Helmut Melzer
If you want to protect the environment with a cleaner and still have a clean home, you should pay attention to the following pollutants in the cleaner when reading the contents.
In principle, it is not individual substances that are directly related to health problems and environmental damage. It is the mixture of different substances in the detergents - and the dose. Nevertheless, there are some substances that are at least problematic. A selection of pollutants in cleaners.
Synthetic fragrances
Various of these substances, such as limonene or geraniol, can trigger allergies. Especially nitro musk compounds are considered extremely problematic. They are included in many conventional cleaners as a synthetic fragrance and have been detected in many studies in environmental samples, in breast milk and in adipose tissue. Nitro-musk compounds are considered to be extremely poorly degradable.
preservative
Chemical substances are used to preserve the detergents and cleaners. They prevent the development of bacteria and fungi - depending on the concentration then also in the sewage treatment plant, where they are so urgently needed.
surfactants
Surfactants are responsible for the cleaning effect in detergents and cleaners. Since they are particularly toxic to aquatic organisms, their biodegradability is particularly important. This happens in the sewage treatment plant and in two phases. During primary degradation, the surfactants lose their dirt-dissolving action and thus become harmless to aquatic organisms. In the final degradation, the surfactants are broken down into the components water, mineral salts and carbon dioxide. The EU has been mandating the biodegradability of all surfactant groups since 2005. But in combination with antibacterial preservatives in the wastewater treatment plant there is an increasing risk that surfactants can no longer be completely degraded.
sodium hypochlorite
Especially used in sanitary cleaners for bleaching and disinfecting. In combination with acidic toilet cleaners, sodium hypochlorite can form toxic chlorine gas. In wastewater, hypochlorites can contribute to the formation of problematic chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Chlorinated hydrocarbons
Especially in waters without light influence they have a particularly low degradability. This makes them especially harmful to groundwater. With regular exposure, they act like poison for the liver.
