Toothpaste Cancer Alert


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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

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article...20Standard&ct=5

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Whoa. Science is finding out so many thing we are doing that could be slowly killing us. Just think that there may be more of these out there.....hiding :ninja:

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Should we all go back to the old way of brushing our teeth with that tasty combo of urine mixed with sand or pumice?

LOL, eating at McDonald's or driving in mild to heavy traffic can promote cancer, so I am not too worried about it at this point. I prefer clean teeth. :p

But, we all know that sooner or later there will be cures for most cancers so then we will be able to dip our fries in toothpaste while driving through mild to heavy traffic without fear.

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It's to the point that no matter what you do/don't do, you're gonna die - oh wait, it was like that since the beginning of time. Thus, I'll do what I enjoy, try to keep in decent shape, and not worry a damn bit about whatever 'experts' say. :jump:

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Triclosan is also used in like acne face wash, i think. I remember seeing that on the bottle.

Pretty silly that they tested triclosan for 30 years and never once thought to maybe test it in the normal tap water it would be used in. gg

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