The scope of SDA research over the of children, it is on his or her bookshelf.past 10 years has been unusually The fifth edition was edited by twoDetergentbroad. Research activity has been di- medical experts. Dr. Anthony Temple,vided into two major areas: human McNeU Laboratories, and Dr. Frederick

safety and environmental acceptability Lovejoy, Harvard Medical School.Research t

fl

of detergents and detergent raw mate- Information in the bulletin on the

rials. Briefly, SDA research in the hu- who, what, when, where" of acciden-//

man safety area has included efforts on tal ingestion comes from an SDA-

atSDAfluorescent whitening agents, fra- sponsored epidemiological investiga-grances and surfactants. It has included tion Dr. Temple supervised while heresearch on how to carry out animal was director of the Intermountain Re-

testing with great efficiency and less gional Poison Control Center in SaltHuman safety,stress on animals, and that effort con- Lake City. After studying 768 acciden-tinues today. It has included the epide- environmental tal ingestion cases involving soaps andmiology of the acute effects of acciden- detergents, the conclusion was reachedacceptability are focustal eye exposure to, and ingestion of, that the consequences were minimalcleaning products. and temporary, and that most cases oc-

In the envu'onmental area, the focus curred with a product that was in useBy KEITH A. BOOMAN,of SDA research activity has been on Technical Director, and (in measuring devices, etc.) rather than

2

two detergent raw materials: surfac- RICHARD 1. SEDLAK, in the original container. This researchtants and phosphates. The research on was helpful in reducing the tendency ofResearch Director,surfactants has included development The Soap and Detergent Association some to consider every ingestion inci-of analytical methods for envtronmen- dent a "poisoning." It contributed total samples, and study of the fate of the realization that chUd-resistant pack-surfactants in wastewater treatment aging was simply not an appropraiteplants and in estuaries. The SDA tech- general response to accidental cleaning

i,<^nical effort on phosphates has focused product ingestion. The Salt Lake Cityfr

on the possible effects on water quality study also covered eye exposure inci-of governmental banning of phos- dents. The perspective which evolvedt;>phates. The effect of bans on the phos- was similar to that developed for inges-.

\'

^

phorus loads to and from wastewater tion. A number of publications cover^ 3

treatment plants and the effect of bans the results of the Salt Lake City study.* <«.<r

on the cost of phosphorus removal Fluorescent Whitening Agents were thethave been almost continually moni- topic of another SDA technical investi-..'.-Sirftored during the last decade. Knowing L\, gation. At the time this effort was.^

how much phosphorus is involved, the started, questions about the humanyeffect of detergent phosphate bans on safety of these laundry detergent ingre-'-»\^

water quality can then be estimated. y -..1 dients were being raised. The assis-a*. "I <.';t a

We live in an age of proliferating reg- »; *. tance of Arthur D. Little, Inc. (ADL)J .'/^

';:4 ...*.*»

f \?:; J»».ulation of all parts of individual and .' -<-' L-'^» was obtained to collect and evaluate all&t ;-£.^i I

corporate life. While some regulation is the available published and unpub-Keith A. Boomangood and necessary there has been a lished safety information. A review oftendency to restrict consumer product what is known is always an appropri-content arbitrarily, on the basis of spe- search efforts, you may wish to keep in ate preliminary response when safetyculation colored by emotions. A prin- mind the overall objectives which I questions are raised. After reviewingcipal objective of SDA research has have just mentioned. the information available for the fluo-been the development of information rescent whitening agents, the ADL in-to replace speculation with fact, to limit vestigators concluded that there was noHuman Safety-Completedto the extent possible the imposition of reason to be concerned. Their compUa-SDA Programsarbitrary limitations on our industry tion of the data and evaluation of it,An ongoing project is the periodicand its customers, the consuming pub- which was published in the CRC Criti-updating of a bulletin called "Cleaninglie. Information is not of much value cal Reviews of Environmental Control,4Products and Their Accidental Inges-unless it is available to, or understood

tion/' now in its fifth edition.* This bul- was a major factor in helping the EPAby, those m a position to propose and Interagency Testing Committee con-letin provides the medical professionadopt regulation or legislation. The elude that the development of furtherwith pertinent background on cleaningSDA research program has contributed safety information was not necessary.products. Topics covered include gen-to the dissemination of information,

eral formulation information and gen- Another SDA human safety investi-but that is an effort which transcendseral guidance on caring for those, gation centered on the potential of fra-the technical effort and which othersprimarily young children, who have ac- grances, as used in cleaning and othermay need to continue for sometime af-cidentally ingested some cleaning consumer products, to cause allergic re-ter researchers have turned to otherproduct. A section on accident preven- actions in consumers. Considerabletasks. As I review the individual re-tion is also included. Every pediatri- concern had been generated by articlescian, every new resident physician has in the medical literahire about some

