For those of us without automatic dishwashers, we resort to the tried and true method of water, a sponge, dish soap, and a little elbow grease. Although these soaps make our dishes look clean, they can be filled with toxic ingredients that are harmful to our bodies.
Palmolive is one such brand you should never use. Owned by Colgate, in 2015 Palmolive sales totaled $16 billion worldwide. Although Dawn is the best-selling dish soap brand in the United States, Palmolive is in the top 5 worldwide, meaning that a lot of us have been or are exposed to its toxic ingredients.
Dangers of Palmolive
1. Silicate Salts
Used in their Eco line of dish soap for pH control, this ingredient can cause respiratory damage and damage to the lungs. Exposure to the skin and eyes can cause severe redness and itching, with eye contact possibly causing eye tissue damage.
2. Formaldehyde
A known carcinogen, it also affects the respiratory and organ system. While small amounts are deemed safe by the FDA, continuous and excessive exposure can lead to cancer. It’s not worth it to risk in small quantities either. Although trace amounts can be found in their preservatives, Palmolive has vowed to completely remove it from their products by the end of 2017.
3. Sulfuric Acid
Large amounts are carcinogenic. (How much detergent have you been exposed to over the years?) It can also lead to respiratory effects, allergies, and skin irritation.
4. Fragrances
Specifically pentasodium pentetate, studies have found that it can be harmful and irritating to the skin, but further tests are needed. There is not sufficient enough evidence to support the safety of its use, however.
5. Ammonium Sulfate
Hazardous in skin and eye contact, could damage vision if it isn’t flushed out properly. It was studied in rabbits and found that inhalation caused their respiratory rhythm to become irregular and eventually led to cardiac arrest. Although minimal, it also damaged DNA.
Alternative Dish Soap Brands
5 to Use
Seventh Generation
Better Life
Puracy
Ecover
Method
5 to Avoid
Dawn
Legacy of Clean
Meyers
Ajax
Cucina
Washing your dishes shouldn’t be an open invitation to being exposed to harmful chemicals. Be aware of what’s in your dish soap, and make sure you get all the clean without the dirty bits!
Sources:
http://www.goodguide.com/products?category_id=172613-dishwashing&sort=overall_rating
http://www.colgate.com/us/en/annual-reports/2015/financial/
http://www.colgate.ca/app/Palmolive/CA/EN/ingredients.cwsp
http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/323-PalmoliveUltraDishLiquidOriginal
http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/Corp/LivingOurValues/Sustainability/Ingredients.cvsp
http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/323-PalmoliveUltraDishLiquidOriginal
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-fact-sheet#q1
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/120/3/358.short
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18830865
http://www.livestrong.com/article/272868-what-is-sodium-aluminosilicate/
https://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927078
https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+471
Image Source:
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From: Healthy Holistic Living
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