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10 Pollutants Going Down Your Drain

posted by Annie B. Bond Jun 17, 2008 7:00 am
10 Pollutants Going Down Your Drain
15 comments

If we want water coming in our taps to be clean, we need to make
sure that which goes down our drains is clean.

Here are ways you might be polluting the water from your drain
that you might not have thought about:

1. Disinfectant hand soap.

2. Hand dish detergent with artificial scents and dyes.

3. Automatic dish detergents that contain phosphates.

4. Hair dyes.

5. Solvents from washing paint brushes, rags with furniture polish, etc.

6. Hormones coming from the urine of women who are on birth control pills.

7. Toxic cleaning product residues from everything from bathtub and shower stall cleaners, to sponges rinsed after use on oven cleaner.

8. Toxic dyes from fabrics that “bleed.”

9. Pesticides from washing plants that have been sprayed.

10. Hormone disrupters from bodycare products, such as those that contain paraben preservatives.

More on Green Home Decor (158 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3220 articles available)

15 comments

15 comments

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15 Comments       add a comment »
Karen F.

I'm also curious as to where I should be asking my roommate to rinse out her hair if she chooses to dye her hair, if not down the drain. This list is high on awareness but lacking alternatives.

Susan W.

I now have a dishwasher and use the only brand of detergent that I have found that is sans phosphates: Seventh Generation. I can not tell you how many educated people just don't get it about anti-bacterial soaps and those instant hand cleaners. I even know a would be medical student who doesn't get it. As ofr all those smells in products, well, they make me sick! I used to spend too much time sniffing things in the store. I gave up on scented detergents about 15 years ago. When we stayed at my brother's house on a visit to Detroit, it took three washings to eliminate the smell of my sister's-in-law detergent after doing laundry at their house during the visit.

Steve Harper

I use the Best Water from Shaklee as it has 3 filters. And it is fast easy to use and the reject water I use on my house plants so it all is used. More info when you reply to Steve!

Haven Vrba

One way to avoid the antibacterial soap issue is to use handmade soaps. These soaps are all natural made with glycerin, essential oils and sometimes herbs. They are just as effective if you use them properly. Studies have been done showing that they are. Plus, if you buy handmade soaps, you are supporting local businesses. You are not paying for the drivers and the packaging and you are truly getting a wonderful product.

Annie Bond

Well, it is a good question about where to pee if you are on birth control pills! Hmmmm, that has me stumped. Overall, though, I'd like to add that drinking water from your own tap is the best way to go, just make sure you have a home filter system!

Felice E.

Did you hear about all of the Pharmaceudical drugs found in the water?

Laura Ganske

More reasons why people drink spring water versus tap water. Also I think menopausal women taking replacement hormones are dumping more hormones into their urine than women on birth control.That statement about birth control pee was ridiculous though. People dumping their expired medications down the drain or toilet is a significant contaminant according to a recent article. Also treating the yard and house with chemical fertilizers, weedkillers, pesticides. All that stuff gets back into the water supply.

Laura Ganske

More reasons why people drink spring water versus tap water. Also I think menopausal women taking replacement hormones are dumping more hormones into their urine than women on birth control.That statement about birth control pee was ridiculous though. People dumping their expired medications down the drain or toilet is a significant contaminant according to a recent article. Also treating the yard and house with chemical fertilizers, weedkillers, pesticides. All that stuff gets back into the water supply.

Nadia K.

Where exactly should you be peeing if you are on birth control???

Christine Harvey

How do you avoid hormones in your urine? Is it better to have too many babies??

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