In spite of the fact that doing the dishes is a vital part of daily life, it shouldn’t include exposure to several rather common and dangerous chemicals. When was the last time you looked at the ingredients in your dishwasher detergent? Would it surprise you to learn that the soap you use may be bad for the health of your family? Be ready since one of your favorite soaps for the house may be toxic. Unfortunately, the majority of widely used dishwashing detergents include hazardous ingredients that might contaminate the food you are eating. The important ones to avoid are listed below; be sure they aren’t present in your detergent.
Undisclosed Fragrances
When the phrase “fragrance” appears on an ingredient label, it essentially means that the manufacturer has chosen to conceal the ingredients from you. They might not necessarily be harmful, but if they weren’t, wouldn’t they use that for their marketing advantages? Many chemicals, some of which are dangerous to both humans and the environment, may be found in “fragrances.” The most frustrating fact about this ingredient is that it is a catch-all term that allows companies to conceal over 3,000 different ingredients just under this one word. This is completely legal, and it allows the companies to keep their “trade secret recipe” under wraps.
One example of a hormone-disrupting chemical that can hide in “fragrance” is phthalates, which are used as a solvent to extend the aromatic strength of fragrance. Many studies have shown that phthalates can also cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, migraines, sinus problems, and respiratory issues.
Be careful since some products with the label “unscented” nevertheless still contain fragrance, so it’s best to always check the ingredient label yourself rather than relying on the marketing on the bottle. I believe it’s equally important to point out that some companies are transparent about the ingredients in their fragrances.
Unfortunately, many studies have shown that “fragrances” almost always contain phthalates which are endocrine disruptors and can be detrimental to your hormone health. They can also cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, migraines, sinus problems, and respiratory issues.
Be careful since some products with the label “unscented” nevertheless still contain fragrance, so it’s best to always check the ingredient label yourself rather than relying on the marketing on the bottle. I believe it’s equally important to point out that some companies are transparent about the ingredients in their fragrances.
Polyacrylates
Polyacrylates are used in detergents as a chelating agent, which neutralizes the heavy metals in water & dirt so that the detergent can be more effective at cleaning. They are non-surfactant suspending agents that have film-forming and binding abilities that are used in dishwashing detergents. The concern around acrylates is the impurities that tend to coexist with them.
Chemicals like acrylic acid, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid, & acrylamide, have been linked to skin, eye, and throat reactions. The International Agency of Research on Cancer as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have classified acrylates as a possible human carcinogen. They are also toxic to aquatic life.
Here are other serious health effects they are linked to:
- Development issues
- Neurological damage
- Cellular damage
- Reproductive toxicity
- Organ system toxicity
- Cancer
Examples of Polyacrylates:
- ethyl acrylate
- acrylic acid ethyl ester
- ethyl propenoate
- ethyl methacrylate
- ethyl ester
- methacrylic acid
- ethyl ester
- ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate (EMA)
- methyl methacrylate
- ethyl methacrylate
- methacrylate monomer
- methyl ester of methacrylic acid
- methyl-2-methyl-2-propenoate (MMA)
- acrylic/acrylate copolymer
- acrylic/acrylates copolymer
Isothiazolinones
Isothiazolinones are a type of preservatives that are commonly used in dishwashing detergents. Studies have shown that they are moderately to highly acutely toxic to oral, dermal, cause eye irritation, dermal irritation, and are acutely toxic to inhale. They are also possibly neurotoxic They are also extremely toxic to aquatic organisms. Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) are the isothiazolinones used in personal care products for their effectiveness as preservatives due to their relatively low cost.
