Awareness Manual

Kaleigh N. Yamaguchi

Awareness Manual Triclosan: An Antibacterial Ingredient

Awareness Manual Triclosan: An Antibacterial Ingredient April 2013 Kaleigh N. Yamaguchi University of North Texas [email protected]

Acknowledgments iii

Acknowledgments Thank you to Mr. Ugoo Anieto from The University of North Texas Biology Lab Department, for supplying the blank TSA plates.

Thank you to Mrs. Peggy L. Yamaguchi for volunteering her time and participating in the experiment.

Table of Contents V

Table of Contents Introduction………………………… Vii

Chapter 1 Understanding what Triclosan Does to Bacteria…………….. 11

Why use Triclosan?....................................... 12

Chapter 2 The Chemical makeup of Triclosan……………………………. 15

Molecular Chemical Structure…………………..…………….. 15 Description of the Chemical Makeup……………..…………… 16

Chapter 3 Proper Vs Improper use………………... 19

Good……………………………............ 19 Bad…………………………………...… 20

vi “Awareness Manual”

Table of Contents

Chapter 4 Products Containing Triclosan………… 23

Home Goods…………………………..…. 23 Medical Supplies…………………………... 24

Chapter 5 Negative Effects……………………….. 27

Toxicity in Algae………………………….. 27 Resistant to Bacteria……………………….. 28 How much is around us?................................ 29

Chapter 6 Possible Alternatives in place of Triclosan Products……………………... 33

Regular Hand Soaps……………………….. 33 Positive Side to Bacteria…………………….. 34

Same effects without the harm……………. 39 Sources……………………………….. 39 Index…………………………………. 41

Introduction vii

Introduction

The general population is unaware of the implications caused from using products that contain the ingredient Triclosan, an antibacterial agent. The lack of knowledge offered to you from the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) makes it difficult to understand what type of dangers you risk when using Triclosan products. This manual will give you the knowledge needed to understand what Triclosan is.

Chapter 1

Understanding what Triclosan Does to Bacteria

Chapter 1 11

Figure 1: (ENR), shown here in a digital plain http://ef-site.hgc.jp/eF-site/servlet/Summary?entry_id=3oic-AD

Enoyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase Enzyme

(ENR)

1

Triclosan aids in the killing of bacterial microorganisms, or commonly known as germs. The chemical Triclosan “binds to the bacteria’s enzyme called enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR)” (Dr. Kunz of UNT’s College of Arts and Science), which inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids. When bacteria can no longer synthesize fatty acids, it dies.

12 “Awareness Manual”

Figure 2: A Surgeon washing his hands before surgery shows where the use of Triclosan is important. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/04/08/us-soap-triclosan-idUSTRE63759M20100408

Why use Triclosan? Physicians use Triclosan in hospitals to keep the

environment sanitized. Surgeons, use Triclosan in the operating rooms, so patients avoid bacterial infections during surgery. However, the percent of Triclosan used in hospital settings is higher, compared to the lower percentage used in public. In a lecture given by, Allison E. Aiello, PhD associate professor of Epidemiology at the University Of Michigan School Of Public Health, she mentioned that “In 1998s Gallup Survey over 33% of consumers express a need for antimicrobial products to feel safe.”

Chapter 2

The Chemical makeup of Triclosan

Chapter 2 15

2

Molecular Chemical Structure

Figure 3

The image shows Bond Line Formation at the top, and Molecular Orbital formation at the bottom. http://www.mimscience.org/triclosan-the-hidden-danger-in-our-lives/


Description of the Chemical Makeup Triclosan is a phenyl-ether, or chlorinated

biphenyl, with a “broad-spectrum antimicrobial action which is classified as a Class III drug by the FDA” (Dr. Kunz). Class III drugs have high solubility and very low permeability abilities.

Solubility o The ability to break down in a solvent

solution like water Permeability

o The ability to allow molecules to pass through the membrane by diffusion

Chapter 3

Proper Vs. Improper Use

Chapter 3 19

Figure 4

Here are Doctors performing surgery on a patient using products containing Triclosan. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120829131659.htm

3

There is no evidence proving that we need Triclosan in the public. Constant use of this chemical in our day-to-day lives leads to problems down the road.

Good At high levels, Triclosan is useful in killing

strains of bacteria. Educated individuals trained in using Triclosan at toxic percentages can dispose the chemical safely without harming the environment.

Medical Use Medical surgery Dental surgery


Figure 6

Shows a volunteer washing her hands with Triclosan soap

Bad People less educated in the Microbiological

department are unaware of the possible hazards Triclosan has on the environment and on them. When you wash your hands, you probably do not know that you are putting a chemical into the water system that reacts and forms up to “40% of the chloroforms in the water system” (Dr. Aiello). In addition, people are overusing antimicrobial products that are causing problems with bacteria becoming resistant to drugs.

Chapter 4

Products Containing Triclosan

Chapter 4 23

Figure 7 Toothpaste and Hand soap containing Triclosan

4

Home Goods Bar soap

Liquid soap

Deodorant

Toothpaste

Cutting boards


Figure 8

Vicryl Plus is a type of suture that has Triclosan embedded in it.

http://www.ethicon.novartis.us/products/VICRYLPLUS.htm

Figure 9

Dental Surgeons use Seal & Protect.

http://www.bfmulholland.com/

Medical Supplies Antibacterial sutures

Antibacterial gloves

Antibacterial dental sealant

Antibacterial hand soap

Chapter 5

Negative effects

Chapter 5 27

5

Triclosan affects different organisms by causing mutations, creating toxins, or inhibiting hormone production. Possible negative effects are:

Disruptive to aquatic life Resistance to antibiotics Altered behavior Learning disabilities Reduced fertility Creation of carcinogenic dioxins Decreased muscle response Increase in allergies

Toxicity in Algae Triclosan is “toxic to aquatic life especially to

algae” (Aiello, PhD). Since algae produces 75% of the oxygen we use to breath, this is a concern to environmentalists around the world.


