Typical laundry detergents may be imparting more on your clothing than a “fresh” scent. Most contain a toxic slew of chemicals that leave residues behind on your clothing that can potentially be absorbed by your skin or evaporated into the air for you to breathe in.
Most laundry detergents in your typical grocery store contain:
- Petroleum distillates (aka napthas), which have been linked to cancer
- Phenols, which can cause toxicity throughout the entire body
- Artificial fragrances, which have been linked to various toxic effects on fish and mammals
- Phosphates, which stimulate the growth of certain marine plants when they’re released into the environment and contribute to unbalanced ecosystems
- Optical brighteners, which can be toxic to fish and can cause bacterial mutations and allergic reactions
SixWise.com July 10, 2007