WASHDAY WOES

Some scents make no sense for personal or planetary health. Using Scented laundry products can release harmful ---even Carcinogenic -- pollutants into the air. A University study found that air vented from washing machines using the top -selling, scented, liquid laundry detergent and dryer sheets contain hazardous chemicals.

More than 25 volatile organic compounds, including seven dangerous air pollutants were found to be releasing when machines using the top-brand products were studied. Of those, two chemicals --Acetaldehyde and Benzene -- are classified by the US Enironmental Protection Agency as Carcinogens, with no established safe exposure level...that means they are absolutely and totally harmful. Benzene is linked with Leukemia and other blood cancers, and Acetaldehyde can cause Nasal and Throat cancer in animals.

This is an interesting and alarming source of pollution, because emissions from dryer vents are essentially unregulated, whereas the emissions from a car vent and smokestack of a restaurant are regulated but the manufactures and the Pollution Control Boards are also not taking the washing machine-dryers into consideration.

There are some organic, non-toxic, natural-formulae made detergents available in the market, however they are not much available as the famous polluting brands are. But if we all prefer the natural ones, their demand will increase and supply too, sametime their cost made more affordable.

- Prathyusha Talluri

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