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From Depression to Obesity: Does the Dishwasher Make You Sick?
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Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered that rinse aid can trigger chronic diseases. What to do?
Once we have one, we won’t give it up: the dishwasher, which always spits out clean, shiny crockery and cutlery. But have you ever wondered whether dishwasher tabs and rinse aid are harmful to you?
Scientists at the University of Zurich also investigated this question – and found that rinse aid can definitely damage our health. It can damage the protective layer in the intestine and thereby cause a number of chronic diseases. One ingredient in particular can be toxic, according to their study, the results of which are published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Potential trigger for obesity, diabetes, depression
The team investigated the effects of detergent and rinse aid on intestinal epithelium – this is the layer of cells that lines the gut and controls what the body absorbs from food. A defect in this barrier is associated with diseases such as food allergies, gastritis, diabetes, obesity, liver cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, depression and Alzheimer’s.
The scientists found that high doses of rinse aid kill intestinal epithelial cells and lower doses make the protective layer in the intestine more permeable. A more detailed analysis showed that the ingredient alcohol ethoxylate is responsible. “It is used as a non-ionic surfactant and also makes the cups and glasses shiny after washing,” says Ismail Ögülür from the Swiss Institute for Allergy and Asthma Research, who was involved in the study.
How to solve the problem?
The good news is: It is not our dishwashers at home that are affected by the problem, but above all dishwashers in the catering trade, as these often do not have a rinse cycle for rinse aid due to time constraints.
The researchers give the all-clear for dishwashers at home: “We also carried out the experiments with dishes from normal household dishwashers and did not see any toxic effects. This is because there are two additional rinse cycles at the end to remove residues. Professional Dishwashers, on the other hand, clean dishes in just two minutes. And after the rinse aid, there is no extra rinse cycle to wash it off. That’s why you find its residue on the plates and glasses.”
If you are still worried about your health, you can make sure to use rinse aid without alcohol ethoxylate. Or you leave it out completely and accept that the dishes and glasses don’t shine when they come out of the dishwasher. Another option is to try rinse aid alternatives like vinegar or citric acid.
Sources: Der Standard, Deutschlandfunk, RTL.de