Number

025-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

This project focuses on the consequences of a possible ban of phosphate in laundry and automatic dishwashing detergents. Based on the results of a screening and a risk assessment of the substances with highest risk a ban of phosphate in laundry detergents will not lead to toxic effects in the aquatic environment but it will improve the situation.

Substituted substances

Alternative Substances

Reliability of information

Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed

Reason substitution

ecotoxicity

Hazard Assessment

Substance to be substituted: Phosphates are eutrophication pollutants according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Alternative substances: All chemical alternatives were assessed against hazards in hazardous Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC) and not found hazardous. » Check the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC)

Description of Substitution

This report refers to a project that focuses on the consequences of a possible ban of phosphate in laundry detergents due to their environmental effects. It includes also consequences of a possible ban of phosphate in automatic dishwashing products. The project identifies substances for substitution of phosphate in laundry detergents and includes an ecotoxicological risk assessment of selected substitutes. The consequences on the wastewater treatment from the substitution of phosphate and the increased use of the alternative substances are evaluated. Based on the results of the screening and the risk assessment of the substances with highest risk, a ban of phosphate in laundry detergents will not lead to toxic effects in the aquatic environment. In the Danish wastewater treatment plants a ban of phosphate will most likely result in lower operation costs in terms of less use of precipitation chemicals. It is also expected to result in a lower sludge production assuming that the resulting effect of sludge dewatering will not be seriously affected by the presence of zeolite; this effect is quite hard to estimate though. However, expenses may be needed for modifications of processes and alterations of buildings and other constructions at the wastewater treatment plant. Only assessment for the aquatic environment is available.

Case/substitution evaluation

The environmental hazards are compared and assessed in the report. The assessments are based on EUSES- and ECO lab modelling. The models are described in the appendixes of the report. The report does not include assessment of health hazards but only environmental hazards. At the time the case study was created the searching by on ESIS and ECHA (Classification and Labelling Inventory) CAS numbers on the alternatives given in table 2-1 in the report, several of the alternatives comes up with an occupational health hazard.

State of implementation

Partial capacity

Type of information supplier

Authority

Type of publication and availability

Official report, freely available at www.mst.dk

Publication source

Type of publication and availability

http://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2010/978-87-92617-32-3/pdf/978-87-92617-33-0.pdf

Date, reviewed

December 11, 2020