Triclosan Study Not Relevant To Toothpaste

Recent news reports, interpreting a new study on chlorine disinfection
in water treatment plants, have also called into question the safety of
some household products that contain triclosan, including toothpaste.

However, 'the ADA does not believe this laboratory study, as designed
and conducted, is relevant to toothpaste,' says Dr. Daniel Meyer,
associate executive director, ADA Division of Science.

In addition, he says, 'the ADA believes that current formulations of
triclosan-containing toothpastes are safe and effective for their
intended purpose, when used as directed.'

The study's lead author agrees. 'Our work never examined
toothpaste,' says Peter Vikesland, Ph.D., of Virginia Polytechnic and
State University. 'We did a laboratory study predominantly with pure
triclosan and chlorinated water, and some work with
triclosan-containing dishwashing soaps.'

Dr. Vikesland notes, 'It's highly premature to conclude that there is
a direct relationship between triclosan-containing toothpaste and our
laboratory studies of triclosan and triclosan-containing dish soaps.'

Published online in Environmental Science and Technology, the original
study looked at the interaction of chlorine and triclosan, and whether
chloroform might be produced when water at treatment plants is
disinfected by using high concentrations of free chlorine.

Triclosan, the study also observed, is commonly used as an antiseptic
in household and personal-care products, such as deodorants, hand and
dishwashing soaps and toothpastes.

The study's mention of triclosan had prompted inquiries to the ADA by
some dentists and consumers about whether toothpastes that contain
triclosan at 0.3 percent might pose a health risk.

But this study, notes Dr. Meyer, 'does not demonstrate that
triclosan-containing toothpaste in the presence of drinking water will
produce chloroform or pose any health hazards.'

He adds, 'water purification in a treatment plant under simulated
laboratory conditions with elevated amounts of chlorine vs.
toothbrushing with tap or bottled water - they are significantly
different conditions.'

Dr. Vikesland concludes, 'It is highly premature to presume that
there is a problem associated with the use of triclosan-containing
toothpastes. In order for the reactions that we studied to occur, you
would need excess amounts of chlorine - which usually doesn't occur
when you are brushing your teeth, which is a little bit of tap water, a
lot of toothpaste and saliva.'