New Delhi: Nonylphenol ethoxylates are prohibited from inclusion in detergents in many countries, but India has no regulations. Like nonylphenol (NP), it is a chemical compound called a surfactant. Compounds of this type are a major cause of foaming in the Yamuna, visible evidence of pollutants present in the river. NOW, Link on toxic productsA environmental A research organization and the Environmental Defense Fund, a US-based non-profit organization, have released a report that highlights how harmful NPs and NPEs are widely used in India.
NP is an endocrine disruptor banned by India in 2009 in the cosmetics sector, but it remains widespread in surfactants and other consumer products. It is toxic to aquatic organisms and also interferes with reproduction, development and other physiological processes in humans and animals.
The report, “Nonylphenol – an endocrine disrupting chemical”, details how India exports surfactants, among others, to Vietnam, China and the European Union, although import volumes have declined due to problems regulatory. The presence of NPE in detergents also impacts textile products, posing export challenges, particularly to countries with strict regulations like the EU.
NP and NPE are widely used in Indian industries related to textiles and leather, detergents and cleaning products, paper and pulp, food packaging, cosmetics, construction, automobile , agrochemicals, paints and metalworking fluids, the report said.
According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, NP causes poisoning in fish, aquatic vegetation and aquatic invertebrates. Studies have also established that NP has a detrimental effect on the human immune, nervous and reproductive systems. It has the ability to mimic the female sex hormone estrogen and disrupt the hormonal system.
NP is released into the environment during the manufacture and use of detergents and through wastewater. The chemical accumulates in aquatic organisms and remains in the environment for long periods of time. It enters the human body through contaminated foods, especially fish.
Suggesting the use of safer, more cost-effective and technically viable alternatives, the study highlights that the transition to safer options is slow in India. “Nonylphenols have been detected in breast milk, blood and urine and have been shown to interfere with the functioning of hormones in humans and animals,” said Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link. “Concerned about its implications, several countries have restricted the use of this chemical. It is wise for India to act on this chemical. »
The report states that innovation and development of safer alternatives can make India a major player in the global sustainable market. Hisham Mundol, Senior Advisor (India) at the Environmental Defense Fund said: “The health benefits are clear and the sooner action is taken, the quicker the benefits will accrue. Economically, there is growing momentum towards phasing out these chemicals and adopting safer alternatives will strengthen the reputation of Indian industry and business opportunities in the country and abroad. stranger.