Medical Files

‘Dirty secrets’ about dishwashing solutions

12:27 am | Saturday, July 7th, 2012

We’ve discussed previously how some of the things we commonly use can be bacterial breeding grounds, which can cause all sorts of infections for us and our loved ones. One of these is the cellular phone which has been shown to have more bacteria than a toilet bowl seat. Similarly in the same category are dishwashing bar solutions, which a study by the Philippine Society of Microbiology (PSM) has demonstrated to have 10 times the bacterial count of dirty socks, and more than twice dirtier than a thrash bin cover.

This local study duplicates a previously published Japanese study which also measured the presence of bacteria in common household items. The Japanese scientist-researchers found that a dishwashing sponge was contaminated with many types of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia Coli, which can cause diarrhea in adults and children; Staphylococcus Aureus, which causes food poisoning; and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, which leads to opportunistic infections particularly in the very young, elderly and those with a weakened immune system.

Bacterial breeding ground

The local study was presented by former PSM president Dr. Jessica Simbahan. It used a luminometer or germ-measuring device to determine the level of contaminants in a dishwashing bar solution and household items commonly perceived as dirty like dirty socks, toilet bowl seats and thrash bin covers. The researchers took sample swabs from the household items and analyzed its bacterial content with the luminometer.

“A dishwashing bar solution is a breeding ground for contaminants, including bacteria and other types of germs. This is especially true if the laundry bar is left exposed for many hours and the dishwashing sponge is constantly wet,” says current PSM president, Dr. Supachai Basit. She recommends that sponges must be kept dry when not being used, and dishwashing bar solutions must be discarded. Needless to say, sanitation in the kitchen environment and proper hand washing are important pointers to prevent bacterial infection.

Being a bacterial breeding ground is not the only possible adverse effect of dishwashing solutions. Consumers must also read the label for the ingredients they contain. The concern of health experts is that many conventional dishwashing solutions contain petroleum-based compounds like sodium lauryl sulfate and diethanolamine (DEA), which when combined, can produce cancer-causing substances known as nitrosamines.

Some liquid dishwashing products may also contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives like dimethylimidazolidine (DMDM) hydantoin, which is another probable carcinogen, and it irritates the skin and respiratory tract. Incidentally, DMDM hydantoin is also mixed in some shampoos and cosmetics to prevent molds, mildews, and bacterial spoilage.

Environmentalists are also protesting the use of triclosan-like chemicals in some liquid dishwashing solutions. True enough, they are effective bacterial killers but it also stays in the environment and gets converted to dioxin when in water and exposed to sunlight, forming chloroform. Some cleaners contain the chemical sodium hypochlorite, better known as chlorine bleach. It is another potent environmental pollutant. If you note mildly pungent fumes when using these dishwater solutions, it’s likely the solution contains chlorine bleach. And it can harm both the skin and eyes.

Warning

Dr. Stuart Levy, professor of molecular biology and microbiology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, airs the warnings of scientists worldwide that the overuse of antibacterial products in household items such as dishwashing solutions could cause some bacteria to become resistant to treatment and these can severely affect some people’s immune system.

Everyone is now aware what a specter the prospect of a treatment-resistant superbug brings. Let us not be unwitting accessories to this grave possibility. Hopefully, too, we do not become unknowing victims of the “dirty secrets” of dishwashing solutions.

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Tags: bacteria breeding ground , dishwashing bar solutions , health and wellness

akoombulator

You desperately need remedial english grammar and spelling lessons. The synonimous term for garbage is spelled T R A S H.
http://profile.yahoo.com/7BATXQ4JTHYQNFMDAMRYC4HEA4 Bio

Mr. Castillo, let me enlighten you a bit about diswhwashing solutions and how are they formulated. (since I’m a formulator in a manufacturing company and I have had a hand in manufacturing dishwashing solutions)

First, let’s start with DMDM Hydantoin. Yes, when we formulate dishwashing solutions, we include DMDM Hydantoin. Yeah, you’re right when you said that it is used as a preservative in dishwashing solutions, as it prevents the growth of microorganisms such as mold. Yes, you’re also correct when you said that it can cause irritation of the skin and the respiratory tract. But then how come our formulations are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (btw in case that you don’t know, manufacturing companies submit the complete formulation of their products as well as the manufacturing procedure, including dishwashing liquids)? Its because we follow the limits imposed upon by such regulatory agencies (FDA) with regard to the use of preservatives.

