Tide Contains Dangerous Chemicals!

[whirlcool]

A news short today on our local CBS affiliate stated that there are dangerous cancer causing chemicals in Tide laundry detergent! If you use Tide you may be at risk for cancer!

I hunted this down on the Internet and the link leads to what I found.

Click on the link within the link and you'll find that even using dishwasher detergent will leave dangerous chemicals on your plate for you to consume with your food!

I wonder what Proctor & Gamble will say about this? Is this just the green people stirring up a fuss? I wonder if sales of Tide will decline over this?

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1073433/pg1

 

[tomturbomatic]

Well, if your dishwasher rinses more than once after the main wash, you probably don't have to worry, but the newer energy star machines that piss on dishes to wash them and then give them a spit shine for a rinse might leave detergent residue on the dishes. If there is powdery residue in the machine, it is not rinsing adequately. My KDSS22 left all kinds of powder behind unless I added 3 quarts of hot water to the purge between the wash and rinse. I frankly welcome this news, even if it is hysterical nonsense because I have long maintained that the way appliance manufacturers have cut water use like we were living in the damn Sahara has resulted in inadequate rinsing; all so that they can get more federal money for exceeding stupid energy standards. This is matched by the detergent manufacturers having to use stronger chemicals to make cooler water temperatures clean better. This just might be the answer to prayer.

I just saw some BS energy ad on TV saying if you want to save energy, wash after 9PM in cold water. A washer's motor hardly uses enough electricity to make off-peak use necessary if you are not heating water with electricity. It did not say to wait until after 9 to dry clothes electrically. In the summer it is always better to use a vented dryer in the cooler part of the day while it saves on heating in the winter to use the dryer during the warmest part of the day so that the make-up air drawn in to replace what the dryer is exhausing needs less heating. Like other government experts, these fools are probably increasing the use of energy through their stupid advice.

 

[launderess]

Oh For The Love Of God

Someone needs to sequester these tree huggers into an Internet free area so they can stop stirring the pot.

 

[cfz2882]

BS "energy saving" ads

Hehe,anyone seen the ads about unplugging a cell phone charger when not in use-
measured the current of a cell charger ot of curiosity-pulled something like 20mA
charging,could not measure any current without a load on the charger...Leaving a
60w bulb on for a day would probably equal a few years of cell phone charging LOL

 

[nmassman44]

Here is my three cents.....news flash! Big whoop your going to die no matter what you do! I say live it up and don't worry!

 

[launderess]

Look, You Want A Totally "Natural" Way To Do Washing

With nil risk of cancer causing agents? Get yourself a bar of soap, plenty of hot water and have at it.

One is more concerned with foods and fluids consumed than what can happen from a laundry detergent, Tide or otherwise.

In case these bright blubs at the OP link didn't bother to read, most every laundry detergent product clearly states not to inhale or allow direct skin contact.

 

[joeekaitis]

You're more likely to be killed by the distracted cellphone-chatting soccer mom driving her Hummer (with the obbligatory BABY ON BOARD suction-cup diamond on the rear window) to the recycling center with barely $5 worth of paper and plastic than by clean clothes and clean dishes.

 

[arbilab]

Link below lists the ingredients in Tide HE. Many of them also appear in DW detergent. Anything with "-benz-" in the name is a benzene derivative and is carcinogenic. It can penetrate skin so you don't have to eat it to make it harmful.

We know there is no such thing as "complete rinsing", there is only successive dilution. So some always remains. Enough to worry about? Probably not, considering a much worse toxin, dioxin, is most highly concentrated in beef. Yeah, hamburgers are more toxic than the few molecules of detergent left on clothes or dishes.

But wait. If you REALLY want to worry, consider that the chemicals all food processors use as federally-required machinery disinfectants are also benzene based. Soda contains it. Bottled water contains it. And for you vegetable-arians, so do frozen, canned, jar vegetables. Any food that at any time went through a machine has traces of benzene in it.

Sure, you can cope with a "trace". It's when it's in EVERYthing that it becomes hazardous. And it is. Take those saline nose sprays. Only salt and water, right? That's what the commercial says. Not exactly. Sodium BENZoate preservative.

What the hockeysticks. Ya pays yer taxes and takes yer chances.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/132906-list-ingredients-tide-high-efficiency/

 

[bwoods]

dishwasher detergent residue

Some of you may recall, awhile back I mentioned that some dishwashers, I have used, with only one or two final rinses leave the dishes with the smell of dishwasher detergent. Have others of you noticed this??