Presented at the 57th annual convention of the a copy of this bulletin. If part of the cases of allergic reactions. The questionSoap and Detergent Association, Boca Raton,FL;Jan. 28, 1984. practice of a physician involves the care posed was, "In the population as a

whole, how many people are affected tion, show that surfactants have negli- Human Safety andand how seriously?" Fortunately, a sig- gible potential to cause genetic dam- Eimronmental Effects

nificant data base of pertinent informa- age. Furthermore, none of the assays A research activity which bridges hu-tion existed which SDA was able to reviewed were incompatible with the man safety and environmental effectstap. Both detergent manufacturers and tested surfactants. These included an- was the collection, evaluation and

fragrance suppliers carry out human ionic, cationic, nonionic and ampho- publication in one place of the availablepatch tests on new ingredients and for- teric surfactants. information on the seven major surf ac-mulations to determine the potential tants:

for allergy problems. After reviewmg Eye Irritation Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates.

and publishing an unprecedened The potential for accidents in which Alkylsulfates.

63,000 patch test results on major ha- cleaning products are splashed or oth- Alcohol ethoxylates.

grance mgredients used by the deter- erwise get in human eyes has been a Alcohol ethoxy sulfates.

gent industry, the issue has all but top concern of the detergent mdustry Alpha olefin sulfonates6-11 .

died. As in other areas of toxicology, for years. Surely this has been an ap- Secondary alkane sulfonates.

dose-effect relationships appear to be propriate priority. Eye injury must be Arthur D. Little, Inc. had the respon-very important for understanding the avoided. Consumers must know what sibility for this task, which led to a re-allergic potential of fragrances. The the potential is. Neither they nor man- port,14 an update,15 and a review arti-results from this investigation are ex- ufachirers can afford to be misled by de.16 This effort was timely. The reportspected to be a continuing guide to the poor information. Thus, the SDA has provided the basis in significant partsafe use of fragrance ingredients by our been interested in how to make eye trri- for the TSCA Interagency Testing Com-industry. tation test results more predictive, mittee concluding that enough was

Dose-effect relationships are impor- more efficient and less stressful to the known about the two surfactant classes

tant in risk assessment. What is the test animals. considered by that committee so far-consequence of a given level of expo- An experimental study in which the linear alkylbenzene sulfonates and al-sure? A prerequisite to answering this comparative response of the rabbit and cohol ethoxy sulfates. The ADL reportquestion is establishing the exposure monkey eyes were investigated, and supplement are currently distrib-level. Occasionally, questions are showed that there were important dif- uted by the National Technical Informa-posed concerning the human safety ferences." The results suggested that tion Service (NTIS), an unusual proce-consequences of volatUe impurities in the usefulness of the rabbit eye as a dure which reflects favorably on thesedetergents which might be present in predictor of human experience could be non-government reports.products at the part per million level or enhanced by incorporating referenceless. To become better able to deal with materials in testing protocols. The use Environmental Studies

such questions, we had a predictive of significantly smaller amounts of test SDA research on environmental ef-

model developed for exposure to vola- material was also suggested. Unfortu- fects has followed standard patterns:tile impurities in two types of products: nately, regulatory agencies stUl have 1. Determine environmental concen-

hand-dishwashing detergents and not accepted the use of smaller doses trations. Develop analytical proce-granular laundry detergents. The key even though more predictive results dures, if necessary. Use models to pre-components of this model were knowl- could be obtained with less stress on diet concentrations, if possible.edge of deteregent use conditions and test animals. SDA is actively pursuing 2. Determine the environmental im-

basic physical chemistry. A report cov- this matter today. pact of expected levels, or expectedering the development and use of this Of course, one way to reduce stress changes in levels. Do so by calculation,

