DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCT FORMATION RESULTING FROM CHLORINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

摘要

Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) is a widely used antibacterial agent found in many personal care products (PCPs). Although the effectiveness of triclosan in these formulations is a topic of debate, triclosan can be found in many products at concentrations up to 0.3%. On average, a typical American uses approximately 5 mg of triclosan per day. As a result of its wide-spread use, triclosan has been detected as a contaminant in many aquatic environments, including wastewater treatment plant effluents, stream waters, lakes and river sediments. Due to its widespread occurrence, many studies have sought to characterize the reactivity of this compound in both the household and the natural environment. Of greatest relevance to the water treatment community is the potential reactivity of triclosan with drinking water disinfectants. Although triclosan concentrations in raw waters used for drinking water supplies are quite low, the potential exists for the triclosan used in consumer products to come into contact with drinking water disinfectants at the tap. This presentation will highlight our group’s efforts to characterize the reactivity of triclosan both in the laboratory and under conditions simulating household use of antimicrobial products.