| Urinary Concentrations of Triclosan in the U.S. Population: 2003–2004 Antonia M. Calafat, Xiaoyun Ye, Lee-Yang Wong, John A. Reidy, and Larry L. Needham Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Abstract
Background: Triclosan is a synthetic chemical with broad antimicrobial activity that has been used extensively in consumer products, including personal care products, textiles, and plastic kitchenware. Objectives: This study was designed to assess exposure to triclosan in a representative sample ≥ 6 years of age of the U.S. general population from the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) . Methods: We analyzed 2,517 urine samples using automated solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution–high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: We detected concentrations of total (free plus conjugated) triclosan in 74.6% of samples at concentrations of 2.4–3,790 µg/L. The geometric mean and 95th percentile concentrations were 13.0 µg/L (12.7 µg/g creatinine) and 459.0 µg/L (363.8 µg/g creatinine) , respectively. We observed a curvilinear relation between age and adjusted least square geometric mean (LSGM) concentrations of triclosan. LSGM concentrations of triclosan were higher in people in the high household income than in people in low (p < 0.01) and medium (p = 0.04) income categories. Conclusions: In about three-quarters of urine samples analyzed as part of NHANES 2003–2004, we detected concentrations of triclosan. Concentrations differed by age and socioeconomic status but not by race/ethnicity and sex. Specifically, the concentrations of triclosan appeared to be highest during the third decade of life and among people with the highest household incomes. Key words: 2, 4, 4´-trichloro-2´-hydroxydiphenyl ether, 5-chloro-2-(2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) -phenol, biomonitoring, exposure, human, Irgasan, NHANES 2003–2004, urine. Environ Health Perspect 116:303–307 (2008) . doi:10.1289/ehp.10768 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 7 December 2007]
Address correspondence to A.M. Calafat, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy., NE, Mailstop F53, Atlanta, GA 30341 USA. Telephone: (770) 488-7891. Fax: (770) 488-4609. E-mail: Acalafat@cdc.gov We thank J. Ekong for technical assistance, and J. Osterloh and J. Pirkle for useful comments. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 15 August 2007 ; accepted 6 December 2007.
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