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A Safer Alternative Exists to Replace Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, A Toxic Laundry Detergent Aquatic life in waters throughout the U.S. is threatened by some recently discovered pollutants that are released by sewage treatment plants. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) is one major class of these pollutants. The metabolites of NPEs are present in over 61 per cent of tested U. S. streams. NPEs are manufactured from the parent chemical nonylphenol (NP). More than 80 percent of NP is used in products such as commercial and household detergents. In 2004 alone, more than 260 million pounds of NP was used in the U.S. NPEs are particularly dangerous because they become more toxic as they are metabolized by bacteria during sewage treatment. NPE and its metabolites often pass through wastewater treatment plants at a concentration that has been shown to cause harmful effects to aquatic life in laboratory studies. They pose additional risks because they take longer to degrade than any other cleaning agent, and their persistence in aquatic ecosystems increases the amount of time organisms are exposed to them. Extensive research indicates that NPE metabolites mimic natural hormones, disrupting the endocrine and developmental systems of fish, shellfish and other aquatic species. Exposure to NPE metabolites generally has a feminizing effect, increasing the incidence of fish with both male and female sex characteristics. In laboratory tests they have been found to decrease testicular growth and sperm counts in male fish; and disrupt normal sex-ratios, metabolism, development, growth and reproduction. They also increase mortality and damage the liver and kidneys. Because of their concern about the environmental toxicity of NPEs and their effects on aquatic wildlife, Canada and the European Union have effectively banned the use of NPEs in detergents. Meanwhile, NPE sales have increased in the U.S., and the U.S. government has taken no action. In the interest of protecting water quality and commercial and sportsfishing industries, industrial users and producers of detergents should switch to an alternative cleaning agent in detergents. Safer alternatives to NPEs, such as alcohol ethoxylates, are readily available and technically feasible for industrial and domestic laundry detergents. The Sierra Club is urging the Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies, municipal wastewater treatment agencies and corporations to eliminate the use of NPEs in the industrial and domestic laundry detergents used in the U.S. Fortunately, some U.S. corporations, recognizing the dangers of NPEs, have voluntarily eliminated NPEs in their products. Procter & Gamble (P&G) voluntarily stopped using NP compounds in their high-volume applications. P&G recognizes that NPE use "might create long-term concerns for the environment." Other U.S. companies continue to use NPEs in detergents. Cintas Corporation, one of the nation's largest industrial laundries, acknowledged the feasibility of using safer laundry detergents by agreeing to substitute alcohol ethoxylates for NPEs at its Branford, Connecticut, facility in 2005. It should switch to this safer detergent at all of its laundries. Other companies should follow its lead. For more information, see Sierra Club's website: http://www.sierraclub.org/toxics/toxic_laundry.asp. Contact: Ed Hopkins at Ed.Hopkins@sierraclub.org.
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