Pulling the Wool over Our Eyes
Guest blogger Sally-Ann Creed, gives an informative overview of the importance of using natural laundry detergents.
Are you using a “natural” Laundry Detergent(s)? Are you quite sure? Read Your Labels and avoid products with these ingredients:Phosphates in our Washing Powder
Phosphates are natural minerals that are important to a variety of biological processes. A key nutrient for plants and animals, these minerals were once widely used in detergents because they did two very useful things: They reduced water hardness which allowed the detergent’s soap to clean more effectively, and they prevented dirt from being re-deposited back onto the items being cleaned. But while phosphates may be a perfect ingredient for laundry and other detergents, once they’re released into the environment via household wastewater, the results are anything but desirable.
The trouble starts with an algae bloom. Simply put, algae love phosphates. For these tiny plants, a washer load of phosphate-laden detergent is an invitation to a giant all-you-can-eat feast. In response to all this sudden food, the algae feed and reproduce prodigiously, and then die off in equally large numbers as the ecosystem becomes unable to support their burgeoning population.
They destroy our Environment!
Once dead, they drift to the bottom of the pond or lake where they become food for other microorganisms. Now it’s the other microorganisms’ turn to enjoy an overabundance of food. As they feed and reproduce in growing numbers in response to the increased availability of dead algae, the microorganisms strip more and more oxygen out of the water. Eventually, if the population explosion is great enough, the waters in question become so devoid of this crucial element that they can’t support any life at all. The result is a “dead” body of water. Soon thereafter, something called eutrophication often occurs, a process by which a body of water loses all its life, fills in with solids, and becomes dry land.
In response to this once common problem, most products containing phosphates were eliminated years ago. An exception, however, was made for automatic dishwasher detergents - these products gained an exemption from phosphate bans because of the unique way dishwashers work. Responsible manufacturers now create high performance automatic dishwashers that work without using phosphates in their formulas. To keep your local waterways in healthy balance, look for these alternatives when you shop and keep phosphates out of the environment.
Sodium Carbonate
The use of large quantities of sodium carbonate in washing powder has been shown to be very hard on fabrics. Cotton fibres in particular will slowly suffer when washed repeatedly with sodium carbonate. This fraying is especially visible with dark colours, and over time can make the colours looked slightly bleached out.Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS)
This inexpensive detergent is commonly used in cosmetic cleansers, hair shampoos, bath and shower gels, bubble baths and washing powders - it is probably the most dangerous ingredient used in skin and hair-care products. In the cleaning industry SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps, etc. It is very corrosive and readily attacks greasy surfaces. What is it doing to our bodies, our children and our environment?
Sodium laureth sulfate is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant (and to think some people wash their clothes and bodies with this….). Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin.
A study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc, and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop in adults. It may also cause hair loss by attacking the follicle (but hang on - this in in a lot of shampoo too...!) it is potentially harmful to skin and hair. It cleans by corrosion.
Another extremely serious problem is the connection of SLS with nitrate contamination. SLS reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms nitrosomines (nitrates). Nitrates are potential cancer-causing carcinogenics.
Because of the alarming penetrating power of SLS, large amounts of these known carcinogens are absorbed through the skin into the body. A variation of SLS is SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate- SLES). It exhibits many of the same characteristics and is a higher-foaming variation of SLS. Boy, do we ever NOT want this in our cleaning products! Avoid it like the plague - there ARE products out there without these dangerous chemicals masquerading as "natural".
Nonyl phenyl ethoxylate
These are the published warnings:Skin Contact: In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Seek immediate medical attention. (Wow - and this is part of “natural” LAUNDRY detergent???) For skin contact wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream.
Inhalation: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing(!), give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention.
Flammability: May be combustible at high temperature.
Routes of Entry: Absorbed through skin (and you are washing CLOTHES in it?).
Toxic Effects on Humans: Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Mist may cause irritation of the respiratory tract experienced as nasal discomfort and discharge with chest pain and coughing. May affect respiration experienced as audible respiration, and mouth breathing, and distended abdomen. Exposure to high aerosol concentrations for a prolonged period of time may result in suffocation.
Special Remarks on Chronic Effects on Humans: May affect genetic material and cause adverse reproductive effects and birth defects based on animal studies.
Eyes: Causes severe eye irritation and conjunctivitis with possible chemical burns of the eye.
Chronic Potential Health Effects:
Skin: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause irritation and dermatitis. Prolonged or widespread contact may result in absorption of potentially harmful amounts and may cause abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomitting, and diarrhea. Studies also indicate that continuous exposure to high concentrations may be toxic to the kidneys.
For more on Sally-Anne Creed, please see her website's at www.sallyanncreed.co.za and www.creeds.co.za.
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