Toothpaste Cancer Alert

Toothpaste Cancer Alert


By Mark Prigg Science Correspondent And Rebecca
Lawrence, Evening Standard
15 April 2005

Dozens of toothpastes sold at supermarkets are at the
centre of a cancer alert today.

Anti-bacterial cleaning products, including dishwashing
liquid and handwash, are also affected.

Researchers have discovered that triclosan, a chemical in
the products, can react with water to produce chloroform
gas. If inhaled in large enough quantities, chloroform can
cause depression, liver problems and, in some cases,
cancer.

An Evening Standard investigation found dozens of
products on supermarket shelves containing the chemical,
from brand names including Colgate, Aquafresh, Dentyl
and Sensodyne.

Marks& Spencer confirmed today it was removing
products containing triclosan from all its stores and has
been working with Greenpeace to develop alternative
products.

Asda said it was investigating the problem and would be
urgently talking to its suppliers.

Giles Watson, a toxicology expert at wildlife charity
WWF, warned that the long-term effects of exposure to
chloroform were still unknown and advised consumers to
check the bottles before buying products.

"These products produce low levels of chloroform, but
that adds up over time. The amount of gas formed is very
low but I think the key thing is that we just don't know
what the effects are. However, manufacturers do have to
list triclosan on their ingredients, so if consumers are
worried the best advice is to avoid products with the
chemical."

A Tesco spokesman said: "We do not use triclosan in any
of our own-brand products, apart from one anti-bacterial
handwash, which is being reformulated, and our
toothpaste. We believe that triclosan is a very effective
ingredient in toothpaste as it helps fight gum disease and
improve overall oral care."

The Department of Trade and Industry said use of
triclosan was tightly controlled under EU laws brought in
last year, but that they were under constant review.
Researchers in the US found that the chlorine added to
water in Britain reacted with triclosan to produce
chloroform-gas. They found that it was possible for the
chloroform produced when soap containing the chemical
mixes with chlorinated water to be absorbed through the
skin or inhaled. Professor Peter Vikesland, of Virginia
Tech University, who carried out the research, said: "This
is the first work that we know of that suggests that
consumer products, such as antimicrobial soap, can
produce significant quantities of chloroform." He has
called for governments around the world to regulate the
chemical more closely.

Products affected

Triclosan is in:

Dentyl mouthwash
Colgate Total fresh stripe
Colgate Total
Sensodyne Total Care
Tesco own brand toothpaste
Mentadent P; Aquafresh