Consumer Antimicrobials on Gut Microbiota and Gut Health

Triclosan (TCS) is a high-volume chemical used as an antimicrobial ingredient in over 2000 consumer products such as toothpastes, cosmetics, and toys. Due to its widespread use, it causes ubiquitous contamination in the environment and is frequently detected in the human body, raising concerns about its impact on environmental pollution and human health. Our recent study showed that short-time exposure to low-dose TCS causes colonic inflammation, increases severity of colitis, and exacerbates colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice, through gut microbiota- and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent mechanisms. In addition, we demonstrate that beyond TCS, other antimicrobial chemicals used in consumer products also exaggerate colitis and colon cancer in mice. Together, these results highlight the importance to further evaluate these consumer antimicrobials on gut health, to develop potential further regulatory policies.