Second, I would like to give stress to Gee’s comment regarding sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and DEA. Both sodium lauryl sulfate and DEA are surfactants (they are the reason why your soap solution can remove grease and stains). Yes, Gee is correct when she said that DEA and SLS react under acidic media. But hello! Your soap solution is far from being acidic, it is BASIC in nature (it has a pH greater than 7).

Lastly (but this is not related about formulation of dishwashing liquids), I was hoping that before you have written this article, you have asked the side of manufacturing companies that are directly affected by your article. The way you have written your article is biased.

WeAry_Bat

Let’s wait maybe this is like their series of articles on LPG cars where each article presented one side of the stories and their bias also.

http://www.facebook.com/nektariosdys Jov Ati Ram

Let me add to Gee’s comment by saying the following things:

1) It’s not so much the dishwashing solutions that are the problem. Sponges are porous articles. They can potentially harbor harmful bacteria. Just because it’s been used in cleaning doesn’t mean it’s clean. Sponges harbor bacteria in much the same way as cockroach legs do – large surface area, more bacterial living space. So these must be cleaned thoroughly.2) Nitrosamines form under conditions of acid and presence of nitrites. You may worry about them in food preservation (because of the nitrites in salitre), but DEA is safe in this context. The mix of sodium lauryl sulfate and DEA is harmless. Gee is right, and it’s not even just a bit misleading – it’s wrong to say that.

3) The issue with chlorine and chlorinated cleaning agents has been there for very long. But chlorine per se is not a heavy environmental issue. Once it gets converted to chloride ion, everything’s a-OK. And – I’m pretty sure the water companies chlorinate or fluoridate the water we use, so nothing to worry about regarding chlorine.

Cheers!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1681248961 Eleanor Villaverde

Gee Roxas speaks true. Trust her, she’s a brilliant chemist. :)

Though I am not in the leagues of brilliant chemists who understand better the nature of the chemicals mentioned here, one thing I’d like to correct is the use of scientific names of the bacteria mentioned. When in print, scientific names should be italicized, both genus and species names. Also, only the genus name’s first letter

(ex.the “E” in Escherichia coli)

should be the only one capitalized, not both first letters of the genus and species, as was written in the article above. I do hope writers would know the simple rules involved in writing articles mentioning scientific names. If you take a peek at our new bills, you would notice what I mean.
http://twitter.com/squidring Gee Roxas

Thank you for this article. This has definitely covered some things that might make people think twice before leaving their soap solutions as is by their kitchen sinks. I would just like to comment about a few more things.

Perhaps the paragraphs about dishwashing solutions being carcinogenic could have been placed under a separate heading (separated from ‘Bacterial breeding ground’ heading). After all, the carcinogenic compounds mentioned in this article are not necessarily the reasons for the soap solution’s being bacterial breeding ground.

Also, the phrase, “sodium lauryl sulfate and diethanolamine (DEA), which when combined, can produce cancer-causing substances known as nitrosamines,” seems a bit misleading. Nitrosamines can be formed from secondary amines, like DEA, under strongly acidic conditions similar to that of the stomach. The dishwashing solution, kept under room temperature, is far from that.

Lastly, I think this article could have been written in a more positive light (with a resolution of some sort, in contrast to being similar to a list of harmful things). Many are so afraid of science, particularly chemistry, because of what they have been hearing/reading about ‘chemicals.’ Simply mentioning chemical compounds as if they were so evil does not help in promoting scientific knowledge to people. After all, it is not the compound that is innately bad; it is the amount/formulation/whole package that kills.

http://twitter.com/Tikoymanstur Tikoymanstur

sis you nailed it! :)
http://twitter.com/phlogistonfreak Clarisse Elica

Got that right Gee. I don’t know why there are so many articles that only showcase the “dark” side of chemistry when they don’t really know how true chemistry works.

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