Alkylphenols
Bio-accumulative, Persistent, Endocrine Disrupting and Toxic
How do you say it?
Alkylphenols: al-kill-fee-nols
Nonylphenols: non-ill-fee-nols
Alkylphenol ethoxylates: al-kill-fee-nols e-thox-e-lates
What are they?
Alkylphenols are the breakdown products of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). APEs were phased out of domestic detergents in 1976 but are still used in at least one surface cleaner, some paints, hand cleaners, shaving foams, shampoos, plastics, adhesives and spermicides. Most of the alkylphenols that end up in our rivers come from industry but you can help by reducing your own use of them and by using natural, plant-based alternatives.
What’s the problem?
Although APEs themselves can be toxic, their breakdown products are generally around ten times more toxic than the original compounds. They are thought to be responsible for causing male fish in some UK rivers to produce female egg yolk protein and they are implicated in disrupting the reproduction of fish. [1]
Nonylphenols [2] are a type of alkylphenol that are of particular concern. Found in personal care products including cosmetics, nonylphenols can be toxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates and algae and can affect plant growth. They can also affect organisms higher up the food chain through consumption of lower organisms. There are also concerns that nonylphenols are endocrine disrupters. [3]
What else are they called?
Alkylphenols come in a wide variety of forms and so could be listed under a number of different names in an ingredients list. The most common problem ones are:
| • alkylphenol | • alkylphenol ethoxylate |
| • nonylphenol | • alkyphonoxy carboxylic acid |
| • octylphenol | • alkylphenol polyethoxylate |
What are the alternatives?
Plant-based
and natural soaps, shampoos and cleaners; shaving soap or oil; natural
paints.
Notes:
[1] Dr A. Michael Warhurst, Environmental Chemist, Brussels,
Belgium http://website.lineone.net/~mwarhurst/ape.html
[2]
These chemicals are Priority or Priority Hazardous Substances under European
Water Framework Directive
[3] Regulatory Impact Assessment for Voluntary Risk Reduction
for Nonylphenols, Octylphenols and their Ethoxylates October 2003 – DEFRA
For further information please contact WWF Scotland: phone 01350 728200, email info@watersense.org.uk, or write to WaterSense, c/o WWF Scotland, Little Dunkeld, Dunkeld, PH8 0AD