1/26/15, 8:45 AM

Outline

Freshwater Pollution Due to Detergents and Cleaners

I. Causes
A. Causes
Quotes: All detergents destroy the external mucus layers that protect the fish from
bacteria and parasites; plus they can cause severe damage to the gills. Most fish will die
when detergent concentrations approach 15 parts per million. Detergent concentrations as
low as 5 ppm will kill fish eggs.
Comment: If the fish cannot have the external mucus layers that protect them from
bacteria and parasites, then the fish popultions will decline.
Source: "Detergents Occuring in Freshwater." Effects of Detergents on Aquatic
Freshwater Life. Web. 13 Jan. 2015.
B. Causes
Quotes: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency names phosphorus, nitrogen,
ammonia and chemicals grouped under the term "Volatile Organic Compounds" as the
worst environmental hazards in household cleaners.
Comment: These organic compounds in detergents and cleaners can harm water because
they can speed up the growth of certain algae and plants, which make the water unclean
when these algae die off.
Source: "How Does Household Cleaner Affect the Environment?" Home Guides. Web.
13 Jan. 2015.
II. Effects
A. Effects
Quotes: The most conspicuous effect of cultural eutrophication is the creation of dense
blooms of noxious, foul-smelling phytoplankton that reduce water clarity and harm water
quality (Figure 2). Algal blooms limit light penetration, reducing growth and causing dieoffs of plants in littoral zones while also lowering the success of predators that need light
to pursue and catch prey (Lehtiniemi et al. 2005).
Paraphrasing:
Comment: If eutrophication continues then the fresh watersources for swimming, fishing,
and other aquatic activities will be limited. Not only that, but with predators not being
able to find food then the food chain might collapse as well.
Source: Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group. Web. 18 Jan. 2015.
B. Effects
Quotes: The result is excessive nourishment of some types of plant life in habitats native
to aquatic animals. This can lead to dense vegetation that clogs waterways, crowding out
animal life and other marine plants. At the end of these plants' chemical-accelerated life
http://www.easybib.com/notebook/index/print

Buchanan, Robert

Monday, January 26, 2015 at 8:45:03 AM Pacific Standard Time

Page 1 of 4

70:56:81:af:cf:51

1/26/15, 8:45 AM

cycle, they die in large masses, decaying and depleting the oxygen in the water.
Comment: Without oxygen in the water how are fish and other animals suppose to
survive?
Source: "How Does Household Cleaner Affect the Environment?" Home Guides. Web.
13 Jan. 2015.
C. Effects
Quotes: As lakes and streams fill up with dead algae along with other organic matter and
soil, they begin to dry up and turn back into land.
Comment: Not only can these algae kill of species of aquatic animal life, but detetgents
also can dry up lakes abd ponds which means less drinking water.
D. Effects
Quotes: All detergents destroy the external mucus layers that protect the fish from
bacteria and parasites; plus they can cause severe damage to the gills. Most fish will die
when detergent concentrations approach 15 parts per million. Detergent concentrations as
low as 5 ppm will kill fish eggs. Surfactant detergents are implicated in decreasing the
breeding ability of aquatic organisms.
Comment: In the future if detergent concentrations get to high then the fish will not be
able to reproduce and there species will get endangered and eventually become extinct
due to humans.
Source: "Detergents Occuring in Freshwater." Effects of Detergents on Aquatic
Freshwater Life. Web. 13 Jan. 2015.
III. Statistics
A. Statistics
Quotes: Americans make up an estimated 5% of the worlds population. However, the
US produces an estimated 30% of the worlds waste and uses 25% of the worlds
resources.
Comment: The ratio of people living in the United States compared to producing waste
in America is drastically huge.
Source: "11 Facts About Pollution." 11 Facts About Pollution. Web. 18 Jan. 2015.
B. Statistics
Quotes: Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the
Clean Water Act) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to prohibit the sale in the United States of residential dishwashing detergent that
contains phosphorus in any form in excess of 0.5% (by weight expressed as elemental
phosphorus) beginning July 1, 2010.
Comment: Obviously, if the U.S. government had to put a ban on detergents containing
0.5% or more of phosphurous (in weight) the problem is bad.
Source: "H.R.3946 - To Amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to Prohibit the
Sale of Dishwashing Detergent in the United States If the Detergent Contains a High
Level of Phosphorus, and for Other Purposes.111th Congress (2009-2010)." H.R.3946.
Buchanan, Robert

Monday, January 26, 2015 at 8:45:03 AM Pacific Standard Time

http://www.easybib.com/notebook/index/print

70:56:81:af:cf:51
Page 2 of 4

1/26/15, 8:45 AM

Web. 14 Jan. 2015.

C. Statistics
Quotes: Most pollutants are removed from the water by the waste treatment facilities
before the water is returned to the rivers, streams, lakes and other waterways. However,
those three household cleaning chemicals are not removed by waste treatment processes.
Comment: A law needs to be enacted to get these household cleaning chemicals such as
phosphuros out of waterways . To do this the waste treatment facilities should be
required to remove these chemicals.
Source: "How Does Household Cleaner Affect the Environment?" Home Guides. Web.
13 Jan. 2015.
D. Statistics
Quotes: The health effects of pollution affect more than 100 million people worldwide
more widespread than global pandemics such as AIDS.
Comment: If pollution is a bigger deal then AIDS then it needs to try and be stopped
because it effects 100 million people in the world. Imaging if that was you or someone
you know.
Source: Harmon, By Katherine. "Pollution Facts | Types of Pollution." LiveScience.
TechMedia Network, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Jan. 2015.
E. Statistics
Quotes: According to the Canadian Labour Environmental Alliance Society, dishwasher
detergents are 30 to 40 percent phosphorus.
Comment: If most detergents are 30-40 percent phosphorus and phosphorus has a
horrible impact on freshwater, added onto the fact that waste treatement facilities don't
treat this chemical then the effects on aquatic animals and people it extremely bad.
Source: "How Does Household Cleaner Affect the Environment?" Home Guides. Web.
13 Jan. 2015.
F. Statistics
Quotes: Approximately 40% of the lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, aquatic
life, or swimming.
Comment: Pollution can destroy lakes and take the fun out of them. Not only that, but
think of all the animals that once thrived inside these lakes. Also, think of their homes
being taken away from them or worse.
Source: "11 Facts About Pollution." 11 Facts About Pollution. Web. 18 Jan. 2015.
IV. Other Taxes
Quotes: Its not the first time that Big Soda has tried to undermine efforts to enact public health
legislation. In 2010, for instance, the American Beverage Association stunted New York state
officials efforts to levy a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks when it launched a marketing
campaign under New Yorkers Against Fair Taxes that framed the tax as a as an assault on
struggling lower and middle class families during uncertain economic times.
Comment: Placing a tax during economical difficulties is not smart because people are all ready
Buchanan, Robert

Monday, January 26, 2015 at 8:45:03 AM Pacific Standard Time

http://www.easybib.com/notebook/index/print

70:56:81:af:cf:51
Page 3 of 4

1/26/15, 8:45 AM

frazled bythe economy. Appeal the tax to the public as best possible. By getting the public on the
governments side the bill will be easier to pass.
Source: "California Voters Have Approved The First Soda Tax In The Nation." ThinkProgress RSS.
Web. 14 Jan. 2015.

Buchanan, Robert

Monday, January 26, 2015 at 8:45:03 AM Pacific Standard Time

http://www.easybib.com/notebook/index/print

70:56:81:af:cf:51
Page 4 of 4