H.P., New Bwk. merchants take the lead on triclosan ban

Twenty area businesses and organizations have announced their commitment to not purchase, use, or sell products that contain triclosan. Triclosan is an antimicrobial pesticide originally developed for hospital settings, and now widely found in consumer and household products ranging from dish soaps and detergents to toothpastes, deodorants, and others.

On March 8th, the national consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch convened an event at the George Street Co-op, as part of its “Wash Your Hands of Triclosan” campaign. Speakers additionally expressed support for a proposed Highland Park ordinance to ban the municipal purchase of products containing triclosan, which was to be discussed at the Highland Park Board of Health on March 11.

 

A known endocrine disruptor, triclosan has been linked to antibiotic resistance, and can affect male and female reproductive hormones, which could potentially increase risk for cancer. Due to its prevalence in manufactured products, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has reported that triclosan is found in the urine of about 75% of the U.S. population. When exposed to UV light, triclosan has also been shown to convert to dioxin, an environmental pollutant and known carcinogen. Because many products that contain triclosan wash down the drain, it is also a common contaminant in rivers, streams and drinking water, and is often present in the sewage sludge used to fertilize food crops.

 

Jim Walsh, Eastern Region Director of Food & Water Watch, says that he hopes "to see local policymakers inspired to do their part by banning the municipal purchase” of products that contain triclosan.

John Leary, president of the George Street Co-op, spoke on behalf of one of the twenty businesses taking the triclosan pledge. “It is dangerous to let triclosan continue contaminating our water systems,” said Leary. "We have a responsibility to our community to sell the most environmentally sustainable, healthiest, and safest items to our customers . . . . products with triclosan just don’t fit the bill.”

The local businesses that have made the pledge include: Anna’s Health Food Center, Clean Ocean Action, Edible Gardens Project, Food & Water Watch, George St. Co-op, G & P Lebanese Pastry & Fast Food, Highland Printing Center, Joanne Nails, Kiss Nail Salons, Law Office of Nels J. Lauritzen, Main Street Highland Park, Michael Bianc, Namaste Café, Over the Moon Toys, Peachepot, Rutgers Take Back the Tap, Sophisticated Smoker Inc., The Hub City Hub, Through the Moongate artisan gallery, and White Lotus Home.

 

“It is great to see so many leaders from our community standing together for the health and well-being of our community,” said Highland Park borough council member Jon Erickson at the event. “Thanks to their leadership, the Highland Park Board of Health will be considering a resolution that would ensure that the borough does not buy or use any of these products in the future.”

 

Food & Water Watch, in partnership with Beyond Pesticides, has submitted petitions to both the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that they prohibit all non-prescription use of triclosan on the basis that those uses violate several federal statutes.

“Non-medical uses of triclosan are totally unnecessary,” said Nichelle Harriot, research associate for Beyond Pesticides. “The constant exposure to triclosan becomes a health and environmental hazard, which is why Beyond Pesticides is actively working to get federal action."

Richard Menashe, M.D., an Edison family practitioner, spoke about the concern among health care providers with regards to triclosan. “When triclosan bioaccumulates, endocrine disruption can result, which may threaten healthy thyroid tissue and other organ function. It could also contribute to the risk for cancer, through its affect on hormones in the body (and) may be linked to resistance to antibiotic medications. There are simply too many health risks associated with the pesticide triclosan for it to be considered safe for consumers to use.”