New research shows that under normal household conditions, products containing the antibacterial agent triclosan react with chlorinated water to produce chloroform, a probable carcinogen.
The team has now followed up on that study and tested 16 products, including lotions, soaps, and body washes with and without triclosan. They found that all of the household goods with triclosan produced either chloroform or other chlorinated byproducts. From their tests, they estimate that under some conditions the use of triclosan can increase a person’s annual exposure to chloroform by as much as 40% above background levels in tap water.
The team has now followed up on that study and tested 16 products, including lotions, soaps, and body washes with and without triclosan. They found that all of the household goods with triclosan produced either chloroform or other chlorinated byproducts. From their tests, they estimate that under some conditions the use of triclosan can increase a person’s annual exposure to chloroform by as much as 40% above background levels in tap water.
Read more at ES&T Online News: Household antibacterial products generate chloroform