Many thanks to Brenda for sending this link: <http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/08/triclosan-a-chemical-used-in-antibacterial-soaps-is-found-to-impair-muscle-function/> After I sent these links: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/343045/title/Antibacterial_agent_can_weaken_muscle http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.11200 http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/08/08/1211314109 http://www.springerlink.com/content/h1717v26u4497151/ including these very short partial quotes: "The effects of triclosan on cardiac function were really dramatic," said co-authorNipavan Chiamvimonvat. "Although triclosan is not regulated as a drug, this compound acts like a potent cardiac depressant in our models." He speculates that in some cases, triclosan may be responsible for exacerbating heart problems in patients with an underlying condition. ... Studies have shown that the chemical can disrupt the endocrine systems of several different animals, binding to receptor sites in the body, which prevents the thyroid hormone from functioning normally. Additionally, triclosan penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream more easily than previously thought ... Additionally, the FDA has declared that there is no evidence that using antibacterial soaps with triclosan confers any more health benefits than simply washing with conventional soap and water The article also mentions that Triclosan is also a endocrine disruptor. Some related links: Estrogenic (NOT a wanted effect in ferrets) effects study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22062131 Quote abstract: Toxicol Lett. 2012 Jan 25;208(2):142-8. Epub 2011 Oct 28. Potential estrogenic activity of triclosan in the uterus of immature rats and rat pituitary GH3 cells. Jung EM, An BS, Choi KC, Jeung EB. Source Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Republic of Korea. Abstract Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol; TCS) is used as an antimicrobial agent in personal care, pharmaceutical, industrial, and household products. In this study, we established an in vivo model for screening estrogenic activity of TCS in the uteri of immature rats. In addition, we employed temporarily transfected cells with plasmids containing estrogen response element (ERE) and progesterone (P4) response element (PRE) sequences. We found that uterine weight was significantly increased by 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE) as a positive control and TCS at doses of 7.5, 37.4, and 187.5 mg/kg. In addition, the expressions of calbindin-D(9k) (CaBP-9k) and complement C3 (C3) were significantly induced by EE and TCS in the uteri of immature rats, indicating that TCS can induce their expression mediated by estrogenic activity. Co-treatment with steroid antagonists ICI 182,780 (ICI) and RU 486 in conjunction with TCS (37.5 mg/kg) reversed TCS-induced uterine weight and CaBP-9k mRNA and protein expression increases in immature rats. Moreover, ERE and PRE luciferase activity was evaluated in GH3 cells following treatment with TCS. Concentrations of TCS at increasing doses (10^-9, 10^-7, and 10^-5 M) resulted in a significant increase in ERE luciferase activity compared to control; however, no difference was observed in PRE luciferase activity following TCS treatment. To confirm that ER signaling is involved in TCS-induced CaBP-9k expression, we treated GH3 cells with the anti-estrogen ICI, which can block TCS-induced up-regulation of CaBP-9k in these cells. Taken together, these results indicate that TCS has an estrogen-like property, which may be mediated through an ER-involved signaling pathway in both in vivo and in vitro models. Copyright (c)2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PMID: 22062131 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] End quote See also: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18795164 High prevalence in Belgium just like here (and very likely in much of the industrial world): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22885664 A clean-up study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22862916 Finding its presence in products: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22809056 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404651 Sukie (not a vet) Ferrets make the world a game. Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.miamiferret.org/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html "All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow." (2010, Steve Crandall) On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump off the cliff." (2010, Steve Crandall) A nation is as free as the least within it. [Posted in FML 7520]