Popular Antibacterial Ingredient Has Been Linked to Cancer

The chemical triclosan began to appear in a multitude of products in the early 1970s. From soaps and toothpastes to cleaning supplies and pesticides, this chemical was reportedly an effective antibacterial and anti-fungal compound. After it started to appear in household products, the FDA began to investigate the chemical's safety profile. However, it wasn't until 2016 that it established a final, clear regulation.

It was at this time that the FDA had effectively banned triclosan and 18 other compounds from consumer antiseptic wash products such as hand soap. However, the regulation was limited as it still allowed the chemical to be used in hand wipes or sanitizers and toothpastes. However, Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said, "Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water." 

 

Over the years, a growing body of evidence has come to suggest that triclosan is harmful to humans and to the environment. Initial studies pointed to concerns over the chemical acting as an endocrine disrupter in humans and also increasing the prominence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

However, the direct effect that the chemical has on human health has been controversially debated. According to a review by the government of Canada, it was recently concluded that when used in low concentrations triclosan is not harmful to human health. This includes the current levels found in cosmetics, shampoos, and toothpaste. The Canadian review does note, however, that the chemical can pose a hazard to the environment, and it has been seen to be very toxic and disruptive when found in river ecosystems. In fact, it has been noted as one of the top 10 pollutants found in rivers in the United States. Even more concerning is the result of a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which found traces of triclosan in 75% of urine samples from participants in the United States. 

 

In a new study which was led by a team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, it set out to explore if triclosan had any relationship with gut inflammation, which has been reported to be an increasingly diagnosed problem. The study fed mice amounts of the chemical relative to concentrations that have been identified in human blood samples. After three weeks of administration in healthy mice, a low-grade of colonic inflammation was identified. 

 

The study then administered the same regime to mice that were genetically engineered to develop inflammatory bowel disease. But after three weeks, the development of symptoms relating to irritable bowel syndrome had significantly accelerated, as did the development of colitis-associated colon cancer cell growth. It was noted that one group of mice, in particular, displayed significantly reduced lifespan.

Researchers hypothesized that triclosan could be affecting the gut microbiome which could be the fundamental mechanism resulting in inflammatory effects. In order to look deeper into this mechanism, the study subsequently found that when fed to germ-free mice (those with no gut microbiome), they found that the harmful effects of triclosan disappeared. Furthermore, they discovered that triclosan did indeed lower the diversity of an animal's gut flora. 

 

It's worth noting that this study is only demonstrated in a small mouse cohort and so far, it has not been validated in humans. But researchers do suggest the results indicate that the effects of this chemical on human health do indeed need urgent and close inspection.

Haixia Yang says "Little is known about the impact of this chemical on human health or other species. Our study indicates there is an urgent need to further evaluate the impact of triclosan exposure and update the potential regulatory policies." 

 

For now, it seems that regulators may be dragging their heels on working out whether this chemical is harmful or not. But, in a statement released last year and co-signed by over 200 scientists and medical professionals suggests that we should probably just avoid it altogether. Within the Florida Statement report, it was found that despite the lack of definitive evidence of its harmful effects, there is no conclusive evidence of its efficacy as an anti-microbial agent. 

 

Barbara Sattler, an environmental health professor at the University of San Francisco says "People think antimicrobial hand soaps offer better protection against illness, but generally, antimicrobial soaps perform no better than plain soap and water." Furthermore, an earlier study conducted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst team found that the chemical can build up to concerning levels of toxicity in the bristles of a toothbrush. What's worse, when a non-triclosan containing toothpaste was applied to the brush, the accumulated triclosan could be released in potentially harmful amounts. 

 

Ultimately, this all leads to a scenario where we have a chemical compound in a variety of household products that is, at best, relatively ineffective, and at worst, cancer-causing and toxic to the environment. Still, further work needs to be done to establish, for certain, whether there is an inflammatory connection in humans. However, at this point, triclosan can be easily avoided by simply paying attention to the ingredient list of purchased products.

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Protein that spurs bowel cancer growth identified

Researchers have identified a key protein that supports the growth of many bowel cancer, paving way for development of new therapies to combat the deadly disease.

The study revealed that a protein called Importin-11 transports the cancer-causing protein beta-catenin into the nucleus of colon cancer cells, where it can drive cell proliferation.

Inhibiting this transport step could block the growth of most colorectal cancers-also called bowel cancers-- caused by elevated beta-catenin levels. Around 80% of colorectal cancers are associated with mutations in a gene called APC that results in elevated levels of beta-catenin protein.

