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Chemicals Used in Laundry

Regularly used laundry products, such as detergents and fabric softeners, contain many different chemicals that can affect your health and the environment. Toxins may be absorbed through the skin when moisture from the body attaches to chemicals and is absorbed through the bloodstream. Some of the toxins in these chemicals can cause nervous system disorders, cancer and liver toxicity. By being aware of ingredients and choosing cleaner products, you can live a healthier life.

  1. Surfactants

    • Surfactants are rarely listed on product labels. A statement might be printed on the box, such as "ingredients include surfactants and enzymes," but ingredients are not required by law to be listed and these warnings mean nothing to the general consumer. Most types of surfactants are biodegradable, yet some are very slow to break down. Surfactants are also known to be toxic to aquatic life, and pure compounds may cause irritation to the skin with prolonged contact. Surfactants are synthetic compounds, meaning they are not natural; they are chemical. Some surfactants, such as alkyl phenoxy polythenoxy ethanols or closely related compunds, have been used as a spermicide and have been found to effect estrogen receptors in the cells, even in trace amounts.

    Phosphates

    • Phosphates are natural minerals that are used in laundry detergents to remove hard water minerals and stop dirt from redepositing on clothes. Yet if these phosphates are released into the ecosystem, they cause explosive marine growth, throwing off the system's balance. EDTA, for example, is a phosphate compound that has the ability to release heavy metals that are trapped in underwater sediments, enabling them to reenter the ecosystem.

    Optical Brighteners

    • Optical brighteners, such as coumarin, are chemicals used to "brighten" clothes and can be toxic to humans. Yet these "brighteners" don't actually alter clothing; they convert UV light into visible light, making the clothes appear brighter.

    Other Ingredients

    • Colorants can be toxic, so use products that contain them sparingly. According to the EPA, "Studies indicate that certain colorants may cause cancer or other adverse health effects in humans." Clothes are coated with chemical perfumes from dryer sheets and laundry detergents after use, which are also synthetic chemicals that can enter the bloodstream through the skin. Solvents, such as propylene glycol esthers, may be toxic to humans and aquatic life.

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