microorganisms. Slows down or completely eliminates inflammatory processes. The substance is added to other hygiene products.

Toothpastes.
Deodorants.
Shower gels.
Washing powders.

In addition to killing bacteria, soaps and other hygiene products with triclosan have an excellent whitening effect.

Medical research

Triclosan is a very dangerous substance and therefore capable of causing harm to human health. Back in the 60s of the last century in the United States, triclosan was used as a pesticide to protect crops from rodents and insects. The substances from which triclosan is made during the American-Vietnamese war, the Americans destroyed the jungle.

Triclosan is capable of destroying not only harmful, but also beneficial microorganisms that live on human skin, leaving the skin and the entire human body unprotected.
Microorganisms that cannot be destroyed by triclosan undergo mutations. Thanks to triclosan, new microorganisms unknown to science are formed on human skin. How this can threaten a person is still unknown to scientists.
When it comes into contact with human skin and gets inside, triclosan mimics a female hormone called estrogen. Such a violation in most cases causes a number of dangerous diseases: ovarian and breast cancer in women, prostate cancer in men.
Frequent use of antibacterial triclosan soap has been shown to induce premature puberty.
Triclosan has a negative effect on the thyroid gland.
The substance gradually accumulates in the body, which prevents muscle fibers from contracting normally, disrupting the normal action of the muscles, which causes heart and vascular disease.
Triclosan interferes with the absorption of antibiotics that are commonly used to treat infectious diseases.
It significantly lowers the immune system, which causes many serious diseases. Lowered immunity is especially dangerous for children.
Triclozone, interacting with the water you wash with (or rather, not with the water itself, but with the chlorine that is present in the water), forms dioxides that penetrate into the blood. Such penetration can cause blood cancer.
Triclosan pollutes the environment and kills creatures living in nature, as triclosan causes various mutations in them.

When will triclosan be banned?

In Europe and the USA they are already trying to ban it. Since 2017, some states of America have already banned the sale of goods and products containing triclosan. Many countries of Western Europe are going to introduce such a ban this year.

The Russian government has not yet puzzled itself with this question, and therefore the so-called "antibacterial" hygiene products are currently being sold freely in our country.

Saponified mixture of olive and coconut oils - promotes the formation of lather.
Avocado and mango oils - serve to soften the skin.
Water - serves for moisturizing.
Glycerin - creates a film to retain moisture, moisturizes the skin.
Verbena extract and sea buckthorn oil - nourish the skin.
Vitamin E - nourishes the skin.
Jojoba oil - serves as a soap softener.
Essential oils of verbena, lemon grass and lavender - give the soap a harmonious and unique scent.

Verbena soap delicately, safely and gently cares for and heals the skin.

How much is?

Price - from 60 to 120 rubles per package, depending on the region.

Consists of coconut oil which gives a foam.
To soften the drying effect of coconut, caring oils of vegetable origin are added to the soap: grape seed oil, castor oil.
For antibacterial effect - tea tree oil.

This soap can be used to wash your skin and hair. It is especially recommended to use it when washing with hard water.

Triclosan (5-chloro-2- (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol) is an antibacterial agent. A popular ingredient in cosmetics such as soaps, deodorants, and toothpastes. Recently, many manufacturers of cosmetics refuse to use it, because some studies indicate the possible danger of long-term use of products containing triclosan. Supporters of "natural cosmetics" add fuel to the fire.

Let's try to figure it out:

Horror story:	Criticism:
Triclosan is a deadly poison.	However, laboratory studies carried out on mice and dogs have shown that a single half-lethal dose (LD 50) of triclosan is 4000-5000 mg per 1 kg of live weight. For a person of average build, this will be approximately 300-350 g. As an example: a lethal dose of the most common analgin - 15-20 g, and a lethal dose iodine - 2-3 g.
Triclosan inhibits nerve impulses, negatively affecting muscle contractility.	The popular and respected American journal Science News published an article "Antibacterial agent can weaken muscle" ( in English), which claims that triclosan affects calcium channels, and this negatively affects the work of muscles, especially the heart. After injecting a hundredth of the lethal dose into the heart muscle of the mouse, the researchers stated the death of the experimental animal from heart failure within a minute. Many doubt the scientific value of such an experience. Indeed, by introducing several "cubes" of air into a blood vessel, one can achieve death from embolism, but after this experience no one dares to assert that air is harmful to the body. Be that as it may, the depressing effect of triclosan has been recorded, but the degree of its harm has not yet been established.
Triclosan is a mutagen. Triclosan produces super bacteria.	It's true. Deadly to bacteria, triclosan makes them adapt. Resistant bacteria will appear sooner or later. But this is not some special property of triclosan. Any antibiotic has similar properties. It is not excluded that the most pessimistic predictions will come true and HIV will seem childish to us in comparison with a new infection.
Triclosan kills not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria.	It's true. Triclosan, not sorting out the right and the wrong, destroys everything in its path. This, in turn, provokes a weakening of the immune system, increasing the likelihood of such diseases as asthma and various allergies. Again, this property is not specifically triclosan, but any antibacterial agent.
Triclosan negatively affects the development of the fetus.	It's hard to say anything for sure. Some studies argue that, indirectly, through a change in hormonal levels, triclosan impairs the blood supply to the embryo, causing hypoxia (more than a controversial formulation, of dubious scientific value). Other studies conducted on mice diagnose the complete absence of any effect, even at fairly large doses (more recently, something similar was said about tobacco smoking). It can only be assumed that triclosan has an effect, but the extent of this effect and the dosage are not yet clear.
Triclosan accumulates in the body.	It is not true. With long-term use, triclosan is found in all body fluids. that is, it is easily excreted in the urine. No cumulative effect was found for triclosan.

Output: Triclosan is the most common antibacterial ingredient that has been closely monitored by pharmacists for more than half a century. All the cons of triclosan are an extension of the pros. One thing's for sure - it's best not to use antibacterial soap (or any other product) constantly, regardless of whether the antibacteriality is achieved with triclosan or another agent.