An article about the dangers of washing up liquid! By Megan Thimm, aged 13
More and more of us are becoming aware of the ways in which the planet’s environment and temperature is changing dramatically. We’re recycling, having insulation fitted in our houses, buying ‘greener’ cars, using eco-friendly lightbulbs and much more - all off our own backs. But are you doing all that you can to help save the environment? By having insulation fitted, you’re using less energy. By recycling, you’re reusing rather than wasting but there’s one thing we all seem to forget, the aquatic environment. Where does our waste water go? Everytime you wash up, you could be harming aquatic life by using a dishwashing detergent containing toxins. You could also be harming your health.
Lets take a look into washing-up liquids and the harmful ingredients that a lot of them contain; Styrene-acrylate copolymers are a common ingredient in washing-up liquid which, when washed down into the water system, harms aquatic creatures.Fish have been found with high concentrations of styrene and other dishwashing detergents such as surfactants in their system.
This same ingredient, according to a study from 2007, can cause cancer at concentrations of 21 percent. The side effects of this ingredient can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, weakness and even possible liver damage!
So next time you or your parents are buying washing up liquid, have a look at the ingredients and make sure that they are non-toxic and do not harm the aquatic environment or your own health.
