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It's always been challenging to figure out what's really in household cleaning products - you practically need a chemistry degree to decipher the labels. Now there's another, growing concern: microplastics. While cleaning products aren't the biggest contributor to microplastics in the environment, many do contain them, or shed them as part of their breakdown process.
"We can be exposed to microplastics that are floating in the air, through consumer products including cleaning products, or we can ingest them from seafood or water," says Andrea De Vizcaya-Ruiz, a toxicologist and professor of environmental and occupational health at the UC Irvine School of Population and Public Health.
And while the effects of microplastics on human health aren't fully understood, "emerging research suggests they may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation and potential endocrine [hormone] disruption," says Paul Savage, a physician, toxin expert and chief medical officer at MDLifespan in Chicago. These effects can lead to cell damage and contribute to chronic diseases, according to experts.
Yes, this is potentially cause for concern, but there are ways to reduce your exposure and cut the amount of microplastics you're putting into the environment. Here's what experts had to say about how you can limit them in your cleaning habits.
• Know where they are
Microplastics may be added to cleaning products to provide an abrasive property (with microbeads, for example), a certain viscosity, or color or shimmer - these are considered primary sources of microplastics. Secondary microplastics in cleaning products can result from the breakdown of larger plastic materials such as bottles and packaging.
Household cleaning products that may contain or shed microplastics include laundry and dishwashing detergent pods and liquid capsules; toilet bowl cleaners; synthetic scrubbers and melamine sponges; scrubbing agents that contain microbeads; surface wipes that contain synthetic polymers; and some furniture polishes and waxes. Some of these products use microplastic particles to give the product a certain abrasive effect or to add a fragrance, while others (such as melamine sponges and cleaning wipes) shed microplastics as the product degrades, De Vizcaya-Ruiz says.
Laundry and dishwashing detergent pods, which contain polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), are designed to dissolve completely in water and biodegrade in wastewater treatment plants, but some studies suggest that doesn't always happen. In a 2021 review of existing research, scientists at Arizona State University estimated that after passing through wastewater treatment, up to 61 percent of the PVA from pods enters the environment as sludge, and an additional 16 percent is emitted through water.
• How to avoid microplastics in cleaning products
"The burden shouldn't be on consumers," says Renée Sharp, director of plastic and petrochemical advocacy for the Natural Resources Defense Council, but right now it is.
That means you'll need to do some detective work and/or opt for more natural products.
But here's the challenge: You won't find the term microplastics on cleaning product labels, says Katie Pelch, a senior scientist at the NRDC who has been conducting research on the possible health harms of microplastics with researchers from University of California San Francisco. You'll need to look for specific chemical names such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, acrylates, polymers and microbeads, among other problematic ingredients. (You can find a more complete list from the Beat the Microbead campaign website.)
As a starting point, it helps to avoid cleaning products with these chemicals. You can also look for cleaning products that are labeled "microplastic-free" or "biodegradable."
For laundry, "opt for detergent powders or liquid detergents in sustainable, biodegradable formulations," rather than pods or capsules, Savage says. And replace dryer sheets, which contain microplastics, with wool dryer balls (an added perk: wool dryer balls are reusable).
Your clothing also could be part of the problem. "A large percentage of the world's microplastics come from microfibers shedding from textiles," says Brian Sansoni, senior vice president for communications, outreach & membership at the American Cleaning Institute. To limit this, try adjusting your clothes-washing routine: Wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot, Sansoni says, and avoid rewashing clothing frequently (when possible) because this "can produce more wear and tear that can cause more microplastic shedding."
As for products, keep in mind that "concentrated powders, soaps and tablets are just as effective as liquid, pod and sheet detergents and cleaners," says Kate Jakubas, founder of Meliora Cleaning Products in Chicago. "Because excess water is removed, they are shelf-stable and can be packaged in sustainable materials like paper, metal and glass."
Another option is to use natural cleaning products - think: baking soda, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar or castile soap (which is vegetable-based) - or those that contain plant-based surfactants (derived from coconuts or palm, for example). Instead of melamine sponges and plastic scrubbers, opt for cellulose or natural sea sponges, loofahs, silicone scrubbers or bamboo brushes.
It's nearly impossible to eliminate microplastics from your life, but you can reduce them by making smart choices about products, and by being willing to put a little more elbow grease into your cleaning routine.
"There's no such thing as magic products," says De Vizcaya-Ruiz, who recommends focusing on what you need a particular product for - to get rid of grease, for example, or to sanitize a surface. "People tend to go for one wipe and expect it to be clean," she adds. "We need to get away from that and put more effort into cleaning."