[Pharmwaste] RE: Triclosan in dolphin research article

Fri Jun 19 11:33:57 EDT 2009

Hi Paul and all,
Paul thank you for the clarification, but I think the real issues here are:

I don't want any persistent, compounds, especially registered pesticides 
in my body or in my dolphins and other marine life.  These compounds are 
strongly indicated as endocrine disrupting.  Diminished immune response 
seen in many marine animals has been linked to persistent compounds such 
as PCB and potentially triclosan and triclocarban.  And,  these are 
basically unnecessary pesticides contaminating our environment and 
bodies without permission. 

Catherine Zimmer
Health Care Specialist

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
University of Minnesota
612.624.4635, 800.247.0015
http://www.mntap.umn.edu

Helping Minnesota businesses maximize resource efficiency, increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and prevent pollution

Paul DeLeo wrote:
> Notwithstanding the issue of anthropogenic compounds being found in wildlife, I would like to clarify one statement made in this news article: "These levels are similar to what has been measured in the blood of
> humans."  The abstract of the research article (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2009.04.002) states "Plasma concentrations in CHS dolphins ranged from 0.12 to 0.27 ng/g wet weight (mean 0.18 ng/g), with 31% of the sampled individuals having detectable triclosan. The mean IRL dolphin plasma concentrations were 0.072 ng/g wet weight (range 0.025-0.11 ng/g)."  That's a complete range of 0.025-0.270 parts per billion. The CDC biomonitoring report (http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/environmental_phenols2.htm) states "We detected concentrations of total (free plus conjugated) triclosan in 74.6% of samples at concentrations of 2.4-3,790 µg/L" (2.4-3,790 parts per billion).  That's two to four orders of magnitude difference, which would be expected since humans are exposed primarily through application of products to their body and dolphins are exposed through trace levels of the compound found in their environment.   
>
>
> Paul C. DeLeo, Ph.D.
> Director, Environmental Safety
> The Soap and Detergent Association
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Tenace, Laurie
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:54 AM
> To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> Subject: [Pharmwaste] Triclosan in dolphin research article
>
> http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/antibacterial-agent-found-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
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