Environmental risk assessment of triclosan and triclocarban from personal care products in South Africa

Trends in the widespread use of personal care products (PCPs) containing triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) have led to continuous emissions of these chemicals into the environment. Consequently, both chemicals are ubiquitously present at high concentrations in the aquatic systems based on widely reported measured environmental concentration (MECs) data in different environmental systems (e.g. freshwater) worldwide, especially in developed countries. In developing countries, however, lack of MECs data is a major issue, and therefore, inhibits effective risk assessment of these chemicals. Herein, TCS and TCC releases from personal care products (PCPs) were quantified, using a modelling approach to determine predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) in wastewater, freshwater, and soils, and likely risk(s) were estimated by calculating risk quotient (RQs). TCS and TCC in freshwater had RQs >1 based on estimated PECs with wide variations (≈2–232) as performed across the three dilutions factors (1, 3, and 10) considered in this study; an indicator of their likely adverse effect on freshwater organisms. In untreated and treated wastewater, TCS RQs values for bacteria were >1, but <1 for TCC, implying the former may adversely affect the functioning of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and with no plausible impacts from the latter. In terrestrial systems, RQ results for individual chemicals revealed no or limited risks; therefore, additional investigations are required on their toxicity, as effects data was very limited and characterised by wide variations. Future national monitoring programs in developing countries should consider including TCS and TCC as the results suggest both chemicals are of concern to freshwater, and TCS in WWTPs. Potential risks of their metabolites remain unquantified to date.