SATURDAY NOV. 10, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Antibacterial triclosan could have an effect on humans as it shows estrogenic and androgenic activity in breast cancer cells, UK researchers reported in a study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.

It has been found that Triclosan causes endocrine disruption of aquatic wildlife as this toxic substance has become distributed ubiquitously across the ecosystem, according to the researchers from The University of Reading in Reading, UK.

In terms of estrogenic activity, triclosan displaces [(3)H] estradiol from estrogen receptors (ER) of MCF7 human breast cancer cells and from recombinant human ERalpha/ERbeta.

The antibacterial also has androgenic activity and it displaces [(3)H] testosterone from binding to the ligand binding domain of the rat androgen receptor (AR), according to the study.

Studies have found that using an antibacterial soap with triclosan releases chloroform in warm tap water, a toxic gas that can harm the lungs.

Scientific evidence shows that addition of triclosan does not add any extra value when it comes to the antibacterial effect.   Common soap with water does the same job as any antibacterial.

Source:

J Appl Toxicol. 2007 Nov 9

Oestrogenic and androgenic activity of triclosan in breast cancer cells.Gee RH, Charles A, Taylor N, Darbre PD

School of Biological Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AJ, UK