However, you may also see these in your products as:
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT, MI)
- Chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT, CMI, MCI)
- Benzisothiazolinone (BIT)
- Octylisothiazolinone (OIT, OI)
- Dichlorooctylisothiazolinone (DCOIT, DCOI)
- Butylbenzisothiazolinone (BBIT)
- 3(2H)-Isothiazolone
- 2-methyl-
- 2-Methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one
- 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
- 2-Methyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers
While Formaldehyde is rarely used in its pure form, formaldehyde releasers are commonly used as preservatives in many cosmetics including our soaps and detergents. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as a human carcinogen, which means exposure is known to increase cancer risk. Formaldehyde is linked to leukemia, tumor formations, joint pain, heart irregularities, and a weakened immune system. It is also linked to problems like respiratory irritation, headaches, runny nose, nausea, difficulty breathing, and asthma attacks, according to the American Lung Association.
While Formaldehyde could be listed on an ingredients list, it’s unlikely. Here’s a list of formaldehyde releasers to stay away from:
- Formaldehyde
- Urea
- Imidazolidinyl Urea
- Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
- Benzylhemiformal
- 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
- 5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane
- Quaternium-15
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Methenamine
- Polyoxymethylen
Diethanolamine (DEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA), and Triethanolamine (TEA)
There is also a concern when formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are present in a formulation that also includes the amines such as the ethanolamines; diethanolamine (DEA), monoethanolamine (MEA), and triethanolamine (TEA). If you are exposed to these substances for an extended period of time, they may cause more severe health issues in addition to irritating your skin and eyes. Fish and other aquatic species have been found to be harmed by DEA, MEA, and TEA after they have been flushed down the drain. These substances can also combine with other substances to create carcinogenic nitrosamines. Which are harmful substances that can potentially penetrate the skin and are linked to cancer.
Ethoxylated Ingredients (prefixes PEG- and poly-, suffixes -eth and -oxynol)
Ethoxylation is a chemical process using ethylene oxide (EtO) to turn alcohol, acid, or triglyceride oil into a surfactant. This makes products interact better with each other and make them more effective cleaners. The biggest problem with these ingredients is their process of ethoxylation because it produces traces of 1,4-dioxane, ethylene oxide, both known carcinogens. It also produces polyethylene glycol compounds (PEGs).
California Proposition 65 lists ethylene oxide as a known developmental toxicant, and it also lists 1,4-dioxane as a cancer-causing ingredient. 1,4 Dioxane has been shown to be harmful to a developing fetus, as well as increased incidences in nasal cavity, gall bladder, and liver tumors after exposure in animal studies.
The prefixes and suffixes above will help to identify ethoxylated ingredients but here is a list of others found in common household, beauty, and self-care products:
- Acrylates/Steareth-20 Itaconate Copolymer
- Ammonium Capryleth Sulfate
- Ammonium Pareth-25 Sulfate
- Ammonium Myreth Sulfate
- Ceteareth -20
- Cocamidopropyl Betaines
- Disteareth-75 IPDI, -100 IPDI
- Emulsifying Wax NF
- Isosteareth-20
- Steareth – 2, -4, 10, 16, -20, 21
- Isosteareth -2, -10, -20
- Magnesium Laureth Sulfate
- Magnesium Oleth Sulfate
- PEG’s – ingredients listed as a polyethylene glycol or with a PEG- prefix such as PEG-20, PEG-40
- Phenoxyethanol
- Polyoxyethylene
- Polysorbate-20, -40, -60, -80
- Steareth-2, -4, -10, -16, -20, -21
- Sodium Coceth Sulfate
- Sodium Deceth Sulfate
- Sodium Oleth Sulfate
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate
- Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
- Zinc Coceth Sulfate
Surfactants
There’s a little bit of overlap here, but we wanted to go over surfactants because they are so important to understand. Surfactants are one of the main ingredients you’ll find in dishwashing detergent. They are used to stir up activity on the surface that is being cleaned to help trap dirt and remove it from the surface.
Surfactants can either be anionic, nonionic, cationic or amphoteric, but in terms of dishwashing detergents, most of what you will see are anionic and nonionic surfactants.
- Anionic surfactants: Dishwashing detergents have lots of anionic surfactants, which have a negative charge. Anionic surfactants create lots of foam when mixed and are excellent for lifting and suspending particulate soils, but they do not cut grease very well. These ingredients can be produced from a range of raw fats and oils, including soybean, palm, tallow, and coconut-type ingredients. Examples of this are sulfates, like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), sodium stearate, sulfonates, and gluconates like potassium cocoate.
