Triclosan is an aromatic ether that is phenol which is substituted at C-5 by a chloro group and at C-2 by a 2,4-dichlorophenoxy group. It has a role as an antibacterial agent, a fungicide, an EC 1.5.1.3 (dihydrofolate reductase) inhibitor, an antimalarial, an EC 1.3.1.9 [enoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase (NADH)] inhibitor, a xenobiotic, a persistent organic pollutant and a drug allergen.