News‚ Articles‚ and other Interesting Information

“Ah‚ clean! Fresh-smelling towels‚ chubby-cheeked
cherubs snuggling into soft blankets that have been lovingly bathed in chlorine‚ benzene‚ formaldehyde… what?! That’s not part of the image‚ but it is the reality for the 99.8 percent of Americans who use common commercial detergents‚ fabric softeners‚ bleaches‚ and stain removers. Plus doing our laundry burns through hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil and sends millions of pounds of chlorine into our air and water each year.”

-Chris Borris‚ Sierra Magazine October 2002

Many people don’t realize that the chemicals found in laundry detergents by most major companies are harmful not only to our health but to the environment as well. Janice Hughes‚ Publisher for the Share Guide Holistic Health Magazine and Resource Directory wrote‚ “One of the biggest culprits in ocean pollution is phosphates‚ common in laundry detergents and some cleaning products.” The average consumer nationwide uses about 30 pounds of laundry detergent a year; all together‚ Americans use about 8.3 billion pounds of dry detergent and a billion gallons of liquid detergent each year! High phosphate levels can kill life in rivers‚ streams and oceans by causing “algae blooms.”
Algae slimes dense enough to suffocate marine life have been swelling around the world‚ especially in coastal bays.

The good news in all of this is that many laundry manufacturers have reduced or removed the use of phosphates in their laundry cleaners. However‚ “the active ingredients in most detergents (called “surfactants”) are still derived from petroleum‚ so the environmental damage starts with drilling‚ spilling‚ and refining oil – and can end with toxic residues contaminating our water and soil. Artificial fragrances‚ bleaches‚ and other additives in these ’spring fresh’ brews can cause rashes and aggravate asthma…“ says Chris Borris‚ writer for the Sierra Club Magazine. It is also important to note that the detergent and cleaning products are not required to list all of their
ingredients as they are considered “trade secrets” of the manufacturer.

Here is a list of key characteristics of laundry detergent ingredients
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (May 1999):

• Surfactants
  Key Characteristics of Concern: Toxicity to aquatic organisms‚ like fish (vertebrates)‚ daphnids (invertebrates) and algae; persistence in the environment; toxicity of biodegradation byproducts.
• Builders

  Key Characteristics of Concern: Potential to cause eutrophication in fresh water (eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes rich in dissolved
  nutrients‚ diminishing oxygen levels and a water body’s ability to support various forms of aquatic life).

• Bleaches
  Key Characteristics of Concern: Inherent toxicity and toxic byproducts.
  Examples: Sodium hypochlorite‚ which can form hazardous gases and chlorinated organic byproducts; may also damage fibers in clothing and fabrics‚ which can lead to the generation of excess lint‚ a potential fire hazard during drying; Sodium perborate‚ which can present both human health and ecological concerns; and Dichloro-isocyanurate may
  form toxic gas‚ nitrogen-trichloride‚ a threat to human health.
• Colorants
  Key Characteristics of Concern: Toxicity. Studies indicate that certain colorants may cause cancer or other adverse health effects in humans (e.g. Rhodamine B). Metalized dyes present health and environmental concerns.
• Optical Brighteners
  Key Characteristics of Concern: Potential toxicity to humans.
  Examples: Aminotriazine- or stilbene-based whiteners. Toxicity data indicate that these compounds may cause developmental and reproductive
  effects‚ but additional testing is needed to confirm these concerns.
• Solvents

  Key Characteristics of Concern: Toxicity to humans and aquatic organisms.

Yet‚ there are definitely things that can be done. Because of activists and environmentally conscious citizens there are better‚ safer‚ eco-friendly laundry detergents‚ cleaners‚ and whiteners available to us. Here are some things to look for when purchasing laundry detergents.

What to Look For

• Specific manufacturing claims:
  • Not just “environmentally safe” but “contains no phosphates”;“biodegradable”.
  • Note: There are some states and areas that have banned phosphates from the cleaning products allowed on the shelves of their stores. Make sure to check the labels for this.
• Plant-based‚ fragrance-free soaps.
• Non-chlorine Bleaches

Healthy Tips

• Read labels closely. Some laundry detergents may read “Eco-Friendly” but do not specify if they are phosphate free or biodegradable
• Try to avoid laundry cleaners‚ fabric softeners‚ bleaches that contain any of the ingredients listed above.
• Wash your clothing with plant-based‚ fragrance-free soaps. This is not only a safer alternative but will keep your clothing in better shape longer.
• If it is warm enough, try hanging your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. You will use less energy and your fabrics will smell fresh
• See also article on “Fabric Softeners“ by Patty Avey. SmartLivingNews‚ issued Dec. 02‚ 2004

For information on products that do not cause harm to people‚ pets or our planet‚ contact me at your convenience.

– Carol Covey