Laundry detergent commercials show us fields of wild flowers, streams in mountains, tropical oceanic videos to have us think of the cleanliness, peace, tranquility, fresh air plus give us the impression of clean laundry. Commercial detergents are made with chemicals and while they may remove stains, smell fresh they also leave chemical residues in your clothing. When your laundry is saturated with chemicals is it really clean? Are there health risks to your families from the chemical residues? 24 hours a day seven days a week your family is exposed to toxic chemicals in their bedding and clothing they wear.
A report dated February 10th, 2012 on the Functional Diagnostic Nutrition website titled " LAUNDRY DETERGENTS POSE SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS" states the following information:
Two thirds of all common laundry detergents normally carried in supermarkets contain the deadly carcinogen, dioxane. And according to laboratory tests, the levels of dioxane are considered “high” compared to the levels recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.
1,4-dioxane, the full scientific name of the chemical, is a man-made petrochemical that is widely used in personal care and household cleaning products. But dioxane is not only present in the majority of laundry detergents, it is also found in many popular shampoos, body washes, lotions and even in baby shampoos. 1,4-dioxane is a proven carcinogen that is contaminating waterways across the country through wastewater. It cannot be removed through filtration, and is not biodegradable.
Dioxane has even been found in so-called “natural” and “organic” products. According to reports, some products were found to be so highly contaminated with dioxane that legal proceedings have been instituted against the manufacturers. In 2008, for example, the Attorney General of California filed lawsuits against Avalon Natural Products (Alba), Whole Foods Market California (365), Beaumont Products (Citrus Magic) and Nutribiotic.
Many consumer laundry products actually contain a long list of dangerously toxic chemicals. Some are reported as ingredients on the labels, others are not. In addition to dioxane, among the most toxic ingredients are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), short for sodium lauryl ether sulfate, NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate), and numerous so-called “phosphates”. Anyone who has read a shampoo label has certainly seen sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate or some variation of it. These are found in nearly all shampoo and scalp treatments, hair coloring and bleaching products, body washes, make-ups, liquid hand soaps and even toothpaste, as well as common laundry detergents. Over 16,000 studies show that SLS in any form causes eye and skin irritation, organ toxicity, neurotoxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, mutations and cancer.
NPE has been shown to cause kidney and liver damage, disrupted growth and metabolic development, decreased testicular growth and sperm count, and increased mortality. Read the full report
Just in case the above information is not serious enough clothing washed in chemicals also emit toxic chemicals into the air.
July 24th, 2008 Science Daily report by Anne Steinemann, a University of Washington Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and of Public Affairs. Toxic Chemicals Found In Common Scented Laundry Products, Air Fresheners
ScienceDaily (July 24, 2008) — A University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found the products emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested gave off at least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of those chemicals was listed on the product labels.
"Nearly 100 volatile organic compounds were emitted from these six products, and none were listed on any product label. Plus, five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic 'hazardous air pollutants,' which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level," Steinemann said. Read the report
