Toxicity evolution of triclosan during environmental transformation and human metabolism: Misgivings in the post-pandemic era

Abstract

In the context of pandemic viruses and pathogenic bacteria, triclosan (TCS), as a typical antibacterial agent, is widely used around the world. However, the health risks from TCS increase with exposure, and it is widespread in environmental and human samples. Notably, environmental transformation and human metabolism could induce potentially undesirable risks to humans, rather than simple decontamination or detoxification. This review summarizes the environmental and human exposure to TCS covering from 2004 to 2023. Particularly, health impacts from the environmental and metabolic transformation of TCS are emphasized. Environmental transformations aimed at decontamination are recognized to form carcinogenic products such as dioxins, and ultraviolet light and excessive active chlorine can promote the formation of these dioxin congeners, potentially threatening environmental and human health. Although TCS can be rapidly metabolized for detoxification, these processes can induce the formation of lipophilic ether metabolic analogs via cytochrome P450 catalysis, causing possible adverse cross-talk reactions in human metabolic disorders. Accordingly, TCS may be more harmful in environmental transformation and human metabolism. In particular, TCS can stimulate the transmission of antibiotic resistance even at trace levels, threatening public health. Considering these accruing epidemiological and toxicological studies indicating the multiple adverse health outcomes of TCS, we call on environmental toxicologists to pay more attention to the toxicity evolution of TCS during environmental transformation and human metabolism.

Keywords

• Triclosan
• Environmental and human exposure
• Metabolism
• Environmental transformation
• Health effect