Consumer Products using Triclosan as Antimicrobial Agent in the Tropical Environment: Safe or Unsafe?

Abstract

The tropical environments of the world receive the highest solar radiation throughout the year with an average annual temperature of not less than 180°C. The use of triclosan as an antimicrobial agent in consumer products such as toothpastes, mouthwash, soaps, under arm deodorants, liquid dishwashing soap and household equipment like textiles materials, toys and plastic kitchenware in this environment exponentially increased over the last few decades and its ability to form low chlorinated dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans) on intense solar radiation and incineration has posed a great risk potential to human health and the aquatic environments. This article aimed to create awareness to the general public on the potentially associated risks of using Triclosan containing materials and its possible implications on human health and the aquatic environments. Humans and aquatic animals get in contact with triclosan through oral, dermal, inhalation and accidental ocular exposures. In many temperate developed countries like US, UK, Canada and Australia, risk assessments was conducted on triclosan and its associated risks to Human health and aquatic environment, despites its traces in human body fluids and aquatic animal tissues, it is concluded that triclosan entering the environment in a way that poses no threat to humanity and aquatic lives. This conclusion came up with lots of uncertainties and conservatism especially due to a lack of adequate data to fully characterize the exposure to triclosan for the representation of the general population, dose estimation and conversion of spot urine samples for all age groups, adequacy of the margin of exposure (MOEs) and spatial differences between places. Moreover, indepth research on triclosan and its potentialities to affect human health and the aquatic environment is strongly recommended especially in the developing tropical countries in order to create awareness to the general public.