Toxic foam

Toxic foam

To grab market share by providing that little 'extra' has led to extensive collaborative research between detergent makers and speciality chemical companies. New chemicals are synthesised and added to detergents, without evaluating their safety. Broadly, synthetic detergents are known to be corrosive, toxic, slow to biodegrade and contribute to the growing levels of eutrophication in waterbodies.

The major debate surrounding detergents is linked to the use of phosphates as builders. Phosphates were linked with eutrophication and in Europe and the us zeolite has largely replaced phosphates. But debate still continues about the relative safety of phosphate vs zeolite. In India, experts are divided. Khanna dismisses the phosphate argument. "In our waterbodies, eutrophication is due to domestic sewage and phosphatic fertilisers, not detergents." Brij Gopal, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi disagrees, "It's unfair to compare fertilisers with detergents, since detergents reach the water cycle immediately." Says Clive Southey (author, Detergents and the Environment: the Canadian and the Indian Experience), "The sharply rising frequency of detergent use in India demands a timely response from the government and industry."

But says Khanna, "Phosphate-free powder uses sodium bicarbonate and common salt, which lead to higher total dissolved solids in wastewater. Gopal agrees it's time to look beyond the phosphate debate and at other dangers. "There are much more complex chemicals used these days. The biological impact of some enzymes can be extremely high."

Insidious detergents
D etergent laden effluent harms closed waterbodies, persistent toxins may inhibit microbial activity thereby causing even biodegradble chemicals like surfactants to bio-accumulate. Virendra Misra, Indian Toxicological Research Centre, Lucknow, proved the effects of mercury chloride (in wastewater) on the retardation of biodegradation of labs. A study by Procter & Gamble in uk from 1998-2001 showed besides surfactants, fragrances contribute most to aquatic toxicity.

India faces two major challenges; first, the growing detergent use and second, inadequate sewage treatment facilities. In contrast to the west where most phosphorus from sewage is recovered during wastewater treatment, in India inefficient treatment facilities means that whatever phosphates are released from washing directly reach the waterbodies. So more the detergents, greater the pollution load in India's waterbodies.

Given this scenario, the jump in India's per capita detergent consumption is worrying. India's total detergent consumption is as much as that of the eu or the us. Environmentalists feel regulation and transparency is the key issue here. Industry should be made to reveal ingredients and possible toxic effects. Mandatory regulatory standards should be fixed. Misra suggests detergent life cycle analysis, evaluating environmental impact at each stage: from manufacturing to use and disposal. 12jav.net12jav.net