User:Pmccaw22/Environmental impact of cleaning agents

Environmental impacts of cleaning agents entail the consequences that come as a result of chemical compounds in cleaning products. Cleaning agents can be bioactive with consequences ranging from mild to severe. These cleaning products can contain harmful chemicals that have detrimental impacts on the environment. Developmental and endocrine disruptors have been linked to cleaning agents. In addition, the packaging of these products can also post vast environmental consequences. Green cleaning is an approach to redress or address the problems associated with traditional cleaning agents.

Alkylphenol ethoxylates
Alkylphenol ethoxylates are widely used in household products such as detergents and all-purpose cleaning products. These specific chemicals are found in 55% of the household cleaning market. They are susceptible to microbial or photochemical degradation into alkylphenols: lipophilic, hormone mimicking compounds. Alkylphenol ethoxylates have been directly linked to endocrine disruption. Further investigation revealed that hormone mimicking alkylphenols affiliate with the oestradiol receptor and averts the proper binding and function of oestradiol. Male trout in alkylphenol contaminated rivers showed reduced testicular growth and synthesized 570,000 times more vitellogenin than the control male trout. The astonishing quantity of vitellogenin, a precursor of lipo- and phosphoproteins that make up egg-yolk protein, in the male trout population from River Lea of England exceeded that of females just before ovulation. ]

Triclosan
Triclosan (TCS) is an anti-microbial chemical that is commonly used in households as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent found in soaps, detergents, and other disinfectants. 96% of household products that contain TCS is eventually discarded down the drain .Thus, TCS is mostly found in aquatic environments, and levels have been tested throughout the US to determine the amounts that are present in the environment. The most notable levels of TCS were found in wastewater (up to 26.2 μg concentration) and extremely high in biosolids found in sewage sludge (up to 35,000 μg concentration). After this wastewater is treated, significant levels of up to 2.7 μg concentration of TCS are still found in water. TCS poses an environmental threat due to its environmental accumulation and persistence, as it is impossible to be removed in its entirety. Overall, TCS is found in 57.6% of all rivers and streams tested throughout the US. In addition, TCS levels are transferred through the water into marine life. Other chemicals that come as a bi-product of TCS are known as degradation products. During wastewater treatment, Methyltriclosan (MTCS) is produced as a result of methylation of TCS, which is not biodegradable and incredibly persistent throughout the environment. In addition, the transformation of TCS during manufacturing leads to the production of dioxins into aquatic habitats. Dioxins have been proven to cause cancer as well as immense developmental issues in almost every vertebrate species. Most notably, TCS has been found in aquatic snails and algae, with levels tested of 500μg kg−1 and 1400μg kg−1. Similarly, MTCS has also been found to bioaccumulate in species, and in aquatic snails and algae, they were tested to have 1200μg kg−1. Thus, the presence of triclosan in the water can pose immense threats to aquatic life as it bioaccumulates.



Sodium Hypochlorite (household bleach)
Sodium Hypochlorite (SH) is the chemical commonly known as household bleach. SH is a strong chemical used for anti-microbial purposes. This chemical poses environmental hazards because it reacts to cause halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Such emissions react with other chemicals to cause the destruction of stratospheric ozone. Sodium Hypochlorite also has carcinogenic properties, which can be cancerous for living organisms. Thus, this chemical contributes greatly to the accumulation of air pollution and smog formation.

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia)
Ammonia is a disinfecting chemical that is used in household cleaning products. The most common cleaning products that contain ammonia are floor cleaners and glass cleaners. When used to clean, the concentration of ammonia becomes airborne. Ammonia is a significant air pollutant that has accumulated throughout the US.

Propellant Gas
Products that are packaged in aerosol cans contain a chemical known as propellant gas. Almost always, this propellant gas is called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs have been proven to damage the ozone layer and caused the ozone hole. Thus, in 1996, CFCs were banned directly as a result of the detrimental environmental impacts. This ban came as a result of The Montreal Protocol of 1989, which called for action to reduce and eliminate ozone-depleting substances. Following the ban of CFCs, aerosols are now filled with hydrocarbon or compressed gasses, which have been linked to cause VOCs, which are associated with smog and air pollution.

