On a busy morning, Li Wei was busy preparing for the day's work. As a battle-hardened office worker, he pays special attention to the details of daily life. However, this morning's scene made him stop what he was doing and fall into deep thought.
Li Wei's wife, Xiaoli, a housewife who cares about household hygiene, is in the kitchen quickly and seriously washing the pile of dirty dishes. The dish soap in her hands is rich in foam and has strong cleaning power, and every bowl and chopstick seems to be rejuvenated under her hands. However, suddenly, Li Wei found that Xiaoli's hands had been soaked in dish soap foam and reddened, and some of her skin was flushed and swollen.
"Xiaoli, what's wrong with your hand?" Li Wei walked over with concern and asked.
Xiaoli raised her head and showed a smile: "It's okay, it's just that the dish soap is a little strong and a little irritating when washing the dishes, it will be fine later." ”
This scene made Li Wei have doubts in his heart. How does dish soap, a common detergent in everyday life, affect our health? What are its ingredients? Why does it have such a strong cleaning power? Is it really as safe as advertised?
Ingredients and functions of dish soap
As a common detergent, the main components of dish soap include surfactants, additives and other additives. Surfactants are one of the most important ingredients in dish soap, they can reduce the surface tension of water, so that water molecules can better penetrate the oily surface, so as to play a cleaning role.
The role of surfactants
Common surfactants are anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and nonionic surfactants. Their combination in dish soap effectively removes grease and dirt, making the washing process more efficient. For example, anionic surfactants have a good effect on removing protein dirt, while nonionic surfactants can reduce foam generation and increase the stability of the detergent.
additives and other additives
In addition to surfactants, dish soaps often contain various additives and auxiliaries such as thickeners, chelating agents, and PH adjusters. These ingredients not only increase the viscosity and stability of dish soap, but also adjust its pH to make it more suitable for different cleaning needs and water conditions.
The cleaning effect of dish soap
Due to the characteristics of its ingredients, dish soap has a strong decontamination ability and cleaning effect. In daily life, it is widely used to clean kitchens, dishes, bathrooms, and various household surfaces. Its powerful cleaning power can quickly and effectively remove stubborn dirt such as oil stains and food residues, and restore the smoothness of the items.
However, as Li Wei observed, dish soap may also bring some adverse effects, especially skin irritation. Long-term exposure to dish soap foam can lead to dry skin, allergies and even skin lesions, especially for people with sensitive or allergic skin.
In summary, as an indispensable detergent in daily life, dish soap has complex and diverse ingredients and mechanisms of action, which not only have a powerful cleaning effect, but also may have certain health risks. When using, you need to pay attention to safe use methods and avoid long-term contact and excessive use to protect the health of yourself and your family.
Health risks
Dish soap is a common choice for household cleaning products, and although it is effective in removing oil and dirt, there are some potential health risks with long-term use, especially the effects on the skin and respiratory system.
Skin irritation and irritation
Surfactants and additives in dish soap, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and citric acid, may cause allergic skin reactions. Prolonged exposure or excessive use may cause dryness, redness, and even rash on the skin. This risk is especially prominent for people with sensitive skin, such as children and middle-aged and elderly people who are prone to allergies.
Respiratory problems
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in dish soap are another concern. These compounds are released into the air during the cleaning process and can lead to a decrease in indoor air quality. Long-term inhalation of high concentrations of VOCs can cause damage to the respiratory system, manifested by coughing, wheezing, and even difficulty breathing.
Accumulation of toxic components
Some dish soaps contain toxic ingredients, such as benzene and chloride, that can accumulate in the human body after long-term use. These chemicals may have potential effects on organ function, and although research has not yet fully confirmed their actual effects in daily use, we need to be aware of this potential health risk.
Environmental and ecological impacts
In addition to the potential effects on human health, the use of dish soap can also have a negative impact on the environment, especially in terms of discharge and water pollution.
Pollution of water bodies
The chemical components in dish soap can adversely affect the water ecosystem when discharged into the sewer. Some surfactants and additives are difficult to remove completely in water treatment plants, which can lead to deterioration of water quality and affect the survival and reproduction of aquatic organisms.
Cumulative effects in the system
The chemical components in dish soap accumulate in the environment for a long time and can have a negative impact on soil and vegetation. Especially in agricultural areas, dish soap residues can affect the growth of crops and even leach into the food chain, posing a potential threat to human health.
Energy consumption and carbon footprint
The production and transportation of dish soap also consumes a lot of energy and generates a corresponding carbon footprint. This has a certain negative impact on global warming and climate change, and although the amount used by individual households is relatively small, the overall cumulative effect cannot be ignored.
The health risks and environmental and ecological impacts that long-term use of dish soap may face need to be taken seriously and understood. When using dish soap, you should pay attention to the appropriate amount and method of use, and choose environmentally friendly and health-friendly cleaning products to reduce the potential negative impact. Future research and technological advancements should focus on developing safer, more environmentally friendly alternatives to achieve cleaning results while minimizing the impact on human health and the environment.