Especially when drinking water from a glass, it was very noticeable. I wrote to Consumer Reports editor (via email) and said they should also rate dishwashes on rinsing ability, as dangerous chemicals could be being left behind on dishes and glassware.

Their reply back to me was that their "experts" felt there was no danger to the consumer from chemical residue on dishes.

Some of you have mentioned that various brands of new washing machines have reduced the fill level, of the final rinse, to where the clothes can barely move. Also, it is nearly impossible to find a new machine that gives a warm final rinse.

Sure we want to use our natural resources wisely. Having clean clothing and dishes to eat off certainly seems like a wise use to me. Maybe I am wrong, but it seems as our government is arbitrarily setting standards, and not looking at the possible negative consequence of these standards, such as the impact on human health.

 

[launderess]

No Dishwasher Detergent "Taste" Here

But then again my "vintage" Kenmore from the 1990's does use more water than today's units, and one always resets the timer for a short rinse before the main (longer) one.

Also feel it is better to have two short DW cycles with hot to very hot water and enough detergent to do the job. This as opposed to washing in warm or barely hot water then having to use tons more dw detergent to compensate for lack of thermal cleaning action.

Oh and am also happy that one's unit still has enough water and motor power to "scrub" dishes. Can't understand these "peeing" (as you men call them) dishwasher that seem as if a watering can is being used to pour water over dishes.

 

[stan]

Hi Allen

I've been aware of 1-4 Dioxane for some time now and wondered when the subject would come up here again?

Wikipedia's summery dose not put it in a good light! It is defined as a type of solvent, or ether.
The EPA has determined that it is a "probable" human carcinogen. And there is some ground water as well as drinking water issues in certain states with regards to it.

How's this related to it being in our laundry detergent??

The bigger question, for me is "what is it doing in our laundry detergent ?" "what is it's purpose ?" "Dose it need to be there ?"

If your concerned, ( and who knows maybe we should be? ) I can say that I have used the Echos brand, (on the list of alternatives) and it did a very nice job in my TL, and was not expensive.

 

[stan]

Sorry

spelled it wrong! phonetical error *LOL*

its Ecos laundry detergent.

 

[arbilab]

I'm a computer engineer (unemployed, Chinese do that now) not a chemist (but I did invent a surfactant emulsion--skin lotion--in 1995).

Read the link ingredients, and their functions. Some you will find in FOODS. Many processed foods contain detergents as emulsifiers. Never BENZENE detergents, not as ingredients, but they're in there nonetheless from the machinery. Those are the ones you want to limit your exposure to, because benzene exposure is almost unavoidable and the more the worse.

A little sodium hexametaphosphate won't hurt you, but I wouldn't sprinkle it on my french toast.

 

[whirlaway]

The Real Killer

The people on Capitol Hill have killed more folks than Tide has!!!!!

 

[launderess]

Solvents Enhance Cleaning Action

Hence they have been included in some laundry products ever since Fels and other "Naptha" laundry soaps.

Versions Persil by of both Unilever and Henkel contain aliphatic hydrocarbons.

For ages housewives/laundry workders would add petrol, benzine, and other related chemicals to the washing/boiling tubs to aid in soil removal when pure soaps were being used for laundry. One had to rinse, rinse, and rinse to avoid washing that reeked of a petrol station, but for some the results beat all that rubbing, boiling, scrubbing and what not.

Certain soils and stains will simply not shift by water only, they require some type solvent. We're not just talking car grease either, but oil based foods such as salad dressings along with greasy things such as (poorly)fried chicken and French fries and so forth. To some extent even greasy "ring around the collar" which is caused by a build up of sebum (skin oil) and dirt does not shift easily without.

http://www.bunzlchs.com/datasheets/032075.pdf

 

[washer111]

Here is something for those concerned about washing machines detergent etc.

What about the people who wash by HAND (dishes etc), then either don't rinse their dishes at all, or do so very poorly. Surely that could cause harm to us?

They say that FABRIC SOFTENER has carcinogenic compounds (from the perfumes, softeners and other "BS" in them).

Everything you do today will probably give you cancer tomorrow, i.e. Smoking, Drinking, Laundry, Clean Dishes, Processed Foods etc.

