Hello,
In recent years, Dawn dish soap has advertised their product by showing that it can be used to save ducklings that have been impacted by oil spills. However, detergents like Dawn work by destroying the cell membrane of organisms. The killing nature of detergents is broad and affects all membrane-enclosed organisms including eukaryotes, archaea, bacteria and enveloped viruses. Therefore, the large-scale production and disseminated use of detergents may impact microbial communities.
So, my question is: what is the true environmental cost of large-scale detergent production and use? How do waste water treatment plants deal with large amounts of detergent in the water? Is there any effort by waste water treatment plants to neutralize detergents before the water is added back to the environment? What are some ways that detergent producers have mitigated negative environmental effects and what legal standards are they held to in the US?
Thanks!
Detergent waste is a serious threat to water,The detergents reducing the natural water quality, pH changes in soil and water, eutrophication, reducing light transmission, and increasing salinity in water sources. Many laundry detergents contain approximately 35 to 75% phosphate salts. Phosphates can cause a variety of water pollution problems. In wastewater treatment plants, detergents from residential wastewater are removed through a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Liquid laundry detergents can be made biodegradable and eco-friendly by including alkyl polyglucosides, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, and a thickener. Choose phosphate-free detergents, soaps, and household cleaners.
This is a good question and I hope you pursue it further. I fear that we are straining gnats and swallowing camels when it comes to the environment.
The environmental impact of production and usage residues is an important part of defining and assessing "Sustainable" or "Green" practices. But don't be too broad with your terms! NOT all "detergetheirnts" act in the same way, and the definition is simply any cleansing agent that is not derived from lye and fats, as are "soaps". They may still be simply surfactants and not biocidal in any way. The casual use of biocides - as in many hygiene products - IS a serious concern because of its potential (or known) effects on bacterial resistance.
Prem Baboo
BS - phosphates are not included in US or EU products.
Salinity? What detergents include Chlorine.
This is a BS topic -you looked at a single relevant formula, much less Dawns, no data re. it surfactants or consumer usage.
Suggest a problem and there's rush to signal virtue.