Policy Concentrates CONSUMER PRODUCTS
FDA bans antibacterials in consumer soaps three ingredients in the coming year, says Brian Sansoni, a vice president of the trade group. In the meantime, manufacturers can continue to market prodOH ucts that contain the three O substances. 2013, citing concerns about FDA’s action is part of potential hormonal effects Cl Cl a settlement made with and antibiotic resistance asTriclosan the environmental group sociated with the chemicals. The rule goes into effect Cl Cl Natural Resources Defense O Council. The group sued on Sept. 6, 2017, but many manufacturers have already N N Cl FDA in 2010 for not finalizing a 1978 rule that would stopped using the ingrediH H have banned triclosan in ents. As alternatives, most Triclocarban consumer soaps. have switched to one of NRDC is now raising concerns about three other antibacterial chemicals: benzalbenzalkonium chloride and benzethonium konium chloride, benzethonium chloride, chloride, which belong to a group of chemiand chloroxylenol. At the request of mancals called quaternary ammoniums. “There ufacturers, FDA deferred from including is some burgeoning science showing there these three compounds in the new rule. might be health concerns associated with The American Cleaning Institute and these chemicals,” says Mae Wu, a senior atits member companies plan to submit to torney at NRDC.—BRITT ERICKSON FDA safety and effectiveness data for these
Agency says manufacturers have not demonstrated safety or effectiveness of 19 chemicals, including triclosan and triclocarban Cl As of next year, companies will no longer be allowed to sell hand and body soaps in the U.S. that contain certain antibacterial ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban. In a final rule issued on Sept. 2, the Food & Drug Administration says that manufacturers have not shown that the chemicals are safe for long-term daily use. Companies also haven’t shown that the chemicals are more effective than washing with regular soap and water to prevent the spread of germs, FDA says. “Some data suggest that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long term,” says Janet Woodcock, director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation & Research. FDA proposed the rule in late
ENVIRONMENT
Hawaii targets sunscreens with oxybenzone ommended are rash guards, wet suits, and other protective clothing that reduces the amount of sunscreen people need to use. The U.S. National Park Service says sunscreen concentrations are high in waters ing people entering the ocean surrounding To protect fragile coral reefs, Hawaii’s its islands not to use sunscreens containing around popular reefs. Cosmetics consultant government is asking swimmers, surfers, and chemist David Steinberg tells C&EN oxybenzone. and divers to avoid using sunOH O that salt water degrades oxybenzone, but he “Sunscreen chemicals screens that contain the widely wash off swimmers, surfers, did not indicate how quickly that happens. used ultraviolet light filter State Sen. Will Espero says he is drafting paddlers, spearfishers, divoxybenzone. CH3O ers, and other ocean users,” legislation for a Hawaiian ban on oxybenThe state cites a recent study zone and a handful of other sunscreen inBruce Anderson, adminislinking the chemical to deforOxybenzone gredients suspected of harming coral. trator of aquatic resources mities in the larvae of coral and Makers of sunscreens sold in the U.S. in Hawaii’s Department of Land & Natural associating oxybenzone exposure with an want to replace some of the sun-filterResources, said on Sept. 3. He suggested increase in the rate of coral bleaching (Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2016, DOI: 10.1007/ using water-resistant sunscreens and prod- ing chemicals now used with advanced molecules widely used in Europe. But the ucts containing mineral sunscreens such s00244-015-0227-7). In the bleaching proFood & Drug Administration has not apas zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Also reccess, symbiotic algae, which provide food proved the newer and color to coral, leave stressed coral cells. sunscreens. In the study, researchers led by Craig FDA considers Downs, a cell and molecular biologist who human health, directs the nonprofit Haereticus Environnot environmental Laboratory, found oxybenzone mental impacts, could start harming coral at concentrations when approving as low as 0.062 µg/L. They measured oxyHawaii is asking sunscreen benzone levels in Hawaiian waters ranging ocean swimmers ingredients.— to abstain from from 0.8 to 19.2 µg/L. oxybenzoneIn light of these findings, Hawaii is askCHERYL HOGUE
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C&EN | CEN.ACS.ORG | SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
containing sunscreens.
C R E D I T: H AWA I I D E PA RT ME N T O F LA ND & N AT U RA L R ES O URC ES
State asks public to steer clear of these products to safeguard coral reefs