This increase in beta-catenin is followed by the protein's accumulation in the cell nucleus, whee it can activate numerous genes that drive cell proliferation and promote the growth and maintenance of colorectal tumours.

But how beta-catenin enters the cell nucleus after its levels rise is poorly understood. Because the molecular mechanisms underlying beta-catenin nuclear transport remain unclear, we set out to identify genes required for continuous beta-catenin activity in colorectal cancer cells harbouring APC mutations, said one of the researchers.

Under CRISPR DNA editing technology, the researchers developed a new technique that allowed them to screen the human genome for genes that support beta-catenin's activity in colorectal cancer cells after its levels have been elevated by mutations in APC.

The researchers found that Importin-11 binds to beta-catenin and escorts it into the nucleus of colorectal cancer cells with mutations in APC. Removing Importin-11 from these cells prevented beta-catenin from entering the nucleus and activating its target genes.

The researchers discovered that Importin-11 levels are often elevated in human colorectal cancers. Moreover, removing Importin-11 inhibited the growth of tumours formed by APC mutant cancer cells isolated from patients.

We concluded that Importin-11 is required for the growth of colorectal cancer cells, the researcher said. Learning more about how Importin-11 transport beta-catenin into the nucleus may help researchers develop new therapies that block this process and reduce the growth of colorectal cancers caused by mutations in APC.

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Researchers have identified a key protein that supports the growth of many bowel cancers, paving the way for development of new therapies to combat the deadly disease. The study, published in the Journal of Cell Biology, revealed that a protein called Importin-11 transports the cancer-causing protein beta-catenin into the nucleus of colon cancer cells, where it can drive cell proliferation. https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/hans-classroom/protein-that-spurs-bowel-cancer-growth-identified-593673

https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/hans-classroom/protein-that-spurs-bowel-cancer-growth-identified-593673

Researchers have identified a key protein that supports the growth of many bowel cancers, paving the way for development of new therapies to combat the deadly disease. The study, published in the Journal of Cell Biology, revealed that a protein called Importin-11 transports the cancer-causing protein beta-catenin into the nucleus of colon cancer cells, where it can drive cell proliferation. https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/hans-classroom/protein-that-spurs-bowel-cancer-growth-identified-593673

https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/hans-classroom/protein-that-spurs-bowel-cancer-growth-identified-593673

Researchers have identified a key protein that supports the growth of many bowel cancers, paving the way for development of new therapies to combat the deadly disease. The study, published in the Journal of Cell Biology, revealed that a protein called Importin-11 transports the cancer-causing protein beta-catenin into the nucleus of colon cancer cells, where it can drive cell proliferation. https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/hans-classroom/protein-that-spurs-bowel-cancer-growth-identified-593673

https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/hans-classroom/protein-that-spurs-bowel-cancer-growth-identified-593673

Now, plants to remove cancer-causing pollutants from homes

Scientists have genetically modified a common houseplant to remove cancer-causing pollutants from our homes.

While a variety of air filters in our homes can keep allergens and dust particles at bay, some hazardous compounds are too small to be trapped in these filters.


Small molecules like chloroform, which is present in small amounts in chlorinated water, or benzene, which is a component of gasoline, build up in our homes when we shower or boil water, or when we store cars or lawn mowers in attached garages.

Both benzene and chloroform exposure have been linked to cancer.
 
Researchers  have genetically modified a common houseplant pothos ivy to remove chloroform and benzene from the air around it.

The modified plants express a protein, called 2E1, that transforms these compounds into molecules that the plants can then use to support their own growth, according to the study.

"People haven't really been talking about these hazardous organic compounds in homes, and I think that's because we couldn't do anything about them," said  a research professor.

"Now we've engineered houseplants to remove these pollutants for us," said the Prof.

The team decided to use a protein called cytochrome P450 2E1, or 2E1 for short, which is present in all mammals, including humans.

In our bodies, 2E1 turns benzene into a chemical called phenol and chloroform into carbon dioxide and chloride ions.

However, 2E1 is located in our livers and is turned on when we drink alcohol.

So it's not available to help us process pollutants in our air.

"We decided we should have this reaction occur outside of the body in a plant, an example of the 'green liver' concept," the Prof. said.

"And 2E1 can be beneficial for the plant, too. Plants use carbon dioxide and chloride ions to make their food, and they use phenol to help make components of their cell walls," he added.

