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Laundry Detergents
Toxnet – Hazardous Substances database
You are walking around the supermarket. When you come to the cleaning aisle, the smells overwhelm you! All those packages of laundry detergent are sealed, yet the fragrances permeate the environment. Some people start sneezing or get stuffed up.|
A detergent is any type of cleaner that does
not contain a soap as its main ingredient. Detergents are synthetic,
although some of the ingredients are natural.
|
Do you know the difference between detergent and soap? A soap is a natural fatty substance, called fatty acids, which has been reacted with lye (sodium hydroxide). Soaps are made of materials found in nature.
A detergent is any type of cleaner that does not contain a soap as its main ingredient. Detergents are synthetic, although some of the ingredients are natural. They were developed during World War II when oils to make soap were scarce.
Laundry detergent is formulated to do what soap doesn’t do. Most laundry detergents include chemicals called surface action agents, or surfactants. These agents help loosen soil, and actually suspend it until it is washed away. This keeps the dirt from re-depositing itself into the item being cleaned. Surfactants are said to make water wetter.
So, what are these surfactants and what else is in your laundry detergent?
Reading the labels of laundry detergent doesn't offer much help. On some brands, there are no ingredients listed. Even if the ingredients are listed, they are vague and don't offer much help. Vague terms like “surfactant” or “optical brightener” are listed, rather than the specific chemicals.
Let's look at some of these surfactants; what are they and what the effects of using them can be.
Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) is the most widely used surfactant in the world, primarily in laundry detergents but also in cleaning products. LAS's are low to moderately toxic to both the environment and humans. LAS are synthetic and the pure compounds may cause skin irritation on prolonged contact. Allergic reactions are rare.
Alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanols. This group of surfactants are slow to biodegrade and have been implicated in chronic health problems. Research indicates that in trace amounts these surfactants activate estrogen receptors in cells, which in turn alters the activity of certain genes. For example, in experiments they have been found to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells and feminize male fish.
A synthetic family of surfactants, Diathanolamines are used to neutralize acids in laundry detergent to make them non-irritating. Diathanolamines are slow to biodegrade and they react with natural nitrogen oxides and sodium nitrite pollutants in the atmosphere to form nitrosamines, a family of potent carcinogens.
Other ingredients in laundry detergents:
Artificial fragrances are included in almost every laundry detergent. Made from petroleum, many do not degrade in the environment, and may have toxic effects on both fish and mammals. Additionally, they often can cause allergies and skin or eye irritation. Dyes and perfumes in traditional detergents can trigger asthma and allergic reactions. Allergies to laundry detergent are very common.
There are other synthetic compounds used in all conventional laundry detergents that claim to make the detergent more effective and our clothes cleaner. The truth of the matter is they are simply unnecessary, are basically non-environmentally friendly, and pose a moderate level of health risks.
Optical brighteners are chemicals found in some laundry detergents. These chemicals don't really have a purpose in cleaning the laundry. They are used to make the clothes look whiter to the eye. These chemicals are highly toxic to fish, when they end up in rivers and streams. The chemicals used in brighteners are responsible for some allergies to detergents.
Phosphates are common ingredients in laundry detergents, but these have been banned in some states. Phosphates are used to prevent the dirt on your clothing from sticking back to the fabric during the wash cycle. Phosphates are hazardous to the environment, especially aquatic ecosystems.
As you can tell laundry detergent is dangerous to more than just humans. The detergents end up in our waterways, wash down stream and pollute the water. The ingredients in typical commercial detergents kill fish, other water creatures and damage the ecosystem in rivers and streams.
Think of it, you are in contact with the chemicals in laundry detergent 24/7. Is it any wonder so many children and adults have sensitive skin, allergies, eczema and other skin conditions?
Look around for products that don't contain any chemicals whatsoever. They can be found and using them will go a long way in improving the quality of your life.
Additional Information:
www.momsorganichouse.com
www.diaperjungle.com
For more information, contact Rita or Steve of Nature Rich at (775) 331-6490 or visit their website at www.phyourbody.com.
