Household Dishwasher Tablets May Contain Harmful Chemicals

The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals recently reviewed the ingredients of household dishwasher tablets, powders, and detergents, and found that some contain harmful substances. Substances such as a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), unnecessary fragrances, and even a potential carcinogen were found in products.

40 products were reviewed, including those from popular brands such as Finish and Fairy, and each was given an ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘C’ ranking. Overall, their findings revealed that 1 in 5 dishwasher tablets contained problematic chemicals. One product contained a chemical that is suspected of being carcinogenic (cancer-causing), and so received the lowest ‘C’ ranking.

Benzotriazole, a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) was found in 7 of the tested products, which also received a ‘C’ ranking. EDCs are chemicals that disrupt the normal functioning of the hormones, and exposure to EDCs has been linked to adverse health impacts such as certain cancers, reduced fertility, and impaired brain development. Benzotriazole is classified as persistent in the environment – in other words, it can build up in nature – and is therefore unwanted in dishwasher products as they ultimately drain into our waterways.