Environmental impact of cleaning products

[1] Triclosan (TCS) is a common households anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent found in soaps, detergents, and other disinfectants.

[3] During wastewater treatment, Methyltriclosan (MTCS) is produced as a result of methylation of TCS, which is not biodegradable and incredibly persistent throughout the environment.

[7] 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.

Eutrophication is a very serious environmental hazard that can rapidly destroy marine ecosystems, making it impossible for aquatic life to survive in the future.

In terms of regulation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has headed the regulatory advancements in recent years.

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.

[10] PCBs have been found in de-dusting agents, so the TCSA has proven important in the mitigation of this chemical in household cleaning.

They suggest choosing products with a low VOC content, biodegradability, and those that utilize renewable resources 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.

[13] 2-Butoxyethanol is a common glycol ether used as a solvent in carpet, hard-surface, glass, and oven cleaners owing to its surfactant properties.