This article is from the WSSF 2014 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

A study done by the University of Tennessee found nursing rats that were exposed to triclocarban during day 5 of gestation on through to day 21 after giving birth, had their female offsprings’ lives shortened. The rats were in three groups (control with no additive to the food, and ones with 0.2 or 0.5% triclocarban added to the food). Each mother rat nursed two of her own along with two each from the other two groups. The level of exposure equated to a 15-minute whole-body shower using a bar soap with 0.6% triclocarban.

Body weight of the babies were the same at birth but by day 3, the ones on the control mom were heavier than either additive- added group. The ones on the 0.2% fed moms were half as heavy on day 21 as the control ones and only 4 of the 30 kittens survived. Among those from the 0.2% nursing moms, only 57% lived to day 9 after birth and only 13% survived to weaning. All the ones on the control moms survived until weaning including the ones born from the triclocarban-fed moms but were nursed by control rats. None of the rats fed by the 0.5% moms survived until day 6.

Past studies showed triclocarban enhances the growth of sex organs in adult male rats.

Triclocarban is found in antibacterial soap and other personal care products.

Article on ScienceDaily http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130617122146.htm.