Dawn dish soap, a popular household cleaning product, has been trusted by millions to clean their dishes. However, many are unaware of the potential health and environmental implications of using this soap. This expose will delve into the toxic ingredients found in Dawn dish soap and their negative health implications based on the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
What Is Dawn Dish Soap?
Dawn is a degreasing liquid soap manufactured by Procter & Gamble, commonly used to wash dishes and clean around the house. Available in various colors and scents, it also comes in different formulas designed to remove grease or baked-on food. People often use Dawn for various purposes, including stain removal, pet shampoo, pest repellent in gardens, and laundry.
Toxic Ingredients in Dawn Dish Soap and Their Negative Health Implications
According to the ingredient list on the back of the bottle, Dawn soap contains several toxic ingredients that the EWG has flagged as concerning:
- Methylisothiazolinone: A high concern for acute aquatic toxicity and some concern for skin irritation, allergies, and damage. It is especially harmful to people with sensitive skin (European Chemicals Agency database).
- C9-11 Pareth-8: Some concern for acute aquatic toxicity and allergic reactions on the skin.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Some concern for chronic aquatic toxicity, acute aquatic toxicity, damage to vision, and general organ damage.
- Fragrance: An unspecified ingredient that companies can use to hide hundreds of other harmful chemicals.
In addition to these ingredients, Dawn dish soap also contains other harmful substances such as phosphates, triclosan (in some of the products), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), diethanolamine (DEA), monoethanolamine (MEA), triethanolamine (TEA), chlorine, formaldehyde, and ammonia.
Is Dawn Dish Soap Biodegradable and Safe for the Environment?
Although Dawn claims to use “biodegradable surfactants” in its soap, the majority of its ingredients are not biodegradable. Furthermore, Dawn dishwashing liquid comes packaged in a plastic bottle, which is not biodegradable and can only be recycled if washed thoroughly and accepted by local recycling facilities.
Dawn Dish Soap and Wildlife
Despite advertising that its dishwashing soaps help save wildlife, Dawn dish soap has detrimental effects on the environment. Ingredients such as methylisothiazolinone, sodium lauryl sulfate, and C9-11 pareth-8 are known to cause adverse effects on aquatic life. While Dawn has donated over $4.5 million to wildlife charities, the soap itself contributes to environmental pollution.
Dawn Dish Soap and Septic Systems
While some Dawn soap products can be safely used with septic systems, those containing antibacterial agents should be avoided. Antibacterial soap is designed to eliminate bacteria, which may be beneficial for cleaning purposes but can be detrimental to your septic system. By their nature, antibacterial soaps can also destroy the bacteria within your septic tank that are crucial for breaking down solid waste, as well as those in the drain field that neutralize harmful pathogens. While a single instance of using antibacterial soap has minimal impact, regular use can damage the bacterial balance in your septic tank and impair its performance. Septic system owners are advised to opt for eco-friendly and natural drain cleaners to prevent disruption of the enzyme and bacterial balance within the septic system.
Non-Toxic Alternatives to Dawn Dish Soap
Eco-friendly alternatives to Dawn dish soap include:
- Dropps Power Dish Spray: A sustainable dish soap that uses vegan, biodegradable, and plant-based ingredients.
- Biodegradable Castile soap: A gentle cleanser made from vegetable oil that can be used for various cleaning purposes.
These sustainable options do not contain petroleum-based ingredients and are often labeled a Safer Choice by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), making them safe to use with septic systems.
Dawn dish soap contains toxic ingredients that are harmful to the environment and human health. However, there are eco-friendly alternatives that work just as well as Dawn, allowing users to protect their skin and help wildlife simultaneously.