Our dish-drawer always smells fresh after washing, and sure as heck doesn't "piss" on dishes! When the bottom drawers starts in heavy (or any cycle for that matter), you hear it for the best part of 10 minutes while the water heats up, and the detergent "lathers up" - despite the fact that it only uses around 3L of water per fill!

If you are so concerned, add an extra rinse on your dishwasher/washing machine! Or, use less detergent and a longer, hotter cycle. For that matter, purchase the cheapest reputable brand machines (like Frigidaire or whatever), which won't have the super energy saving credentials the "PisserDish" machines have.

A good alternative to Fabric Softener is Vinegar. That stuff has to be better for you, and many swear by it (claiming it leaves a better smell and softener clothing items than regular softener).
Many FL manufacturers also discourage the use of the "regular amount" of detergent, advising to use half OR LESS.

In any case FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S recommendations on detergent use etc (since some machines won't need as much detergent, rinse-aid etc), and turn down rinse aid setting to the lowest possible that still gives good results.

Simple.
If the regular people (unlike the knowledgeable AW.org folks) had more common sense, this sort of thing wouldn't be so common in the media!

 

[stan]

Not exactly the same solvent

One small thing to mention would be what part of the environment one is try to protect?

If say one is trying to make a solvent less harmful, it would be light, such is the case with Old Fels, and Stoddard solvents, and would not have an affinity to BIND to water. It would evaporate quickly, example.. (Naptha, Mineral Spirits) instead of staying in the soil, or binding with carbon based soil materials. These types, or grades of solvent are perhaps safe, protecting ground water, and other bodies of surface water. An extra benefit is that once these types of solvents change into the vapor state, and thus into the atmosphere, they brake down quickly into harmless compounds.

1-4 Dioxane dose the opposite! It binds with water and moves everywhere the water goes, and dose not evaporate very well

 

[gorenje]

I think that we should pay more attention to what we eat, the air that we are breathing and how much physical activity we do (don't do).

I think this can be definately more dangerous that a laundry detergent we are using.

 

[tolivac]

The Chicken Little news networks strike again!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Sodium Hexametaphosphate is the chemical name of Calgon.

Washer111, many of today's dishwashers do not have timers that allow for adding an extra rinse, especially if you want it to go through the dry cycle. Where have you heard of people who wash dishes by hand and don't rinse them? Consuming that much detergent would pretty much give one constant diarrhea.

 

[sudsmaster]

Good luck finding Calgon these days with any phosphates in it. Most seems to have gone to Zeolites instead.

In any case, laundry phosphate, in the form of STPP, is exactly the same chemical that is added in vast amounts to many processed foods (and even toothpastes). It functions to help the foods stay moist. It is about as toxic as table salt. The difference between technical grade (the kind suitable for laundry) and food grade STPP is in purity.

Dioxane is a solvent used in extraction of other compounds in research and industry. It is nowhere near as toxic as dioxin, which as a contaminant of stuff like Agent Orange is blamed for a whole variety of health issues including cancer. I wouldn't ingest any Dioxane, either, but it's important not to confuse it with Dioxin.

Also, benzene and benzoate are two entirely different things. They are about as similar in toxicity as chlorine gas and sodium chloride.

 

[gorenje]

@ Tomturbomatic

Indeed some don't rinse dishes after washing them by hand.

People in Netherlands for example. But also some Belgians or even in the UK.

I don't know why. It seems odd to me.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Indeed some don't rinse dishes after washing them by han

Yeah, that's quite incredible! And very widespread in the UK and Belgium, at least to what I could see each time I was there!

 

[MrX]

I wonder how European detergents compare.

Persil's (Bio Powder) ingredients from their website (Unilver)

