An antibacterial ingredient commonly used in hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste has been banned in the state of Minnesota.
The bill will ban triclosan due to "health and environmental concerns," HealthDay reported. The bill was signed by Gov. Mark Dayton and will go into effect on Jan. 1 2017.
Lab studies have shown that the chemical could disrupt hormones involved in human development and reproduction. It could also lead to the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
About 75 percent of anti-bacterial soaps in the U.S. contain the ingredient, but there is little to no evidence that products containing triclosan are more effective than those without it.
Other states and even the federal government could follow suit in banning the chemical. Companies could also voluntarily remove products containing triclosan from their shelves.
Contradictory evidence has shown the chemical can have health benefits; the American Cleaning Institute used this information to attempt the governor to veto the bill. LiveScience reported.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now reviewing the safety of the chemical. The agency has issued a proposal requiring companies to prove products containing triclosan is "safe and more effective" than soap not containing the ingredient.
If the manufactures fail to do this they will be required to remove the ingredient in question from their products.
"Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans. But several scientific studies have come out since the last time FDA reviewed this ingredient that merit further review," the FDA said. The study that suggests the chemical interferes with hormones was conducted in only animals; the effect has not yet been proven in humans.
"We are engaged in a comprehensive scientific and regulatory review of all the available safety and effectiveness data. This includes data relevant to the emerging safety issues of bacterial resistance and endocrine disruption due to triclosan in FDA-regulated products," the FDA said on their website.
