Surfactants Play Dirty: Sustainable Living at Home Series

Check those cleaning products, hair dyes, and body care products for the following ingredient: Surfactant. The Sustainable Living at Home Series' spotlight on Beauty's Do's and Don'ts continues with brief looks into the two major health risks hidden within everyday household products: Carcinogens and Endocrine Disruptors. In our exploration of Endocrine Disruptors, compounds that stunt or modify hormones, we have taken a general look at what endocrine disruptors do, and are now breaking down the top three known endocrine disruptors that live innocuously on your shelves. First we took a look at phthalates, recently highlighted on CBS, as having conflicting evidence on the long-term health effects outside of fetal and child development. Phthalates are typically used to make plastic flexible and provide varying properties to nail polish, hair care products, and the like. Scientists have determined links between phthalates and the feminization of male fetus' and children. This is also replicated to a more severe extent in ecology, where fast-maturing animals are not growing into a specific gender, causing specie die-outs in endocrine disruptor-rich areas. Now onwards to the second known and prevalent endocrine disruptor, surfactants.

What are Surfactants? Surfactants are part of a group of chemicals called nonylphenols. They essentially create wetness to allow something to spread, mix, or glide easier. A chemical compound not found in nature? You bet. Unfortunately, some surfactants attract animals and ecosystems, leading to their extensive dispersion and non-point source pollution.

How do Surfactants Impact Human Health? Surfactants, or Surface Active Agents, are meant to last. That means whether they are applied to your countertops or your garden, they are here (meaning in the environment, your home, and your body) to stay for quite some time. As an endocrine disruptor, they are known to interfere with the reproductive function of animals. Similar to phthalates, the studies show demonstrative results in fast-reproducing animals with varied results in species with longer maturation times. That said, biomagnification and other environmental processes will unintentionally disperse surfactants that will impact all species, including our own.

Where are Surfactants Found? A better question may be, where are they not found? Here are some of the top household products that contain a form of surfactant: Detergents, Fabric Softener, Paint, Ink, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste, Cosmetics, Adhesives, Ski & Snowboard Wax, Laxatives, Insecticides, Adhesives, and some Herbicides. Talk about a laundry list. So perhaps the greater question is, can any of these products be made without the use of surfactants? The answer is that all of these items have biodegradable, non-caustic, and surfactant-free alternatives. The catch? Surfactants are a man-made chemical, and is cheap to produce. Nature on the other hand, who is the base for the safer alternatives, is not. Some come with large price tags, others are completely cost-competitive. So to create a truly sustainable living environment you may want to invest in these alternatives, especially if there is a possibility of pregnancy within the household.

Now what? The Precautionary Principle would tell us to steer clear of surfactant-ridden products. For most of us though, it will take time to identify each product with surfactants in our household. Pregnant women should be especially careful when cleaning, laundering, or painting as they are the most vulnerable. Surfactants are typically highlighted on ingredient lists, so they are easier to identify than phthalates, as an endocrine disruptor. There are a few eco-friendly companies that have developed "Eco-Surfactants" such as Ecover that may be worth a once over.

For more information and tips keep your eyes on this Series on Beauty's Real Do's and Don'ts for Sustainable Living.


Photo Credit: Want Toxic Free campaign.