Detergent is a cleaning agent which is used for washing or cleaning purposes, in the form of bar, liquid or powder. Detergent has several uses in household and industrial purposes. They are primarily a mix of surfactants having cleansing properties. Even though they are known to be better cleansing agents, detergents also cause several health hazards to those who use it.
However, the truth is that although detergents leave your clothes smelling like a summer breeze, they often contain a mix of harmful chemicals that have negative side effects on our health. Not to mention that they damage our clothes and leave them faded and worn out.
Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, and the chemicals in our clothing and sheets are absorbed into the body through its pores all day. Chemicals in laundry detergents are linked to a range of adverse health impacts from benign rashes to more serious ailments cancer as well as birth and developmental defects.
Let’s take a look at some of the harmful contents of our detergents:
1. 1,4-Dioxa
Identified as a human carcinogen, 1,4-dioxane is a common ingredient in detergents and shampoos. It is used as a solvent and degreaser. Experimental studies on rats and other lab animals have shown that exposure to dioxane can cause benign and malignant tumours in different parts of the body from the mouth to the liver. In humans, contact with residues contained in detergents results in exposure. 1,4- dioxane is easily absorbed through the skin and by inhalation. It also leaches readily into the soil and groundwater, contaminating the municipal drinking water supply, and increasing the risk of exposure by ingestion.
2. Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS)
SLS is a foaming agent used to make detergents, soaps and shampoos froth. SLS can be derived from petroleum and coconut or palm oil. Essentially, it makes detergents effective by allowing water and oil two immiscible substances emulsify and be easily lifted off dirty clothes. SLS is widely used because it is inexpensive and effective. SLS is known to irritate human skin and is often implicated in conditions such as eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. It is best avoided by those with sensitive, allergy-prone skin.
3. Bleach
Often hiding under the label term Sodium Hypochlorite or the catch-all term ‘optical brighteners’, bleach in detergents is meant to make clothes, especially white ones, appear whiter by converting UV light to visible light. When it comes in contact with the skin, bleach can cause allergic reactions. It is an eye and lung irritant and is toxic to marine organisms
4. Formaldehy
Formaldehyde is a low-cost preservative and antibacterial agent commonly used in detergents and dishwashing liquids. It is a known irritating agent to the respiratory system, eyes and lungs. Regular contact with formaldehyde can cause allergic reactions such as eczema and contact dermatitis. Daily contact with formaldehyde is toxic to humans and has been linked with cancer. Check your detergent label for mention of this ingredient or look up the manufacturer’s website for more information.
5. Phosphates
Phosphates make detergents more effective by reducing the action of calcium and magnesium and making water less hard. The most commonly used phosphate in detergents is sodium tripolyphosphate. Despite their effectiveness, phosphates have been banned in some countries because of their adverse impact on water bodies. Phosphates lead to the buildup of algal blooms in lakes and rivers, which deprives marine organisms of oxygen supply, thus killing them. An eco-friendly laundry detergent is one that is phosphate-free and does not degrade natural eco-systems.
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