Toxic Chemicals in Dish Soap

When we think about washing dishes, we do not put much thought into the soap that we use.  WRONG, think about it!  Most conventional dishwashing liquids, soaps, and detergents are not just soap.  They contain chemicals and substances (toxic) that harm your health and the environment.  Additionally, the residues left on your dishes get absorbed into your bloodstream every time you put food on your plate or liquids in your cup.  These toxic chemicals are also absorbed through the skin on your hands when you wash dishes without any protection.  That is why it is so crucial that you choose a safe and healthy all-natural dish soap.

Toxic Chemicals in Dish Soap
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

Toxic Chemicals in Dish Soap
Some of the primary ingredients in dish soap include surfactants, preservatives, fragrances, color, and active or inactive ingredients.  Grab your dish soap from the kitchen and compare its ingredients to the ones below.

• Benzisothiazolinone - this chemical is a type of biocide linked to immune system toxicity, allergies, and cancer.  It is used on an industrial level to kill fungus on roofs and buildings and is a preservative in paints and cleaning products.  If you want a better way to kill fungus on your dishes, stick with tea tree oil, lavender, and thyme essential oils instead.
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB) - this organic compound derived from coconut oil is created by mixing raw coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine.  It creates an amphoteric surfactant that creates a thick lather.  It is a prevalent cause of rosacea, eczema, skin irritation, and eye irritation.
• Fragrance - artificial fragrances can contain hundreds, even thousands of chemicals, including phthalates.  Since manufacturers do not need to disclose the ingredients of the fragrances they use, we are often kept in the dark about them.  For most people, fragrances are a significant cause of allergic reactions.  
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone - this preservative is associated with allergic reactions (like contact dermatitis), and lab studies suggest it may also be neurotoxic.  These chemicals are also extremely hazardous to aquatic life, so as soon as they go down the drain and into your local watershed, they can harm the ecosystems.
• Polysorbate-20 - on its own, is a harmless sorbitol, which is a sugar alcohol.  However, for cleaning products and personal care products it is treated with ethylene oxide, creating what we know as polysorbate-20.  Unfortunately, treatment with ethylene oxide can create the potentially dangerous by-product, 1,4-dioxane (a known animal carcinogen that readily penetrates the skin).  It has also been linked with skin allergies.
• Propylene Glycol - a common ingredient found in almost anything created chemically.  It is also found in dish soap, moisturizers, hand sanitizers, baby products, conditioners, and shampoos.  MSDS sheets warn to avoid skin contact, yet they remain in many dish soaps and cosmetics.  It is linked to liver abnormalities and kidney damage and can affect the nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems.
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) - the most common ingredient in dish soap is SLS or SLES.  These are chemical surfactants that cut through dirt and grease by creating an overabundance of foam (why dish soap is so bubbly).  Their manufacturing process produces the toxic by-product 1,4-dioxane, a chemical considered a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Sodium Polyacrylate - This chemical is toxic to human organ systems, pollutes local water, and is highly toxic to aquatic life.  When we use products, we must also consider all life involved, not just the human species.