THE safety of antimicrobial soaps and toothpastes is under review following concerns that they could interfere with hormones in the body.
Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration said it will re-evaluate the safety of triclosan, which is added to plastics, soaps and toothpastes to kill bacteria and fungi. The agency is not yet recommending that consumers avoid such products.
Over the next year, the FDA will look at evidence that triclosan might affect the development of the nervous system, in which thyroid hormones play a key role, or the reproductive system. One recent study showed that triclosan lowers…
