Duncan congratulates CMA on antibacterial ban

EDMONTON - Today, Linda Duncan, New Democrat Environment Critic, congratulated the Canadian Medical Association for passing strong resolutions on calling on the government to better protect the health of Canadians.

At its annual convention, the Canadian Medical Association called on the federal government to ban the sale of household antibacterial products such as those containing triclosan.

Triclosan is a disinfectant used in hundreds of common consumer products such as soaps, cosmetics, deodorants, toys, and even clothing.

While antimicrobials are important in hospitals and other health care settings, widespread use in everyday consumer products can contribute to the rise of resistant bacteria, lessening their effectiveness, and they can affect the environment in runoff and wastewater.

Triclosan is generally released into the environment through municipal sewage and waste-water facilities. It is toxic to many aquatic organisms and is particularly long-lived in the environment, building up in fatty tissues. It has been linked to health effects including the disruption of the endocrine system.

The CMA resolution echoes concerns raised by the American Medical Association as far back as 2000, regarding the lack of studies regarding the health and environmental effects of its widespread use. The AMA concluded that because no data exists to support the need for such products or to demonstrate whether or not they are effective, it would be “prudent to avoid the use of antimicrobial agents in consumer products.”

“It’s about time that the problems with triclosan were addressed,” said Duncan. “We must ensure that the medical community has all the tools it needs to control the spread of bacteria, and avoid abusing antibacterials to the detriment of health and the environment.”