The rise of antibiotic resistance in Canada could be a result of a chemical found in several consumer products.
The research group in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science was able to show that triclosan is the main ingredient in many household products.
The findings were published.
The study found that the majority of the antibacterial activity of the sludge could be linked to triclosan alone.
The research was done on sewage sludge from Ontario'sSTPs. The study states that the diverse set of antibiotics that are found in the area are a breeding ground for antibiotic resistantbacteria. After we rinse our household products down the drain, the antibiotic ingredients in those products end up in the sewage treatment plants.
Triclosan was found to be the main antibacterial compound in the sludge.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern, according to the study. There are strains ofbacteria that are not killed by antibiotics. Continuous exposure to antibiotics causes them to evolve over time. People with impaired immune systems are particularly at risk of contracting thesebacteria. There were over a half a million deaths due to antibiotic resistance in the last two years.
The FDA banned the use of triclosan in liquid soaps and antiseptics in health care settings a year after banning the use of triclosan in health care settings. Health Canada considers triclosan to be safe for use in a variety of consumer products at certain levels.
There is an urgent need for regulatory agencies in Canada to reexamine the use of triclosan according to the results of our study.
It is still used in thousands of different products in Canada. There are a few regulations in place to restrict the maximum amount of triclosan allowed in consumer products, but even very low levels of this chemical may cause antibiotic- resistantbacteria to form over time.
She concludes that more action is needed.
More information: Holly Barrett et al, Triclosan is the Predominant Antibacterial Compound in Ontario Sewage Sludge, Environmental Science & Technology (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00406 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology
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