Dishwasher tabs contain many harmful chemicals. They clean well but can be dangerous if swallowed or handled wrong. The following information explains why people consider them toxic:
- Powerful Detergents: Many dishwasher tabs contain strong detergents. They are made to remove grease, food residue, and stains. Some of these are surfactants, which can hurt the eyes and skin and, in the worst cases, burn you if you breathe them.
- Bleaching agents: These tabs often include bleach. Bleach ensures that the dishes are clean and look spotless. However, if you breathe it in, it can be hard to breathe. It can also be hazardous to swallow and can burn your mouth, throat, and stomach.
- Enzymes: Enzymes are used to break down food particles. Most of the time, they are safe. But some people can be allergic to them, especially if they touch them.
- Phosphates (In Some Brands): Many manufacturers have phased out phosphates for the environment. But some dishwasher tabs may still contain them. Taking phones by mouth can worsen your health and irritate your skin.
- Fragrances And Colourants are added for looks. However, they can cause allergies and are not needed for cleaning. Ingestion or inhalation of concentrated fragrances and colourants can be harmful.
- Concentrated Form: Because they are concentrated, even a few chemicals can be poisonous. This makes them more likely to be eaten, especially by children or pets who might think they are candy.
This is why you should be careful when washing tabs, follow the directions from the maker, and keep them out of the reach of pets and children.
Tabs for dishwashers contain many strong cleaners meant to clean and sanitise dishes well. These are some of the most popular. However, eating or breathing in strong scents and colours is risky.
Strong detergents in dishwasher tabs
- Surfactants: These substances help break down grease and food residues. If swallowed, they can irritate the mucous membranes and lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
- Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) is a common ingredient for its fat-dissolving and water-softening properties. However, eating or drinking it can irritate your throat and stomach, making breathing hard and causing you to throw up or have diarrhoea.
- Sodium Percarbonate: When water is mixed with it, hydrogen peroxide and soda ash are released. These chemicals bleach and clean. If you eat it, it can burn your lips and bowels, make you sick, and, in the worst cases, hurt your lungs and blood flow.
- Enzymes (Proteases, Amylases, Lipases)**: These biological substances break down food particles. It is relatively safe. But, if ingested in concentrated form, it may cause allergic reactions. It may also irritate the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract.
Potential hazards if ingested
- Chemical Burns: Many cleaning agents can cause burns to the mouth, throat, oesophagus, and stomach lining if swallowed.
- Poisoning: If you swallow these chemicals, you could get poisoned and have symptoms like feeling sick, throwing up, or having diarrhoea. If you swallow them in large amounts, you could get shortness of breath, seizures, or even pass out.
- Systemic Toxicity: Some ingredients can attack organ systems, leading to more complex health problems depending on the amount ingested and the speed of medical intervention.
Dangers of inhaling concentrated fragrances and colourings
- Irritation Of The Respiratory Tract: Inhalation of the particles can irritate the nose, throat and lungs, leading to coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath.
- Allergic Reactions: Individuals sensitive or allergic to certain fragrances and dyes may experience more severe reactions, including asthma attacks or dermatological reactions.
- Chemical Hypersensitivity: Prolonged exposure to these substances can lead to chemical sensitivities, where even minor exposure to certain chemicals can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and breathing difficulties.
Given the potential risks, handling dishwasher tablets with care is crucial. Avoid inhaling their dust, store them out of the reach of children and pets, and keep them in a safe place. Please always consult a doctor immediately in case of ingestion or harmful effects.
There are several significant risks associated with consuming dishwasher tabs due to their concentration of powerful cleaning chemicals. Here are some of the main risks associated with ingestion:
- Chemical Burns And Irritation: Dishwasher tabs can cause severe chemical burns and irritation to the mouth, throat, oesophagus, and stomach, as they contain alkaline chemicals such as sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. These chemicals can hurt the mucous membranes and walls of the digestive system.
- Poisoning: The chemicals in dishwasher tabs can cause poisoning, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and, in severe cases, drooling, difficulty breathing and changes in blood pressure and heart rate. The destructive effects vary depending on how much is eaten and how sensitive the person is to the chemicals.
- Breathlessness: If the product is inhaled in an attempt to swallow it, or if vomiting occurs and it is breathed into the lungs, this can lead to trouble breathing. This includes coughing, shortness of breath, and maybe pneumonia.
- Metabolic Changes: Certain chemicals in dishwasher tabs can cause metabolic disturbances if ingested. One example is that the body's acid-base balance might change in a way that needs medical help.
- 5 Damage to internal organs: These chemicals can also harm internal organs, such as the liver and kidneys, due to their toxicity. This can lead to long-term health complications and may require intensive medical treatment.
- 6 Eye and skin irritation: Even though it's not directly linked to eating, the contents of a washing tablet can burn or irritate the eyes or skin very badly.
Given the potential for serious harm, it is vital to treat the ingestion of dishwasher tablets as a medical emergency. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting and seek medical attention immediately. As a safety step, store dishwasher tabs somewhere that kids and pets can't get to. Also, ensure that everyone in the house knows how dangerous these and other home chemicals can be.