Does triclosan in antibacterial soap cause liver damage in children?

What's actually in it

Triclosan is an antibacterial agent used in some hand soaps, toothpastes, body washes, and household cleaners. It absorbs through skin and gums into the bloodstream. Despite the FDA banning it from hand soap in 2016, it's still used in toothpaste (as Colgate Total) and other products in the US.

Triclosan crosses the placenta and is detectable in breast milk and cord blood. It's a hormone disruptor and a thyroid toxin.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environmental Health Perspectives tracked triclosan effects across a full lifespan in an animal model, with specific focus on liver outcomes in offspring. Animals exposed to triclosan throughout their lives developed liver fibrosis, scarring of liver tissue that impairs function and can progress to cirrhosis.

The damage was traced primarily to prenatal exposure. Offspring of mothers exposed to triclosan showed earlier and more severe liver fibrosis than animals first exposed after birth. The prenatal window, when triclosan crosses the placenta, set the liver up for long-term vulnerability.

Liver fibrosis in children and young adults is rare but rising. Environmental chemical exposure, including triclosan, is one suspected contributor. Switching to regular (non-antibacterial) soap and water is equally effective at hand hygiene and eliminates triclosan exposure entirely.