Scientists have found that common surfactants — soaps, shampoos and detergents — actually pose a minimal risk to the environment.
The study analysed the potential impact on the environment of the enormous amounts of common surfactants used day in and day out by consumers all over the world.
“We humans use several million tons of surfactants a year on a global scale. It amounts to billions of kilos, so these are substances that you really don’t want to release into the environment unless you’re thoroughly familiar with them,” said senior researcher Hans Sanderson, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, who is one of the authors of the report.
For the purpose of promoting the sustainable use of surfactants, the researchers analysed their findings regarding the use, disposal, treatment and risk to the aquatic environment of the most important surfactant ingredients in North America.
Although the studies are based in North America, they nevertheless apply on a global scale because they are more or less identical all over the world, researchers said.
The work sums up more than 250 scientific studies spanning forty to fifty years, at an overall cost of approximately USD 30 million.
“It’s the most comprehensive and definitive report to date regarding the environmental properties of detergent substances in soap products — in other words, personal care and cleaning products,” said Sanderson.
The results showed that when the substances are used correctly and responsibly, and once they have been through a proper treatment plant, the risk to the surrounding environment is very low.
“The substances are made so that they degrade rapidly and thus don’t pose a risk to the environment. I can’t think of any other substances released into the environment in such large amounts via everyday use by all of us.
“It’s the most commonly used substances of all that go directly into the wastewater, so it’s important to keep track of them and ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises in the treatment plants or in the environment,” Sanderson added.
