Toxins in Our Laundry Detergent
Because it is such a necessary,
frequently tackled chore in many homes, laundry consumes
a great deal of energy, which in turn produces greenhouse
gas emissions, taking its environmental impact beyond
waterways and into the air.
Laundry Chemicals and Your Health
 Laundry
detergent and fabric softener ingredients pose a variety
of health risks, ranging from relatively minor—like
skin irritants and allergens—to the severe—cancer,
poisoning and neurological problems. Knowing which ingredients
to avoid, however, will help you control the number of
toxins entering your home.
Laundry detergents and laundry stain removers frequently
contain alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs), which are common
surfactants. Surfactants, or surface active agents, are
chemicals that make surfaces more susceptible to water,
allowing cleaners to easily penetrate stains and wash
them away. APEs can damage the immune system, and they're
suspected hormone disruptors, which mean they can mimic
hormones in the body that regulate reproduction and development.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also warned
that ethoxylated alcohol surfactants, such as APEs, may
be contaminated with carcinogenic 1, 4-dioxane, which
penetrates skin. Tests conducted in 1997 by the Washington
Toxics Coalition found that supermarket or drugstore labels
are more likely to contain APEs than name brands.
Your everyday laundry detergents
may contain a combination of many toxic chemicals many
of which are harmful to your health. Even Seventh Generation
is can be considered dangerous Check out this posting
at http://myitthings.com/oldworldsecrets/Post/house/It-House/Seven-generations-should-be-long-enough-to-poison-us-/989222008172345355.htm
Toxic chemicals can be left
behind on your clothes after washing. This can be potentially
dangerous as these chemicals are absorbed by your skin
into your blood stream and also evaporate into the air
which you and your family breathe. Also, the manufacturing
process of the chemical detergents and their use can have
a long term negative effect on the environment as well.
Many common laundry detergents
contain phosphates, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, optical
brighteners, artificial fragrances, EDTA etc. These chemicals
can cause rashes, itches, allergies, sinus problems and
have long term toxic effects on the environment. For more
information go to our Environmental Info page. Here are
a few examples of these chemicals.
Phenols: Toxic,
a suspected carcinogen and rapidly absorbed. Effects include
swelling, pimples, and hives. Internal consumption can
cause circulatory collapse, cold sweats, coma, and death.
Optical brighteners:
Can cause skin allergy, toxic to fish and can cause bacterial
mutations.
Phosphates:
Environmental hazard causing excessive growth in aquatic
plants which leads to the suffocation of fish & underwater
life.
EDTA: Skin
irritant leading to allergies, asthma, and skin rashes.
Does not bio degrade readily and is an environment hazard.
Artificial fragrances:
Toxic effects on fish and mammals, often causes allergies,
skin and eye irritation. Do not easily bio-degrade in
the environment.
Ammonia:
Can cause burns, cataracts & corneal damage. Long
term repeated exposure can cause bronchitis and pneumonia.
Also has a toxic effect on plants, animals and fish.
Sodium Sulfate:
It is corrosive and a severe eye, skin, and respiratory
irritant. Can cause asthma attacks.
Join the ‘Green Cleaning Revolution’
to really make a difference in your life and the health
of our Mother Earth!!
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