Washing-up liquid can damage aquatic life, warns study on surfactants: Here’s why its usage should be ceased

People buying washing-up liquid may soon need to reconsider their choices in the UK. However, a study has alarmed several individuals, with a stern warning to the people using washing-up liquid. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, has highlighted the negative impact of such products and their components on the planet.

In the UK, this common household item is typically sold in plastic bottles. On an annual basis, the households in the country end up using millions of these bottles, Daily Express reported.

Is packaging the only issue?

Experts in the home cleaning industry have expressed major concerns related to the usage of washing-up liquid, which go beyond its packaging issue. They have claimed that the bottle as well as the ingredients used in it pose a significant threat to the environment, according to a Mirror report.


As per the experts, the combination of fossil fuels and the chemicals inside the bottle might end up putting the aquatic life at danger.

In its defence after the claims, Sustainably Lazy suggests that the liquids from its company have 'surfactants', an active ingredient that is responsible for removing dirt and stains from the dishes. The organisation stated that it ensures that the particles in the liquid dissolve easily in the water.

However, it has been claimed that there are several mainstream brands, which have been using "fossil fuel-derived surfactants". The contents in these products end up reaching and polluting the rivers, putting the aquatic life at risk.

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The warning against the use of washing-up liquid has also received support from Ethical Superstore, which highlights the availability of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) in most of the conventional liquids that people buy from stores. The SLS component works as a surfactant and reduces water's surface tension. Also, it creates foam, which makes cleaning easier.

However, the ingredient does not "just dissolve away to nothing when it’s used," Ethical Superstore states. According to them, it ultimately ends up lingering in mainstream water bodies. This endangers marine life and also possesses damage to the ecosystem.

Study highlights impact of surfactants on environment

In a recent study, which came out in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, the researchers showed how surfactants can have a negative impact on the environment and damage marine life.

It stated that surfactants are being used thoughtlessly in households, along with industries. They are most commonly used in soaps, personal care products, detergents and other items.

These surfactants can penetrate cell membranes and prove to be highly toxic for the living organisms, read the study, adding that such components have been found to have caused damage to gills as well as loss of sight in fishes.

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FAQs

1. What's the official plastic waste data in the UK?
On an average, the UK generates more than 170 million tonnes of plastic water in a year, while only a third of this packaging gets recycled.

2. Is there an alternative to washing-up liquid?
People can opt for washing-up liquid bars, besides going for environmentally-friendly liquid options available in the market.