Study Suggests Triclosan - Common In Anti-Microbial Anything - Damages Diatoms' Photosynthesis

[hatrack]

EDIT

Triclosan is washed down sinks and showers and into wastewater treatment facilities. Because treatment plants are not designed to eliminate organic compounds – like pharmaceuticals, detergents or personal care products – triclosan can remain intact and enter rivers and lakes with the treated wastewater. Triclosan is found in wastewater effluent at concentrations ranging from 0.027 - 2.7 micrograms per liter.

After release into water bodies, it can affect aquatic organisms and contaminate drinking water. Triclosan also breaks down in sunlight to release dioxins, which are powerfully toxic compounds known to cause reproductive and developmental damage to wildlife and humans.

The new study tested the effects of various levels of triclosan on naturally-occurring microbial communities gathered from a river in northeast Spain. The microbes were constantly exposed for 48 hours to a range of triclosan concentrations (0, 0.5, 5, 25, 125, 250 and 500 micrograms per liter) that included levels previously measured in wastewater effluent.

They found that their lowest concentration (0.5 micrograms/liter) reduced bacterial concentrations. The higher doses killed up to 85 percent of the bacterial population. Triclosan was also toxic to diatoms and reduced photosynthesis at concentrations above 5 micrograms per liter.

EDIT

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/triclosan-in-wastewater-kills-bacteria-reduces-algal-photosynthesis/

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/triclosan-in-wastewater-kills-bacteria-reduces-algal-photosynthesis/

[KT2000]

1. bet they will debate this

for several decade and then never do anything about it.
Ben Franklin warned about the dangers of lead and the industry is still fighting regs.

[handmade34]

2. I posted this

(article about the disasterous effects of Triclosan) last spring and no one seemed to care much...

Thank you for this information and we need to get it out to everyone