- Nonionic surfactants: When it comes to cutting grease, the use of nonionic surfactants are good at emulsifying oils and are better than anionic surfactants at removing organic soils. You’ll find lots of formulations where the two are used together to create dual-action to lift and suspend particulate soils, but also emulsify oily soils. These surfactants have a neutral charge. Examples of nonionic surfactants include ethoxylates like fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkoxylates, cocamides like cocoamide monoethanolamine (Cocomide MEA), cocamide diethanolamine (Cocamide DEA), amine oxides, sulfoxides, nonylphenols, and nonylphenol ethoxylates. These chemicals range in toxicity based on what they are made of.
- Cationic surfactants: These surfactants have a positive charge and cannot be used with anionic surfactants because they lose their usefulness. You’ll find these surfactants more in anti-static products, like fabric softeners, or antimicrobial agents, like disinfectants. An example is alkyl ammonium chlorides.
- Amphoteric surfactants: These surfactants are both positive and negative and are more often used in shampoos and cosmetics and other personal care products. Examples are betaines and amino oxides.
One of the biggest problems with surfactants (anionic & nonionic) is their effects on aquatic life. So for the purposes of this investigation, the more and harsher surfactants used, the lower the product will rank.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG Compounds)
PEG’s or polyethylene glycols are petroleum-based compounds used in cosmetics and personal care products to help keep ingredients stable and enhance the penetration of other active ingredients. PEGs are typically followed by a number indicating how many units of ethylene glycol they contain, for example PEG-4 or PEG-100; the lower the number, the more easily the compound is absorbed into skin. The largest issue with them is they may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, both of which are carcinogens. Because they are penetration enhancers, depending on what other ingredients are in the product, they can potentially make other toxic chemicals more harmful as well.
Examples include PEGs, PEG polymers and polysorbates:
- PEG-4
- PEG-6
- PEG-7
- PEG-8
- PEG-75
- PEG-100
- PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil
- PEG-20 lauramine
- PEG-10 Dimethicone
- Polysorbate 20
- Polysorbate 40
- Polysorbate 60
- Polysorbate 80
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs and QACs)
QUATs are commonly added to household products for their disinfecting properties but they can also be used as a surfactant. QUATs can disrupt key cellular processes and have been linked to a broad range of health issues including reproductive and development problems in animals. In one laboratory where studies were completed on mice, the staff switched from a chlorine-based disinfectant to QUATs, which resulted in fertility issues and neural tube defects in the mice. It has also been found that QUATs are resilient on surfaces, and it takes months to get rid of the residue. So, it is crucial not to use them on food preparation surfaces. They are related to a broad range of health issues that include skin and eye irritations, as well as respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies. Children are particularly at risk of developing complications. These chemical exposures have been linked to 5% of childhood cancer and 30% of childhood asthma.
Watch for ingredients that end in “ammonium chloride”, some examples are listed below:
- Alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride
- Didecyldimethylammonium chloride
- Dioctyldimethylammonium chloride
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Benzethonium chloride
- Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
- Behentrimonium chloride
- Cetrimonium chloride
- Stearalkonium chloride
- Methylbenzethonium chloride
- Cetylpyridinium chloride
- Quaternium-15
- Polyquaternium-7
Products that are labeled as “antimicrobial” or “antibacterial” most likely contain QUATs.
There you have it!
Sadly, very few companies would have met the requirements to not have these ingredients that I have found so far, but there are several other elements that make this situation more complicated. Certain dishwashers can’t operate with the “safer” brands without causing damage to internal parts. This is the reason I DO NOT advise you to search for homemade dishwashing detergent recipes. Yet many of the “best” items are easily handled by other dishwashers. I recommend choosing from this list I have created rather than making your own dishwasher detergent because most of them are designed to not damage your dishwasher.
