According to an industry report (Mihaich, 2003), the nonionic surfactant Alklyphenol ethoylates are often referred to as the "workhorse surfactants" and are the preferred surfactant in many application because of their properties as outstanding dispersants, wetting agents and emulsifiers. They work well with little need for other additives.
From the point of view of American writers, the virture of the use of these non-ionic surfactants is in that fewer chemicals are put into the environment when this particular surfactant is used. And, since these non-ionic surfactants are the most "studied" surfactant family available, their environmental impact and the limits within which they may be acceptably found present without causing damage to species appears to be well established. This means that monitoring the chemical in the environment is not such a challenge, as it is with less studied compounds.
Apparently, in the US, a number of studies have shown that sewage treatment plants remove on average 95% of nonylphenol and its ethoxylates from wastewater. The industry reports that studies have also shown that nonylphenol and nonylpnenol ethoxylates do not tend to bioaccumulate in the bodies of fish and in other animals. This would mean that they do not become a part of the food chain. Typical concentrations of NP/NPEs in the environment are below 1 ppb. (NP) is a minor degradation intermediate of nonylphenol. The report states that nonylphenol and octylphenol exhibit toxic effects on fish and invertebrates at concentrations above 1 microg/literand that nonylphenol has been found to have endocrine disrupting effects in freshwater organisms at concentrations of 20 microg/liter. The implication of this is that it is not of a concern since the detected levels fall within 'safe' limits (Mihaich, 2003).
Nonylphenol is favored by American detergent industries. Meanwhile, Europeans have banned the use of the nonionic surfactant nonylphenol - more on this below.
References:
Mihaich, E. et al; Relative Toxicity Ranking of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates and theirDegradation Intermediates to Estimate Cumulative Risk [Internet] Kansas City, MO: AOCS; May 7, 2003. Available from: (www.aperc.org.)
When we consider the American study discussed above, a question remains: What becomes of the aproximately five percent of nonylphenol and its ethoxylates which remain unaltered in treated sewage waste water? This is the effluent which is to be released into the environment. Is this residual surfactant content really safe?
Phenol toxin can cause death or serious side effects in hypersensitive individuals even at very low exposures. Europeans and Americans have a very different view of the nonylphenol detergent additive. Studies have found that this surfactant is the cause of breast cancer, or at least a contributing factor to this disease. Nonylphenol has been shown to stimulates the growth of breast cancer cells. Nonylphenol also feminizes male fish when present in sufficiently high concentrations in the water. A report on a recent GreenPeace Study on a variety of chemicals present in the environment states that recent research has raised concerns that exposure to alklyphenol compounds such as this Nonionic surfactant could cause direct damage to DNA and to sperm structure and function in mammals. The nonionic surfactant, nonylphenol ethoxylate has been banned in Europe. (UKmarine.org, 2001)
Are you comfortable with applying this substance to your clothing? Chances are the end result of laundering with a nonylphenol is the inadvertent application of this chemical (nowbanned in Europe) onto your skin. Genuine "green detergents" will not pose this risk.
Reference:
Ukmarine.org; UK Marine Special Areas of Conservation; Surfactants [Internet].UK Marine SACs Project, UK; 2001 Available from (http://www.ukmarinesac.org.uk/activities/water-quality/wq8_46.htm)
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