12model is available. on test animals is to use in vitro proce- if the state-of-the-art allows it; other-

dures when and wherever possible. wise, perform experiments.SDA is currently supporting a several As far as surfactants are concerned,

Human Safety-SDA Programs year project at the University of Illinois theu fate in the Potomac estuary wasIn Progress on the development of in vitro testing. modeled for SDA by HydroQual, a pre-

In recent years, approaches for evalu- This research is directed by Professor eminent engineermg firm. in the envi-ating the mutagenicity of chemicals John Shadduck. The driving concept of ronmental modelmg field. This efforthave proliferated. Many of the short- this research is that information from a took mto account both biodegradationterm systems do not use mutations per battery of in vitro tests may yield results and adsorption onto sediment parti-se as an end point. Thus, a better de- which would satisfactorily predict the cles.17 The results showed that surf ac-

scription of the subject area is genotox- extremely complex course which hu- tants disappear very close to wastewa-icity. While assessment of results show- man eye injury and healing takes. ter treatment plants in such an estuary,ing that a given chemical is genotoxic is A year into this project, one sees both if they could be measured at all. Theextremely difficult, positive results may promise and problems. The promise is model was constructed in such a wayindicate a carcinogenic potential. that toxicity results with single cells that the fate of other chemicals in

By now, enough short-term testing of roughly agree with known eye toxicity wastewater treatment plant dischargessurfactants has been done to make a re- results from some surfactants. On the to the Potomac could be estunated, pro-view of the results worthwhile. Infor- other side of the coin, evaluating tnter- vided that the adsorption and biodeg-mation in the literature was collected actions that involve pH and/or test ma- radation characteristics of the chemical

and, as m the case of the fragrances terial form (solid vs. liquid) must await could be approximated. The same ap-study mentioned earlier, the available further developments. Thus, it appears proach could clearly be applied to otherunpublished information was col- that it wUl be some time before mean- estuarine situations.

lected, too. The results, in a paper ingful, reliable label warnings can be Once environmental water concen-

which has been accepted for publica- based on in vitro tests. trations of a chemical are known, one is

often interested in how much accumu- noisey and show evidence of drift. measures when the consumer costs as-lation m fish tissue might be occurring. sociated with a detergent phosphateAs an SDA research project, the bioac- ban were considered. That conclusionPhosphorus Runoff to Great Lakescumulation of linear alkylate sulfonate appears to be as valid in 1984 as it wasEarly in the decade, SDA became18(LAS) was measured in the bluegUl. in 1980.concerned about a critical lack of infor- 4

The safety factor associated with eating In sum total, the information that hasmation about the amount of phos-fish exposed to LAS in the squatic envi- been developed allows SDA staff andphorus discharged to the Great Lakesronment was estimated to be much member company scientists to makein land runoff. The SDA response wasgreater than 5000, a very encouraging estimates as to the possible environ-to support a promising investigatorresult.

who was just getting started on rele- mental impact of detergent phosphateCurrent environmental research on regulation in a given jurisdiction withvant research. Dr. David Baker, of Hei-

surfactants includes the development increasing accuracy, certainty and cred-delberg College in Tiffin, OH. Earlyof a specific analytical method for alco- ibility. New questions are continuallystudies by Dr. Baker and his colleagueshol ethoxylate nonionic surfactants, being asked. New phosphate controldeveloped phosphorus runoff coeffi-and the fate of LAS and alcohol ethoxy- dents for watersheds m the Lake Erie technologies, such as enhanced biologi-lates in a conventional activated sludge cal phosphorus removal, are contin-Basin and sampling strategies thatwastewater treatment plant. Similar ually being considered. Costs are con-would yield more accurate phosphorusstudies in the past were limited by ana- tinually changing. Accordingly, ourload estimates for rivers. The conver-lytical procedures which were non spe- research effort continues.sion of orthophosphate dischargedcific. In conclusion, I would like to an-from treatment plants to other forms of

Eutrophication related research has nounce the publication of Professorphosphorus was demonstrated to oc-been a continual part of the SDA tech- V. W. Greene's monograph "Cleanli-cur at an exponential rate, primarily bynical effort during the last decade. ness and the Health Revolution/' byadsorption to suspended sedimentQuestions asked m one jurisdiction or SDA. This monograph documents

