December 7, 2010
A recent study published by Environmental Health Perspectives, based on data from a national survey on health and nutrition conducted between 2003 and 2006 in the United States, analyzed the impact of the human body exposure to toxic substances in the environment and has linked it to immune system dysfunctions.

It suggests that exposure to Triclosan , an antimicrobial preservative , used in soaps, deodorants and shaving products, and bisphenol A, two substances suspected of being endocrine disruptors, could have an effect on micro-organisms responsible for immune system development in young people. This could make them more susceptible to allergies.

It was based on analysis of rates of Triclosan and bisphenol A found in the urine of children over 6 years and adults, crossed with the levels of antibodies against cytomegalovirus with different markers of allergy or hay fever.
The results indicate that children under 18 years having the highest rates of Triclosan in their urine were more likely to develop allergies or hay fever.

Strong doubts about Triclosan were already mentioned on CosmeticsOBS-L'Observatoire des Cosmétiques. While the U.S. cosmetic industry represented by The American Cleaning Institute is very critical of the causal relationship pointed out by …