Do Detergents Cause Cancer – What Are Their Health Effects?

What Is a Detergent?

Literally meaning dirt remover , detergent is the name given to all cleaning agents other than soap. First produced from naphthalene in 1917 by German chemist Charles F. Gunther, detergents are now used as follows: % 50-60 in industry and large organizations for cleaning, % 25-30 in household cleaning, and the remainder in cosmetics and personal care products.

Today, detergents do not consist of a single chemical but contain many different chemical substances (such as bleaching agents, foam regulators, disinfectants, fragrances and anticaking agents).

Do Detergents Increase Cancer Risk?

From time to time, the media report that these cleaning agents, which have become an indispensable part of life, increase the risk of various diseases, particularly cancer, because of the chemicals they contain, causing concern. In this article, we will discuss the health risks of detergents.

The main active ingredients of detergents are anionic surfactants (such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium dodecyl sulfate), nonionic surfactants (such as mono- and diglycerides and glycerol monostearate) and small amounts of other chemicals (varying by brand, primarily fragrances).

None of the chemicals used in detergents are in the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Group 1, Group 2A and 2B carcinogen list at all!

However, it is worth emphasizing that all of the above applies to established brands. It is unclear which types and proportions of chemicals are used in unregulated manufacturing facilities.

The main health concern with detergents is contact allergy (skin allergies).

In conclusion, although there is nothing to worry about regarding cancer, the full properties of the chemicals in detergents and the chemicals used in unregulated products that do not meet standards are not clearly known. To reduce chemical exposure, we therefore recommend thorough rinsing and avoiding exposure through inhalation.