|
|
May 24, 2005
Stations, a new Virginia Tech study indicates that chemicals in certain anti-bacterial soaps and other products may, when mixed with tap water, form chloroform, listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a probable human carcinogen.
The lead researcher is Virginia Tech Civil and Environmental engineering Professor Peter Vikesland (VICK-ess-land), who emphasizes that research has yet to determine if the amounts of chloroform produced are significant.
Right mouse click link and choose "Download Link to Disk" or "Save Target As" to save MP3 to your computer. Hint: To locate the file easily after downloading, save to your desktop.
|
|
Cut 1:
|
|
|
|
The chemical that concerns Vikesland is triclosan (TRY-close-ann), an anti-bacterial agent commonly added to soaps, mouthwash, toothpaste, skin conditioners, and other products. Here's how it gets into the environment in the first place:
IN: When it gets...
RUNS: 17
OUT: ...into the environment. |
|
|
|
Cut 2:
|
|
|
|
That small amount of triclosan reacts with chlorine when that water is treated for human consumption. Vikesland's research is believed to be the first demonstrating what happens when triclosan and chlorinated water mix.
IN: There's basically a...
RUNS: 10
OUT: ...going to be produced. |
|
|
|
Cut 3:
|
|
|
|
The research, of course, is prompting questions about whether the amount of chloroform produced is harmful to humans. The American Medical Association has been urging the government to investigate this, possibly regulating the home us of triclosan.
IN: What the exposures are...
RUNS: 18
OUT: ...real-world type situations. |
|
|
|
|
Cut 4:
|
|
|
Vikesland has been getting inquiries whether the amount of triclosan found in toothpaste could be an issue. He says that's going to need further study, but?
IN: You brush your teeth...
RUNS: 16
OUT: ...shown with toothpaste. |
|
|
|
Cut 5:
|
|
|
Finally, Vikesland says he's started on the next phase of his research to try to answer some of the questions raised by what he's found so far.
IN: And so what we're...
RUNS: 23
OUT: ...things of that nature. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
