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Dishwasher detergents, specifically Electra-Sol Tablets and Gels, have high concentrations of complex phosphates which pose grave dangers to clean waterways and surrounding ecosystems. Electra-Sol Tablets contain the maximum allowed 8.7% phosphate content. Electra-Sol Gel contains 4.9. Both of these represent alarming numbers evidenced by the fact that complex phosphates were banned in laundry detergents by the government in 1977 to levels of 0.5 due to the irrefutable evidence that the enzymes were causing irreparable damage to water based ecosystems. However, during this time few homes had dishwashers.
Now dishwashers are a staple in every household and to environmental activists dismay dishwasher detergents continue to benefit from exemptions in regulations. They continue as a direct result of the Soap & Detergent Association’s claim that consumers would be unable to effectively clean dishes after a macaroni and cheese dinner.
Complex phosphates are detrimental to the environment for several reasons. Several state governments, like Washington, Illinois, and maryland have already taken the lead on the issue and started to regulate phosphorous pollutants. But, these regulations will not take effect until 2010 and beyond allowing too much environmental damage during that time.
Phosphorous causes algae and phytoplankton to grow exponentially faster versus a non-contaminated environment. Subsequently, a “bloom” results where, "increased growth of algae and green pla
anic matter becomes food for bacteria that decompose it. With more food available, the bacteria increase in number and use up the dissolved oxygen in the water. When the dissolved oxygen content decreases, many fish and aquatic insects cannot survive. This results in a dead area.
Three independent studies conclude that the effects of a dead zone are devastating:
"Low oxygen levels recorded along the Gulf Coast of North America have led to reproductive problems in fish involving decreased size of reproductive organs, low egg counts and lack of spawning.
In a study of the Gulf killifish by the Southeastern Louisiana University done in three bays along the Gulf Coast, fish living in bays where the oxygen levels in the water dropped to 1 to 2 parts per million (ppm) for 3 or more hours per day were found to have smaller reproductive organs. The male gonads were 34 to 50% as large as males of similar size in bays where the oxygen levels were normal (6 to 8 ppm). Females were found to have ovaries that were half as large as those in normal oxygen levels. The number of eggs in females living in hypoxic waters were only one-seventh the number of eggs in fish living in normal oxygen levels. (Landry, et al., 2004)
Another study by the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute was done on the Atlantic croaker fish in Pensacola Bay, Florida. The study was of year-old croakers that live in an estuary that has summer-long hypoxic conditions. During the study, none of the fish spawned at the expected time, or later. Examination of sample fish determined that they lacked mature eggs or sperm. (Murphy, et al., 2004)
Fish raised in laboratory created hypoxic conditions showed extremely low sex-hormone concentrations and increased elevation of activity in two genes triggered by the hypoxia-inductile factor (HIF) protein. Under hypoxic conditions, HIF pairs with another protein, ARNT. The two then bind to DNA in cells, activating genes in those cells.
Under normal oxygen conditions, ARNT combines with estrogen to activate genes. Hypoxic cells in a test tube didn’t react to estrogen placed in the tube. HIF appears to render ARNT unavailable to interact with estrogen, providing a mechanism by which hypoxic conditions alter reproduction in fish. (Johanning, et. al, 2004)
It might be expected that fish would flee this potential suffocation, but they are often quickly rendered unconscious and doomed. Slow moving bottom-dwelling creatures like clams, lobsters and oysters are unable to escape. All colonial animals are extinguished. The normal mineralization and recycling that occurs among benthic life-forms is stifled."
- Compliments of Wikipedia.org
Finally, the accumulation of too much phosphorous negatively implicates the taste, smell, color, and aesthetics of drinking or recreational water sources. – Compliments of the Michigan Environmental Council
According to Consumer Reports.org, “Cleaning dishes is big business, with Americans spending more than $500 million a year on powders, gels, tablets, and packets for their dishwashers.” Subsequently, in such a highly competitive industry, producers need to be held accountable and scrutinized for their product’s impacts on the environment and surrounding ecosystems.
That is why it is imperative that a clear signal is sent to the Reckitt Benckiser Group, the parent company of Electra-Sol. When the tipping point is reached members of the campaign will dash 10% of Electra-Sol’s business demanding attention and will simultaneously giving competitors an edge in the hyper-competitive detergent industry. Moreover, currently there exists eight non-phosphate containing alternative detergents that are readily accessible and offer competitive prices who members of the campaign can switch to until Electra-Sol detergents come in line with environmental regulations:
Bi-O-Kleen
Citrus Magic
Ecover
Seventh Generation
Shaklee
Sun & Earth
Trader Joe’s Automatic Dishwashing Detergent
Palmolive Gel
