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Updated: Aug 30, 2025

A Microplate Assay to Assess Chemical Effects on RBL-2H3 Mast Cell Degranulation: Effects of Triclosan without Use of an Organic Solvent
Published on: November 1, 2013
Multiple mediation effects on association between prenatal triclosan exposure and birth outcomes
Jiming Zhang1, Zheng Wang1, Yiming Dai1
1School of Public Health / MOE Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety / NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Background:
Triclosan is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, and was thought to affect intrauterine development, but the mechanism remains unclear.
Objective:
To explore the association between prenatal triclosan exposure and birth outcomes.
Methods:
Based on 726 mother-child pairs from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS), we used the available (published) data of triclosan in maternal urines, the hormones including thyroid-related hormones, gonadal hormones in cord blood, and adipokines, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors in cord blood to explore possible health effects of triclosan on birth outcomes through assessing different hormones and parameters, using Bayesian mediation analysis.
Results:
Maternal triclosan exposure was associated with ponderal index (β = 0.317) and head circumference (β = -0.172) in generalized linear models. In Bayesian mediation analysis of PI model, estradiol (β = 0.806) and trimethylamine (TMA, β = 0.164) showed positive mediation effects, while total thyroxine (TT4, β = -0.302), leptin (β = -2.023) and TMAO (β = -0.110) showed negative mediation effects. As for model of head circumference, positive mediation effects were observed in free thyroxine (FT4, β = 0.493), TMA (β = 0.178), and TMAO (β = 0.683), negative mediation effects were observed in TT4 (β = -0.231), testosterone (β = -0.331), estradiol (β = -1.153), leptin (β = -2.361), choline (β = -0.169), betaine (β = -0.104), acetyl-L-carnitine (β = -0.773).
Conclusion:
The results indicated triclosan can affect intrauterine growth by interfering thyroid-related hormones, gonadal hormones, adipokines, TMAO and its precursors.
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