Resistant bacteria When exposed to Triclosan in low doses bacteria

can mutate; it may lead to cross resistance with antibiotics. This causes “plasmid-mediated efflux, which is a vomit response” (Aiello, PhD) within the cell that pumps out antibiotics from inside the bacterium. Bacteria that can survive 0.3~0.45% of Triclosan:

Escherichia coli Salmonella spp.- Causes food poisoning Pseudomonas aeruginosa - causes

pneumonia, septic shock, and urinary infections Staphylococci spp.

These bacteria have an increased chance in becoming cross-resistant to common antibiotics like:

Ciprofloxacin Erythromycin Tetracycline Isoniazid

Chapter 5 29

How much is around us? Higher levels of Triclosan are currently being

found in the urine of humans, and have been increasing over the past decades. In a “2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, there showed Triclosan in 75% of urine samples analyzed” (Aiello, PhD) proving that we are interacting with larger amount of Triclosan on a daily basis. Dr. Aiello has also theorized that there are higher odds of diagnosing individuals 18 years of age and young with allergies and hay fever because of the constant use of Triclosan. High quantities of Triclosan are located at higher quantities in:

Rivers Sewage sludge

This chemical is in sewage sludge do to the wastewater treatment plants are not able to clean Triclosan out of the incoming water supply due to the high levels found in the water.

Chapter 6

Possible Alternatives In Place of Triclosan Products

Chapter 6 33

6

There is no need to have Triclosan in our everyday lives since the percentage of Triclosan used in general products is so low. Dr. Aiello stated that, “The CDC has found no current evidence that Triclosan is useful in killing bacteria when washing your hands.” This means, when we use antibacterial soap to wash our hands there is little aid given to us; most of the ingredient Triclosan goes down the drain.

Regular Hand Soaps Soaps that show 0% of Triclosan in their

ingredients are the type of to buy. Also, any products that state they are antibacterial will typically have Triclosan in its active ingredients. Choose plain products and you can be the first person to start making positive changes in your community. Types of plain products include:

Plain soft soaps Regular toothpaste Ordinary cutting boards


Positive side to Bacteria Normally, we have bacteria on our bodies,

ranging from “34 thousand to 4 million, Colony Forming Units (CFU)” (Aiello, PhD). These numbers are common among physicians working in clean environments. Most transient bacteria (bacteria living on the surface of your skin), are easily removed by soap and water. However, people have resident bacteria that live beneath the top layer of skin. Most people think this is also bad bacteria, but we need these bacteria to help regulate our skin pH, moister, and fight off disease causing bacteria. When you wash off the resident bacteria, you increase your chances of getting sick. You also increase the resistance of harmful bacteria to antibiotics, which is an ongoing issue in the medical field.

Chapter 6 35

Figure 10 Shows two Tryptic Soy Agar media (TSA) plates

Triclosan Plain

Same effects without the harm (Test) In my research of the effects of Triclosan vs.

plain soap, I found no difference between the two.


Control- No wash Left thumb

2 1

Plain soap

After Before

4 3

Figure 11 Test shows minimal colonies after washing.

Chapter 6 37

Control- No wash Left thumb

2 1

Triclosan Soap

Before After

3 4

Figure 12 Test shows minimal colonies after washing.

Chapter 6 39

Sources

Crystal Structure of Enoyl-ACP Reductases III (FabL) from B. Subtilis (apo Form). N.d. Photograph. N.p http://ef-site.hgc.jp/eF-site/servlet/Summary?entry_id=3oic-AD

Aiello Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, Allison E., PhD. "Healthy Communities: Green Solutions for Safe Environments." Lecture. Beyond Pesticides' 30th National Pesticide Forum. Yale School of Forestry, New Haven, CT. 30-31 Mar. 2012. Http://www.youtube.com. Bpn'scamp's, 22 May 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG4xtd3TI3k>.

Triclosan. N.d. Photograph. Mentoring in Health and Science. Healthy Ambassador, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. <http://www.mimscience.org/triclosan-the-hidden-danger-in-our-lives/>.

"Welcome to the Ethicon Homepage - Novartis Animal Health US, Inc." Welcome to the Ethicon Homepage - Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.


Sources

"Special Offers." B.F. Mulholland Dental Supplies. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. "New Antibacterial Coating for Sutures Could

Reduce Infections After Surgery." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 Aug. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.

"L.I. Shop Invests In Dental Practice:

CORRECTED | PeHUBpeHUB." PeHUB Site Wide Activity RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.

Kunz, Dan, Dr. “Controlling Microbial Growth.” 2013 Microbiology Spring Course. UNT Business Leadership Building, Denton. 27 Feb. 2013. Lecture.

“Smarter Living: Chemical Index.” NRDS: Triclosan and Triclocarban. N.P., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.

Fox, Maggie. "Regulators Look at Antibacterial in Soap." Ed. Eric Walsh. (n.d.): n. pag. Reuters. 8 Apr. 2004. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/04/08/us-soap-triclosan-idUSTRE63759M20100408>.

Index 41

Index

Aiello, PhD, 12, 27, 28, 29, 34

antimicrobial, 12, 16, 20

bacteria, 11, 19, 20, 28, 33, 34

chemical, 11, 19, 20, 29

Food and Drug Administration ( FDA), ix

hospitals, 12 resistant, 20, 28 soap, 23, 24, 33, 34,

35, 40 toxins, 27 Triclosan, 3, v, vi, ix,

3, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40, See, See

Awareness Manual

Documents