22

which settles to the stream bottom.another over the past decade have in- and celebrates the dramatic revolutionRecent work at Heidelberg Collegeeluded: has identified the fluctuations in the over the past 150 years in human

health, to which our mdustry has con-1. How much phosphorus can be loading and transport of phosphorus,

as well as other materials, from non- tributed so much. For our part, work-controlled by a detergent phosphateban? point sources. Understanding these ing to help everyone have a clearer un-

fluctations has been instrumental in derstanding of the technical aspects of2. Is that amount environmentally all the environmental and humansignificant? understanding the water-quality im-

3. Will a ban reduce wastewater pact of non-point phosphorus loads. safety issues associated with the soapand detergent industry is importanttreatment costs for phosphorus re- Non-point sources, by vutue of the si-and rewarding. We are pleased to be in-moval enough to make a ban economi- multaneous occurrence of both highvolved. .

cally worthwhile? runoff loads of soluble phosphorus andhigh rates of delivery during storms,

While our industry has a pretty good contribute the most to the amount of References

idea as to how much phosphorus is m- phosphorus avaflable for biological up- 1. Temple, A. R., and F. H. Lovejoy, eds. (1980).Cleaning Products and Their Accidental In-volved, it is always helpful to have esti- take in a lake downstream. On the ba- gestion. The Soap and Detergent Assocation.

mates confirmed by field results. For sis of this work done by Dr. Baker and 2. Temple, A. R., and J. C. Veltri (1979). Out-instance, how much effect have bans his colleagues, as well as the work of come of Accidental Ingestions of Soaps, De-

tergents and Related Household Products.actually had on the amount of phos- several others, the U.S. Army Corps of Veterinary and Human Toxicology 23 (1), 9.phorus in sewage going to wastewater Engineers' Lake Erie Wastewater Manage- 3. Temple, A. R Eye epidemiology.

4. Burg, A. W. Rohoresky, M. W.'/and Kensler,treatment plants? One serious problem ment Study has recommended that the C. J. (1977). Current Status of Human Safetyin evaluating such an effect from field requirements for control of point and Environmental Aspects of Fluoresceritdata is the drift and noise that is invari- source phosphorus discharged to tribu- Whitening Agents Used in Detergents in the

United States. CRC Critical Reviews in Envi-ably present in such data. How much taries to Lake Erie not be made any ronmental Control. AprU, p. 91.data from each side of a ban date stricter. Providing Dr. Baker with fund- 5. Steltenkamp, R. J. Booman, K. A., Dorsky,}.,should be taken into account? Should ing to get his program started was emi- King, TO Rothenstein, A. S., Schwoeppe,

E. A., Sedlak, R. I., Smith, T. H. F. "anddecreasing weight be given to observa- nently worthwhile. Thompason, G. R. (1980). Hydroxycitronel-tions more distant in time from the The question of the effect of deter- lal: A Survey of Consumer Patch-Test Sensiti-

zation.Jd. Cosmet. Toxicology 18, 407.ban? A simple, satisfying and tractable gent phosphate bans on wastewater 6. Steltenkamp_R.;., Booman/K. A., Dorsky,model has been devised under SDA re- h"eatment economics has been a topic ]., King, ~T. 0., Rothenstein, A. S'.,search and has been applied to the in- for continual review. An early keystone Schwoeppe, E. A., Sedlak, R. I., Smith,

T. H. F. and Thompson, G. R. (1980). Citral:fluent phosphorus load to the two Mil- was an assessment for us by Professor A Survey of Consumer Patch-Test Sensitiza-waukee plants, treating about half of Nicholas L. Clesceri, Rensselaer Poly- tion. Fd. Cosmet. Toxicology 18, 413.the sewage flow of Wisconsm.19 The an- technic Institute, of the cost of phos- 7. Steltenkamp,R.]., Boomari, K. A., Dorsky,

]., King, T. 0., Rothenstein, A. S.,swer shows that the industry estimate phorus removal.20 More recently, the Schwoeppe, E. A., Sedlak, R. I., Smith,of 0.4 kg/cap/yr, or about 25% of the m- assembled, pertinent information was T. H. F. and Thompson, G. R. (1980). Cin-

namic Alcohol: A Survey of consumer Patch-fluent phosphorus, being due to laun- evaluated by the economic consulting Test^Sensitization. Fd. Cosmet. Toxicologydry detergents is quite good. The pro- firm of Glassman & Oliver.21 The con- 18, 419.

