OrangeSoul Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 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 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article...20Standard&ct=5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JorgeIvan Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Wow thanks for the info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwire Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 thanx to u you made my life miserable now.. :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scizzot Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeSoul Posted April 16, 2005 Author Share Posted April 16, 2005 triclosan also causes TB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Benjamin| Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 That is very interesting. I will be sure to check all the products I use and try to stay clear of it until it's fully studied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christracy Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 damn i just cracked open my colgate total with the fresh stripe today!! :s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pre Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 *ouch* :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2687 Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Everything causes something. Just don't breath or eat and sit in complete darkness. (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fighter-X Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Wow thats kinda scary. I think im gonna stop using aquafresh and switch to crest toothpaste. :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doli Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 only in neowin i find out today that toothpast and drinking too much water can kill me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hankyone Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdb815 Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 What doesn't cause cancer nowadays? :whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurmoth Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 What doesn't cause cancer nowadays? :whistle: 585782080[/snapback] Exactly what I was thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPaul Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Ironic, toothpaste it's reacting with the chlorine, which helps keep healthy teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orphic Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Haze Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucida Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Wow thanks for the info 585782021[/snapback] Yeah thanks...real helpful :whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L3thal Veteran Posted April 17, 2005 Veteran Share Posted April 17, 2005 I've been using Colgate Total for a few years. Time to move away :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lav-chan Posted April 17, 2005 Share Posted April 17, 2005 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerichohol Posted April 17, 2005 Share Posted April 17, 2005 Heard nothing about this on the news, lets see how it plays out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishie Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 at least ive have shiny and clean teath when i get cancer |: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvbfan Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Life causes Death. Live while you are alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kombolcha Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 What doesn't cause cancer nowadays? :whistle: 585782080[/snapback] too the words right out of my mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiagosilva29 Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 <_< I'm using Colgate Total right now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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