NEW EXAMPLE OF USE OF LENS CULINARIS FOR PHYTOASSAY OF ECOTOXICITY OF CHEMICALS

Previously, toxicity of some synthetic detergents (including laundry detergents) to the plant seedlings of several species of terrestrial higher plants was discovered in research conducted at Moscow University by S.A.Ostroumov. A new example of toxicity of a laundry detergent to plant seedlings was found in this study. The synthetic detergent tested, namely the liquid laundry detergent (LLD) “Blue Moon”, which was manufactured by Blue Moon Group Co, Ltd (Guangzhou, China), produced noticeable phytotoxic effects on the plant seedlings of the terrestrial higher plant Lens culinaris. This detergent at the concentrations 0.5 % - 1% induced a pronounced decrease in the average root length of the seedlings of Lens culinaris. The concentration 5% was lethal to Lens culinaris. Keywords: ecotoxicity, detergent, bioassay, terrestrial higher plants, plant seedlings, root elongation, phytotoxicity, environmental toxicology, Lens culinaris

The exploration of size and toddler interaction with liquid laundry detergent capsules

Liquid laundry capsules have been involved in multiple poisoning incidents with young children in the home. There are a range of contributing factors for these incidents, including influences from industry, culture, home environments, and parenting/supervision. There also are influences from children’s behaviour and decisions in reaction to potential hazards. Previous research examined the influence of capsule product appearance and colour on children’s behaviour around hazardous household items, but little research examines the influence of product size. This research explored if differences in the size of liquid laundry capsules result in different levels of toddler interaction. We compared two commercially available capsule designs that are identical in physical appearance but differ in physical size. Our research was conducted using three studies: Study 1, forced-choice test in an out-of-context laboratory setting; Study 2, an ecologically-valid, simulated real-world setting replicating a home laundry cabinet with a container of capsules left open; and Study 3, a second ecologically-valid study replicating a home laundry cabinet, this time with a capsule left outside its container. Capsule interaction was measured by grasping choice among samples of 156 toddlers ages 9–36 months. The same sample was used for Studies 1 and 2, and a second identically sized sample recruited for Study 3. Results from Study 1 indicated toddlers selected the small (49.8% selection) and large (50.2%) capsule with nearly identical frequency. Study 2 largely replicated Study 1: Toddlers selected the small capsule or container of small capsules 26.8% of the time and the large capsule or container of large capsules 22.3% of the time. Study 3 also replicated previous findings: Toddlers selected the smaller capsule 18.0% of the time and the larger 19.2%. We discuss study results, which suggest no appreciable difference in toddler’s grasping choice to smaller versus larger laundry capsules.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Multiple Liquid Laundry Detergent Packaging Formats

The emerging packaging industry trend of focusing on packaging sustainability is also occurring in the laundry detergent industry. This study presents a cradle-to-grave comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of three different packaging systems for liquid laundry detergent: the conventional pourable bottle, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container with pods, and flexible pouch with pods. The scope of this study included material production, intermediate processes, transportation, and end-of-life phases of each packaging system. The results showed that the conventional pourable bottle made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has less environmental impact than the other two packaging systems in all impact categories, except ecotoxicity, due to the higher amount of packaging material required to produce the pods. The rigid PET container with pods impacted the environment in all categories more than the multi-layered flexible pouch containing pods, due primarily to the amount of material production, heavier weight, and intermediate processing using injection molding.

Clinical characteristics of exposures to liquid laundry detergent packets

Introduction: Our objective was to describe the characteristics of liquid laundry detergent packet (LDP) exposures and to develop referral and treatment recommendations. Methods: This retrospective cohort study investigated LDP exposures reported to the National Poison Data System from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. Three medical toxicologists reviewed the most significant exposures ( n = 450). Results: Of 17,857 reported LDP exposures, 13,307 involved only an LDP (no other substance) and were followed to a known medical outcome. The median age was 2 years (range 12 days to 100 years). Approximately 10% of exposures reported a major or moderate effect. The most common symptom was vomiting (51.7%; n = 6875), but stridor or aspiration pneumonia and respiratory depression secondary to central nervous system effects also occurred. Two pediatric and two adult deaths occurred, but no causal mechanism leading to death could be identified in any of the deaths. Conclusions: LDPs occasionally produce a toxidrome of vomiting, stridor, hypoxia, and sedation with metabolic acidosis and respiratory failure. These symptoms and the availability of LDPs highlight the need for referral and treatment recommendations and efforts to minimize unintentional exposures. Review of data from US poison centers may provide referral and treatment recommendations that improve patient outcomes.