The researchers made a synthetic version of the gene that serves as instructions for making the rabbit form of 2E1.

Then they introduced it into pothos ivy so that each cell in the plant expressed the protein.

Pothos ivy does not flower in temperate climates so the genetically modified plants won't be able to spread via pollen.

Plants in the home would also need to be inside an enclosure with something to move air past their leaves, like a fan, the Prof. said.

The team is currently working to increase the plants' capabilities by adding a protein that can break down another hazardous molecule found in home air: formaldehyde, which is present in some wood products, such as laminate flooring and cabinets, and tobacco smoke.

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Household dust can decline IQ level in children, trigger respiratory problems

Household dust exposes people to a wide range of toxic chemicals from everyday products, states a recent study conducted at the George Washington University.
The team conducted a first-of-a-kind meta-analysis, compiling data from dust samples to identify the top ten toxic chemicals commonly found in dust.
They found that DEHP, a chemical belonging to a hazardous class called phthalates, was number one on that list.
In addition, the researchers found that phthalates overall were found at the highest levels in dust followed by phenols and flame retardant chemicals.
Lead author Ami Zota said, "Our study is the first comprehensive analysis of consumer product chemicals found in household dust. The findings suggest that people, and especially children, are exposed on a daily basis to multiple chemicals in dust that are linked to serious health problems."
Chemicals from consumer products are released into the air and get into dust, which can settle on household items or on the floor.
People can inhale or ingest small particles of dust or even absorb them through the skin.
Infants and young children are particularly at risk for exposure to the chemicals found in dust because they crawl, play on dusty floors, and put their hands in their mouths.
Zota and her colleagues pooled data from 26 peer-reviewed papers and a dataset that analyzed dust samples taken from homes in 14 states.
They found 45 potentially toxic chemicals that are used in many consumer and household products such as vinyl flooring, personal care and cleaning products, building materials and home furnishings.
The meta-analysis combines information from smaller dust studies and thus offers solid conclusions with greater statistical power.
The team found that ten harmful chemicals are found in ninety percent of the dust samples across multiple studies, including a known cancer-causing agent called TDCIPP.
This flame retardant is frequently found in furniture, baby products and other household items.
Indoor dust consistently contains four classes of harmful chemicals in high amounts. Phthalates, substances that are used to make cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring, and other products, were found in the highest concentration with a mean of 7,682 nanograms per gram of dust-an amount that was several orders of magnitude above the others.
Phenols, chemicals used in cleaning products and other household items, were the number two highest chemical class followed by flame retardants and highly fluorinated chemicals used to make non-stick cookware.
Chemicals from dust are likely to get into young children's bodies.
A flame retardant added to couches, baby products, electronics and other products, TCEP, had the highest estimated intake followed by four phthalates--DEP, DEHP, BBzP and DnBP.
The intake numbers in this study probably underestimate the true exposure to such chemicals, which are also found in products on the drug store shelf and even in fast food the authors say.
Phthalates such as DEP, DEHP, DNBP, and DIBP, are not only found at the highest concentrations in dust but are associated with many serious health hazards.
Phthalates are thought to interfere with hormones in the body and are linked to a wide range of health issues including declines in IQ and respiratory problems in children.
Highly fluorinated chemicals such as PFOA and PFOS are also high on the potential harm scale.
These types of chemicals, which are found in cell phones, pizza boxes, and many non-stick, waterproof and stain-resistant products have been linked to numerous health problems of the immune, digestive, developmental and endocrine systems.
Many of the chemicals in dust are linked to the same health hazards, such as cancer or developmental and reproductive toxicity, and may be acting together.
Exposure to even small amounts of chemicals in combination can lead to an amplified health risk, especially for developing infants or young children, the authors say.
Co-author Veena Singla said, "The number and levels of toxic and untested chemicals that are likely in every one of our living rooms was shocking to me. Harmful chemicals used in everyday products and building materials result in widespread contamination of our homes--these dangerous chemicals should be replaced with safer alternatives."
Meantime, consumers who want to reduce their exposure to chemicals in household dust and the environment around them can take a few simple steps such as keeping dust levels low by using a strong vacuum with a HEPA filter, washing hands frequently and avoiding personal care and household products that contain potentially dangerous chemicals.


An expert in the field Robin Dodson said, "Consumers have the power to make healthier choices and protect themselves from harmful chemicals in everyday products. These things can make a real difference not only in their health but also in shifting the market toward safer products."

The study appeared in Environmental Science and Technology journal. 

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