Different Laundry Detergents and Algae Growth

Ingredients

• Phosphate is a natural product derived from phosphorus, and it has long been used as a cleaning aid in detergents. When phosphate, a plant nutrient, enters water systems as a byproduct of household waste water, it causes algae to grow at a rapid rate. Eventually, this algal bloom chokes out aquatic life, destroys the quality of drinking water and makes lakes, rivers and streams unsuitable for swimming or recreation.

Regulations

• Many environmental groups became concerned about the effects of phosphates on water systems in the 1960s. By the 1990s, most states had passed laws banning phosphates in laundry detergent. As a result, detergent manufacturers voluntarily began to eliminate phosphates from laundry detergents, replacing them with alternative materials such as sodium carbonate, sodium silicate and citrates.

Commercial Detergents

• As of 2011, all commercial laundry detergents sold in the United States, including name-brand products such as Tide, Cheer and Gain, are phosphorus-free and do not promote algae growth. Many other countries, however, still permit the sale of detergents that contain phosphorus. Laundry detergents may contain other ingredients that are potentially harmful to humans or to the environment.

Green Detergents

• Many green laundry soaps are specifically labeled phosphate-free, which seems to imply that other detergents contain phosphate, which is not true. However, if you are concerned about water pollution, consider buying a laundry soap that is biodegradable and made from plant enzymes rather than petroleum products. The Environmental Protection Agency provides the names of laundry detergents that meet the agency's standards for biodegradability and toxicity. These include common laundry-detergent brands, such as Purex, Method, Ecos and Seventh Generation, as well as lesser-known brands, such as WOWgreen, Tough Guy and Green Things.