Clipping Board » Environmental Pollution & Change ─ How dirty the human heart is, how dirty the environment will be...
Tsai Yi-Jing | TVBS – January 7, 2014
With the Lunar New Year approaching, many households are busy with deep cleaning and laundry. But do you know what chemical ingredients are in the laundry detergent you use at home? Could they potentially have negative effects on human health? The Homemakers United Foundation surveyed and found that six well-known brands of laundry detergents, which claim to be anti-mite and antibacterial, contain pesticides or medical-grade disinfectants such as triclosan and thiabendazole. The labeling is insufficiently clear, but current regulations do not explicitly prohibit their addition. Manufacturers have responded by explaining that the amount of disinfectant used is minimal and, after rinsing with water, is unlikely to have adverse effects on human health.
Fearful of dust mites triggering allergies, people frequently wash clothes and bedding. To enhance cleaning, homemakers often opt for laundry detergents marketed as anti-mite and antibacterial. However, the Homemakers United Foundation discovered that some commercial laundry detergents contain fungicides used in pesticides. Legislator Lin Shu-Fen stated, "Just because we use it daily doesn’t mean it’s risk-free or harmless. These residues on clothes—what are the varying risks to infants, pregnant women, and ordinary adults?"
The Homemakers United Foundation specifically named Kao’s "Attack Antibacterial Ultra-Concentrated Laundry Detergent" for containing triclosan. Fórmula’s "Anti-Mite Antibacterial Concentrated Laundry Detergent" and "Cosmed Enzyme Whitening Antibacterial Laundry Detergent" were found to use thiabendazole, a fungicide intended for agricultural use, which may cause skin irritation or erythema.
Huang Ji-Sen, Chairman of the Taiwan Pest Management Association, explained, "Any chemical, especially those with antibacterial, anti-mite, or insecticidal properties, is broadly toxic. The principle of management is that the dose determines the toxicity."
Kao responded that only one of its concentrated laundry detergents uses triclosan, and it is labeled with its English abbreviation. The company emphasized that the amount complies with regulations. Similarly, Magiclean, another brand cited for adding glutaraldehyde disinfectant, stated that such ingredients are only used in detergents with specific antibacterial needs. Due to high costs, the added amount is minimal and unlikely to cause harm. As there are currently no regulations prohibiting these ingredients in laundry detergents, consumers with concerns are advised to contact manufacturers directly for clarification to ensure safety.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E9……B% 9E% E5% 90% 8D- 052100050. html
Anti-Mite Laundry Detergent Toxic? 6 Brands Named
With the Lunar New Year approaching, many households are busy with deep cleaning and laundry. But do you know what chemical ingredients are in the laundry detergent you use at home? Could they potentially have negative effects on human health? The Homemakers United Foundation surveyed and found that six well-known brands of laundry detergents, which claim to be anti-mite and antibacterial, contain pesticides or medical-grade disinfectants such as triclosan and thiabendazole. The labeling is insufficiently clear, but current regulations do not explicitly prohibit their addition. Manufacturers have responded by explaining that the amount of disinfectant used is minimal and, after rinsing with water, is unlikely to have adverse effects on human health.
Fearful of dust mites triggering allergies, people frequently wash clothes and bedding. To enhance cleaning, homemakers often opt for laundry detergents marketed as anti-mite and antibacterial. However, the Homemakers United Foundation discovered that some commercial laundry detergents contain fungicides used in pesticides. Legislator Lin Shu-Fen stated, "Just because we use it daily doesn’t mean it’s risk-free or harmless. These residues on clothes—what are the varying risks to infants, pregnant women, and ordinary adults?"
The Homemakers United Foundation specifically named Kao’s "Attack Antibacterial Ultra-Concentrated Laundry Detergent" for containing triclosan. Fórmula’s "Anti-Mite Antibacterial Concentrated Laundry Detergent" and "Cosmed Enzyme Whitening Antibacterial Laundry Detergent" were found to use thiabendazole, a fungicide intended for agricultural use, which may cause skin irritation or erythema.
Huang Ji-Sen, Chairman of the Taiwan Pest Management Association, explained, "Any chemical, especially those with antibacterial, anti-mite, or insecticidal properties, is broadly toxic. The principle of management is that the dose determines the toxicity."
Kao responded that only one of its concentrated laundry detergents uses triclosan, and it is labeled with its English abbreviation. The company emphasized that the amount complies with regulations. Similarly, Magiclean, another brand cited for adding glutaraldehyde disinfectant, stated that such ingredients are only used in detergents with specific antibacterial needs. Due to high costs, the added amount is minimal and unlikely to cause harm. As there are currently no regulations prohibiting these ingredients in laundry detergents, consumers with concerns are advised to contact manufacturers directly for clarification to ensure safety.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E9……B% 9E% E5% 90% 8D- 052100050. html