cedure developed is applicable to any clusion reached in its 1980 report was 8. Thompson, G. R., Booman, K. A., Dorsky,}., Kohrman, K. A. Rothenstein, A., S~.,situation where one wishes to estimate that detergent phosphate bans were Schwoeppe, E. A. Sedlak, R. I. and

the magnitude of a shift when data are cost-ineffective phosphorus control

J

Steltenkamp, R. J. (1984). Isoeugenol: A Sur- 13. Green, W. R., Sullivan, J. B., Hahir, R. M., 18. Kimerle, R. A., Macek, K. ]., Sleight ffl, B. H.vey of Human Patch-Test Sensitization. Fd. Scharpf, L. G. and Dickson, A. W. (1978). A and Burroughs, M. E. (1981). Bioconcentra-Cosmet. Toxicology. In press. Systematic Comparison of Chemically In- tion of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)

9. Rothenstein, A. S., Booman, K. A., Dorsky, diiced Eye Injury in the Albino Rabbit and in Bluegffl (Lepomis Macrochirus). Water Re-]., Kohrman, K. A. Schwoeppe, E. A., Rhesus Monkey. The Soap and Detergent As- search 15, 251.

Sedlak, R. I., Steltenkamp, R. J. and Thomp- sociation. New York. 19. PaBesen, L., Berthouex, P. M. and Booman,son, G. R. (1984). Eugenol and Clove Leaf 14. Arthur D. Little, Inc. (1977). "Human Safety K. A. (1984). Environmental Intervention *

OU: A Survey of Consumer Patch-TestSensi- and Environmental Aspects of Major Surfac- Analysis: Wisconsin's Ban on Phosphate De-tization. Submitted to Fd. Cosmet, Toxicol- tants". National Technical Information Ser- tergents. Water Research. Submitted for publi-ogy. In press. vice. Document PB 301193/9ST, Springfield, cation.

10. Danneman, P. ]., Booman, K. A., Dorsky, ]., VA. 20. Kumar, I. J., and Clesceri, N. L. (1973). Phos-Kohrman, K. A., Rothenstein, A. S., Sedlak, 15. Arthur D. Little, Inc. (1981). Human Safety phorus Removal from Wastewaters: A CostR. I. and Steltenkamp, R. J. (1984) Cinnamic and Environmental Aspects of Major Surfac- analysis. Water and Sewage Works, March,Aldehyde: A Survey of Consumer Patch-Test tants (Supplement). National TechnicaHnfpr- PS. 82.Sensitization. Fd. Cosmet. Toxicology. In mation Service Document PB 11 82 453, 21. Folsom, M., and Oliver, L. (1980). Economic

Springfield, VA. Analysis of Phosphate Control: Detagentpress.

11. Kohnnan, K. A., Booman, K. A., Dorsky, ]., 16. Sivak," S., Goyer, M., Perwak, J. and Thayer, Phosphate Limitations vs. Chemical Treat-Rothenstein, A. S., Sedlak, R. I., Stelten- P. (1982). Environmental and Human Health ment Prepared for The Soap and Detergentkamp, R. J. and Thompson, G. R. (1984). Aspects of Commercially Important Surfac- Association by Glassman-Oliver, Washing-Benzyl Salicylate: A Survey of Consumer tants. In Solution Sehauwr of Surfactants, Vol. ton, D.C., Economic Consultants.Patch-Test Sensitization. Fd. Cosmet. Toxicol 1. Edited by K. L. Mittel and E. J. Fendler. 22. Green, V. W. (1984). Cleanliness and the.

ogy. In press. Plenum Publishing Company. Health Revolution. Prepared for The Soap.12. Alder, K.'L. Menzies, K. T., Perwak, J. H. and 17. HydroQual, Inc. (1982). Preliminary Assess- and Detergent Association.

Sivak, S. (1982). A Model for Exposure As- ment of Wastewater Chemicals in the Poto-sessment of Volatile Compounds. Arthur D. mac Estuary. A report to The Soap and Deter-Little, Inc. gent Association, New York.

Reprinted from the March 1984 issue of HAPPI