Sunlight and Dioxin

Sunlight can convert triclosan, a disinfectant used in antibacterial and antimicrobial soaps and other products, into dioxin, according to a paper in the May 30, 2003 issue of the

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry. Photodegradation of triclosan in the absence of chlorine can produce a relatively benign form of dioxin, but when chlorine is present (as in wastewater treatment), a very dangerous form of dioxin can be produced. The U.S. Geological Survey found triclosan in 58% of the natural waters it tested last year. Triclosan is manufactured in the U.S. by Ciba-Geigy under the trade name Irgasan DP300 and by a number of manufacturers in other countries.