Ingredients - Functions
Sodium sulfate - Bulking Agent
Sodium carbonate - Builder
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate - Surfactant
Sodium Carbonate Peroxide - Oxidising Agent
Sodium Silicate - Builder
Aqua - Bulking Agent
Zeolite - Builder
TAED - Bleach Precursor
Citric acid - Builder
C12-15 Pareth-7 - Surfactant
Bentonite - Softness Extender
Stearic Acid - Surfactant
Parfum - Fragrance
Sodium Acrylic Acid/MA Copolymer -Structurant
Cellulose Gum - Anti-redeposition Agent
Corn Starch Modified - Enzyme Stabiliser
Sodium chloride - Process by-product
Tetrasodium Etidronate - Sequestrant
Parfum - Fragrance
Calcium Sodium EDTMP - Sequestrant
Disodium Anilinomorpholinotriazinylaminostilbenesulfonate - Optical Brightener
Polyethylene Terephthalate - Anti-redeposition Agent
Sodium bicarbonate - Builder
Phenylpropyl Ethyl Methicone - Antifoaming Agent
Cellulose - Binder
Calcium carbonate - Bulking Agent
Polyoxymethylene Melamine - Process by-product
Glyceryl Stearates - Emulsion Stabiliser
Butylphenyl Methylpropional - Fragrance
PEG-75 - Binder
Kaolin - Bulking Agent
Titanium dioxide - Colourant
Sodium Polyacrylate - Structurant
Imidazolidinone Process - by-product
Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate - Optical Brightener
Geraniol - Fragrance
Dextrin - Binder
Protease - Enzyme
Sucrose - Binder
Sorbitol - Enzyme Stabiliser
Aluminum Silicate - Anticaking Agent
Sodium Polyaryl Sulphonate - Process by-product
Lipase - Enzyme
Amylase - Enzyme
Xanthan gum - Process by-product
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose - Binder
CI 61585 - Colourant
Sodium Thiosulfate - Enzyme Stabiliser
CI 45100 - Colourant
Mannanase - Enzyme
CI 42090 - Colourant
CI 12490 - Colourant
CI 11680 - Colourant

 

[dirtybuck]

Oh Please!

I remember back in the '70's when Amway was trying to recruit new customers. they had their inane claims about brand name detergents (Tide being the most mentioned). According to them, most contained smashed up coconut shell particles and dried banana leaves and peels as fillers.

I don't know if the chemical mentioned in the article may relate to hand dish washing detergents, but I use different formulas of Palmolive. They are a bit harder to rinse off. More than once, I've noticed a lingering scent on my dishes, especially on plastic items.

 

[whirlcool]

The Chicken Little news networks strike again!!

My thoughts exactly. Everyone always tries to knock down the king of the block, in this case it's Tide. Even though other detergents have this same chemical (in lesser amounts) they are not mentioned.

Everyone wants to be like Tide.

 

[launderess]

IIRC

Calgon Powder - Mainly washing soda and Zeolites

Calgon Liquid - Mainly sodium citrate

Calgon long since removed phosphates from the powder when they merged production nationwide from one plant. Prior to this there were two versions, one with STPP and one without. You could tell which was which by looking for a "Z" in the product code printed on the box.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Calgon was originally Sodium Hexametaphosphate. If you look in older books of cleaning formulas, in the phosphate builders tables, you see sodium hexametaphosphate and "Calgon" in parentheses beside it. You can still buy hexa from the Chemistry Store. It softens water and helps rinse out detergents & soaps but is not as good at cleaning as STPP.

 

[launderess]

IIRC the original Calgon was a blend of both Sodium Hexametaphosphate and STPP, but then could be wrong, have go look it up.

While both phosphates are great they each bring something special to the party depending upon just how hard local water conditions were. By using two types the product pretty much covered all bases.

Calgon reached it's heyday and peak probably when so much of the United States and elsewhere depended upon steam power. Ships, locomotives, heavy construction equipment and so forth all had boilers for producing steam, and where you have that system you need water and hard water minerals can cause scale build-up.

Calgon's second use was for water softening in the era when soap was the main "detergent" for cleaning everything from laundry to dishes. Even vintage Lysol was soap based.

Laundresses and commercial laundries preferred phosphates over washing soda and or borax for reasons we know well today.

Until the "pollution" worries of the 1970's prompted detergent makers to switch builders, phosphates were also the main water softening agent in detergents as well.

 

[strongenough78]

It just seems like more and more of anything these days causes cancer. Everything from smoking to eating peanut butter. Gee whiz. I agree with a lot of the comments on here about these new "energy efficient" machines. People just pour in enough detergent for 3 or 4 loads causing everything to get poorly rinsed. Hell even with the proper amount used, everything is poorly rinsed. Pretty soon we're all going to have to go outside with gas masks attached to tanks of pure oxygen to keep from getting cancer from breathing. But then eventually, I'm sure they'll end up saying oxygen itself can cause cancer. It's a no win situation it seems. Everything we do seems to be a cancer risk. So I agree with nmassman44, if we're all going to go anyway, might as well go happy.