Fragrance
In the US, there is no regulation on the word "fragrance" that is put on the ingredient list of cleaning supplies. Since fragrance is considered a proprietary blend of the company, they have the ability to add numerous dangerous chemicals without disclosing them explicitly on the ingredient list. For example, phthalates are a common additive that is hidden behind the "fragrance". Phthalates have been directly linked to endocrine disruption in animals, which transfers throughout the environment when they are disposed of, usually through water.

Government regulation in the US
In terms of regulation, the EPA has headed the regulatory advancements in recent years. For example, in 1976, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed. This act called for restrictions on some chemicals, mandatory ingredient reporting, and testing requirements. Some of the chemicals that were restricted included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos, lead-based paint, and radon. Section 4 of this act called for testing of chemicals to determine any detrimental impacts that could come as a result. A sector of the EPA focused on "compliance monitoring," which ensures that companies are following the guidelines that have been put in place by the TSCA. PCBs have been found in de-dusting agents, so the TCSA has proven important in the mitigation of this chemical in household cleaning. However, the TSCA is primarily focused towards industrial application of chemicals. There is almost no regulation of the chemicals that are found in the cleaning products that are produced for consumers. Thus, the majority of ingredients have not been tested or researched for detrimental side-effects on health and the environment.

In 1972, the Clean Water Act was passed, which regulates the wastewater standards and water quality expectations. This act led to the implementation of the EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which requires permits in order to discharge pollutants into the water. This allows for a much stricter regulation regarding the quantities of pollutants that can be discarded.

Aerosol cans
Another prevalent issue with household cleaning products is the packaging that it comes in. As aforementioned, products packaged in aerosol cans currently contain. In addition, an immense issue with the current packaging of household cleaning products is the lack of its ability to biodegrade.

Plastic Packaging
The vast majority of all household product packaging comes in plastic. These common plastics are not biodegradable and accumulate in our oceans.

Aquatic Impact
Overall, it is approximated that there are up to 100s of thousands of tons of plastic in surface waters. This plastic debris becomes incredibly detrimental to aquatic wildlife. The debris can entangle species or aquatic animals can eat the plastic, which can lead to poisoning and often death. Plastic can also cause immense damage to the ocean floor and negatively disturb the ecosystem.

Environmentally-friendly alternatives
The EPA suggests purchasing products with recyclable packaging, refillable bottles, and concentrated formulas. Another way to minimize packaging waste is by buying in bulk containers. The EPA cautions against buying anything with packaging that utilizes aerosol sprays or wasteful abundance of packaging.

Environmentally benign alternatives
Alternative cleaning chemicals can be utilized in households without compromising its ability to clean effectively. The EPA has provided criterion for avoiding environmentally detrimental chemicals in household cleaning. They suggest choosing products with a low VOC content, biodegradability, and those that utilize renewable resources

Green cleaning uses are directly extracted from natural sources and biodegrade into innocuous compounds. Naturally occurring substances that may replace synthetic cleaning products include vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda.

With the aim of decreasing net efficiency, some brands of laundry detergent have been reformulated for use with cold water. By allowing the consumer to use cold water rather than hot, each load cuts back significantly on energy costs. The EPA suggests using products that are designed for use in cold water to conserve energy.

The Green Building Alliance has. Another well-known resource that provides health and environmental ratings of household cleaning products is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). For those who are looking to incorporate more environmentally-friendly products, their site contains the top cleaning products in this sector.

2-Butoxylethanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE)
2-Butoxyethanol is a common glycol ether used as a solvent in carpet, hard-surface, glass, and oven cleaners owing to its surfactant properties. It is a relatively cheap, volatile solvent of low toxicity. It has the further advantage of not bioaccumulating.