[Pharmwaste] Triclosan in dolphin research article

[Tenace, Laurie]

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/antibacterial-agent-fou
nd-in-dolphins/

Antibacterial found in dolphins. 
Jun 18, 2009 


Fair, PA, H-B Lee, JAdams, C Darling, G Pacepavicius, M Alaee, GD Bossart, N
Henry and D Muir. 2009. Occurrence of triclosan in plasma of wild Atlantic
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and in their environment.
Environmental Pollution doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2009.04.002.

Synopsis by Karen Kidd 


For the first time, the popular antibacterial agent triclosan is found in the
blood of a marine mammal. 


A bacteria-killing chemical widely used in an array of consumer products has
made its way down kitchen and bathroom sinks and into dolphins living in US
coastal waters.

Researchers report for the first time that a marine mammal - the bottlenose
dolphin - is accumulating triclosan from water bodies where treated sewage is
released. The study examined animals from rivers, an estuary, a harbor and a
lagoon in South Carolina and Florida.

Triclosan is a common additive in soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and other
personal care products that is included to help control bacteria and their
related illnesses.  It is also put into consumer products like socks, cutting
boards and garbage bags to curb the growth of bacteria.

The antibacterial enters wastewater mainly from home sinks. Even though most
(up to 95 perent) of it is removed when these waters are treated, it is one
of the most commonly found contaminants in rivers and estuaries downstream of
treated water outfalls. 


Triclosan can persist in waterways, affect natural communities of bacteria
and algae, and also concentrate in fish and other aquatic organisms. It has
also been found in the urine, breast milk and blood of humans.

Bottlenose dolphins live in temperate and tropical waters. They are the most
abundant dolphin species along the eastern coast of the United States. They
are often seen in harbors and estuaries, including in heavily populated
areas.

In this study, wild bottlenose dolphins were live captured from several sites
within an estuary in Charleston, South Carolina and in the Indian River
Lagoon, Florida in 2005. Blood samples were taken from 13 animals from each
area and analyzed for triclosan.

The antibacterial agent was detected in 31 and 23 percent of the animals from
the two sites, respectively, at levels ranging from 0.025 to 0.27 parts per
billion. These levels are similar to what has been measured in the blood of
humans.

It is well known that marine mammals are contaminated with conventional
persistent organic pollutants like PCBs. This new study shows bottlenose
dolphins living in densely populated areas are becoming contaminated with a
chemical found in personal care products.

What is not known is how widespread the contamination is and how it may
affect the animals' health. The researchers suggest further studies are
needed to understand interactions and effects "related to triclosan in the
environment, its potential transformation into other toxic compounds and
possible interference with hormone systems that can alter biological systems
even at extremely low levels."

Laurie Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Waste Reduction Section
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Rd., MS 4555
Tallahassee FL 32399-2400
P: 850.245.8759
F: 850.245.8811
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us 

Mercury: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm 

Unwanted Medicine:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/default.htm



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