Are Wild Boars Exposed to Triclosan and Triclocarban?

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are antimicrobial compounds widely used in numerous industries, making them significant environmental pollutants that infiltrate living organisms and exhibit endocrine-disrupting activity. However, knowledge regarding the exposure of wild terrestrial mammals to these substances remains virtually non-existent. Therefore, this study analyzed, for the first time, TCS and TCC levels in the hair of wild boars using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Despite widespread environmental contamination with these compounds, concentrations above the limit of detection (LOD: 2.3 pg/mg for TCS and 0.8 pg/mg for TCC) were detected in only a small percentage of the analyzed samples: 14.81% for TCC and 3.70% for TCS. Higher concentrations and a greater frequency of TCC occurrence were observed in animals from highly urbanized and industrialized regions. In contrast, TCC and TCS concentrations in animals from other areas only sporadically exceeded the LOD. These results suggest that wild boars are primarily exposed to TCC in highly urbanized areas. In less-urbanized regions, animal exposure to both compounds is usually below the LOD and likely depends on poorly defined local factors. Nonetheless, fully clarifying the exposure of wild terrestrial mammals to TCC and TCS requires further comprehensive research.