Fragrances in laundry detergents and cleaning agents - one can well do without
A nationwide day for sustainable (dish) washing on 10 May 2008
Some 630,000 tonnes of laundry detergent are sold in Germany every year, adding up to nearly eight kilogrammes per person per year. When cleaning and other care products are added, the per capita consumption figure doubles. The majority of laundry detergents and cleaning agents contain fragrances, and there is relatively little knowledge about their impact on human health and the environment. One thing is clear: some fragrant products contain substances that are known to frequently trigger contact allergies or may be questionable to health. ”What we find pleasant is not necessarily good for our health and the environment. Manufacturers and merchants of aromatic substances are called upon to promote research aimed at gaining more knowledge about their risks”, said Dr. Thomas Holzmann, Vice President of the Federal Environment Agency, on the occasion of this year’s nationwide day for sustainable (dish) washing on 10 May.
