The detergent in your diet

THE DETERGENT IN YOUR DIET

Detergents get rid of grease and food residues from your utensils, but they leave behind injurious residues.

The liquid detergents consist of soluble detergent in water. The detergent used is a sulphonate (generally Alpha Olefin Sulphonate - AOS). The active agent in a liquid detergent makes up 15 to 20 per cent of the product.

The scouring powders contain less than 1 to 3 per cent of AOS. The scouring powders generally contain soda ash which enhances the cleaning action.

It is not easy to rid utensils of residual detergent. Since the abrasive is soluble in water, it is retained on the utensil surface along with the active detergent. Studies carried out at the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre at Lucknow have shown that more than 10 rinses may be needed to completely remove all traces of the detergent.

A study of liquid detergent in UK suggests than 50-60 mg of the active detergent may be 'eaten' by an adult each day. Babies also ingest it through feeding bottles cleaned with detergents.

Scouring powders contain proportionately less of the active ingredient. While no studies have been done on these powders - an informed estimate by experts is that the average daily consumption from them would be around 10 mg.

THE VALUE OF MAKING LISTS

Writing down activities makes them more concrete.

Lists enable you to consider items carefully and give them their proper priorities.

Writing down activities prevents you from forgetting them, on the other hand, once they are written down you don't have to continue relying upon your memory.

It feels good to cross items off a list once they have been accomplished.