Triclosan: What It Is & Effects

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Triclosan is a chemical ingredient with antibacterial properties. In 2016, the FDA ruled companies couldn’t sell triclosan-containing consumer products such as antibacterial soaps anymore. They stated these products haven’t proven to be any more effective than plain soap and water. Scientists are still studying the health effects of triclosan.

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Triclosan is a chemical ingredient added to many different products. The chemical has antibacterial properties that prevent or stop bacterial growth and contamination. In the past, triclosan’s germ-killing capabilities made it a common additive in many over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps and body washes.

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In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of consumer antiseptic wash products containing triclosan. This included about 40% of all soaps sold. You were supposed to use these antimicrobial products with water and rinse them off after use. The FDA stated that these products may not be safe, and they work no better than regular soap and water.

In addition, research indicates that antibacterial soaps may be creating drug-resistant bacteria. They could also be causing long-term health issues.

A wide range of consumer products contain triclosan. More than 80% of triclosan usage is in personal care products, cosmetics and household cleaning products. These products contain between 0.1% and 0.3% triclosan. These include items regulated by the FDA, such as:

• Fluoride toothpaste.
• Mouthwashes.
• Facial cleansers.
• Aftershave.
• Deodorants and body sprays.
• Lotions and creams.
• Cosmetics.
• Detergents and dishwashing liquids.

Triclosan is part of other materials, including pesticides and textiles. It keeps these materials resistant to bacterial growth. Clothing, shoes, carpeting, furniture, toys and kitchenware all contain the ingredient. The FDA doesn’t regulate these products.

Triclosan’s first use was as a pesticide in the 1960s. It’s now an ingredient in commercial and industrial equipment such as conveyor belts and HVAC coils. In residential and public access areas, it’s used in flooring, shower curtains and mattresses.

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In 2013, the FDA asked the makers of antibacterial soaps and body washes to provide data proving the products were safe for long-term daily use. They also wanted proof that these products were better at preventing infections than products that didn’t contain triclosan.

Researchers examined data from many different studies. They found that people who washed with plain soap had the same chances of getting sick as people who used antibacterial soap containing triclosan.

The FDA declared the makers of these products didn’t come up with the necessary data to prove the safety and effectiveness of triclosan. They stated that washing with antibacterial hand soap hadn’t proven to be any more effective than washing your hands with ordinary soap and water.

In December 2016, the FDA issued a final rule regarding certain OTC consumer products containing triclosan. They decided companies could no longer sell antibacterial soaps and other products in the United States.

The FDA’s rule doesn’t affect hand sanitizers or antibacterial wipes. It also doesn’t include antibacterial products used in health care settings. If soap and water aren’t available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead. The sanitizer should contain at least 60% ethyl alcohol or 70% isopropyl alcohol.

There’s evidence that triclosan may provide a benefit in some consumer products. For example, the FDA studied data on the ingredient in a certain toothpaste. The data showed that triclosan in that toothpaste was effective in preventing gingivitis.

But for most other products, the FDA hasn’t received evidence that the ingredient provides any kind of benefit to human health.

When you use products containing triclosan, your body can absorb small amounts of it. Your skin or mouth can absorb the ingredient within one to four hours.

In a study, the CDC measured triclosan in the pee (urine) of 2,517 participants ages 6 and older. Scientists can estimate the amount of the chemical in people’s bodies by measuring the amount in their urine. They found triclosan in the urine of almost 75% of the people tested. That means so many personal care products contain the ingredient that nearly three-fourths of the U.S. population is likely to have been exposed to it.

Finding measurable amounts of the chemical in urine doesn’t make triclosan bad. But researchers don’t know the exact effects of it on the human body. Some data suggest that antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan may do more harm than good over the long term. Several studies have shown that long-term exposure to the chemical could pose health risks. This could range from allergies to bacterial resistance.

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One study described the role that triclosan may have in developing allergies and sensitivities to certain foods. Certain products containing the ingredient cause skin irritation.

Triclosan is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. That means it can harm your endocrine system, leading to issues with proper hormone function. Some animal studies have shown that exposure to high amounts of the ingredient may cause a decrease in certain thyroid hormones. Exposure to the ingredient is of particular concern to females. That’s because it can cross the placenta and enter breast milk.

Studies regarding the role of triclosan in cancer go both ways. Some studies suggest that long-term exposure to the chemical increases your risk of certain cancers. But other studies have shown it has the potential to be used as a treatment for cancer, particularly prostate cancer.

Studies have also shown that exposure to triclosan may make certain bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Researchers estimate that by 2050, one person will die every three seconds if the healthcare sector doesn’t address the issue of antibiotic resistance. That’s 10 million people each year. However, more research needs to be done to assess the level of risk that triclosan poses for the development of antibiotic resistance.

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Triclosan is a germ-killing chemical ingredient. But scrubbing your hands with a product containing it isn’t any more effective than using regular soap and water. In addition, researchers don’t fully know the effects of long-term exposure to the chemical. So wash your hands with plain soap and water to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. You may want to check the labels of other consumer products that may contain triclosan.

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Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.

Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Triclosan Factsheet (https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Triclosan_FactSheet.html). Accessed 10/10/2022.
• McNamara PJ, Levy SB. Triclosan: an Instructive Tale (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5118979/). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2016;60(12):7015-7016. Accessed 10/10/2022.
• Sinicropi MS, Iacopetta D, Ceramella J, et al. Triclosan: A Small Molecule with Controversial Roles (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35740142/). Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 May 30;11(6):735. Accessed 10/10/2022.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Triclosan (https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/triclosan). Accessed 10/10/2022.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Multiple pages reviewed for this article (https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-triclosan). Accessed 10/10/2022.
• Weatherly LM, Gosse JA. Triclosan exposure, transformation, and human health effects (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6126357/). J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2017;20(8):447-469. Accessed 10/10/2022.

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