Selected Bottles of Liquid - Essay Example

Your full full November 02, Selected Bottles of Liquid The two bottles of liquid selected for the determination of functions of ingredients include shampoo and mouth rinse. Both of these things are widely used all over the world and are important items of almost every bathroom. Shampoos are used to clean our hair whereas mouth rinses are used for oral hygiene. Mouth rinses are either cosmetic or therapeutic. Cosmetics mouth rinses are used to suppress bad breath by killing the bacteria present in the mouth whereas therapeutic mouth rinses are used to protect against oral diseases. However, where these items are very useful for human use, they can also prove to be harmful if they are not used with care. Let us discuss functions of each of their ingredients and talk about their toxicity to humans, wildlife, and the environment. Contents of Shampoos Shampoos are made up of different ingredients. Some of those ingredients, which are found in almost every shampoo, include Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, TEA Lauryl Sulfate, Amphoteric-2, Quaternium-15, and egg extracts. Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, and TEA Lauryl Sulfate fall into the category of detergents whereas Amphoteric-2 and Quaternium-15 fall into the category of conditioners. Let us now discuss the toxicity of some of them to humans, wildlife, and the environment. Toxicity of Detergents Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate are two of the widely used detergents. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of poison used in the manufacturing of shampoos and toothpastes. It is a very effective foaming agent, which gives shine and healthier look to the hair. Along with its efficacy, it is also a very dangerous chemical for the use of humans. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a chemical that can damage the hair follicle. It not only damages the hair follicle but also creates permanent eye damage particularly in children. It also causes cataracts in adults. It is also harmful for the wildlife because it can penetrate the skin of the animals if someone washes the skin of the pets using a shampoo containing Sodium Laureth Sulfate. It can also cause systemic cancer in the skin of the animals. If we talk about its effects on the environment, we can say that it can produce negative effects on the environment, as it remains in the environment long after it is used which is not good. Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is used to clean the hair without stripping the hair of its oils (Khilawala). The disadvantages of Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate include negative affects on skin and eyes of both humans and animals and causing skin cancer in humans. It is a very poisonous chemical, which can affect the nervous system of the children if a large quantity of shampoo containing this chemical is used quite frequently. Its effect on the environment is the same as that of sodium Laureth Sulfate. It is also poisonous for the aquatic life. Toxicity of Conditioners Two of the most widely used conditioners include Amphoteric-2 and Quaternium-15. Moisturizers, Reconstructors, and Acidifiers are the general categories of conditioners. All of these conditioners bring life to the hair of humans. “Moisturizing conditioners contain humectants, which form bonds with water to lock moisture in” (Nelson). How ever, there are also some negative points related to the use of conditioners. The risk of childhood skin cancer is also associated to the use of some specific conditioners. Same like detergents, particles of conditioners also remain in the water for a long time causing hazardous effects on the aquatic organisms through contaminating the water with poisonous chemicals. Contents of Mouth Rinse Mouth rinses consists of different ingredients. Some of those ingredients, which are found in almost every mouth rinse, include antimicrobials, flavoring agents, phenolic compounds, 18 to 26 percent ethyl alcohol, and astringents. Antimicrobials are included in the mouth rinses with a purpose to kill the bacteria. “Antimicrobials, such as cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, and sanguinarine, phenolic compounds, reduce the amount of bacteria” (Miller). Let us discuss the negative effects of the ingredients of mouth rinses in detail. Toxicity of Mouth Rinses Along with certain benefits, mouth rinses also bring many side effects to the humans and the environment. Some of the widely observed side effects of mouth rinses include altered taste, burning sensation, tooth staining, mouth ulcers, soreness, and drying of oral tissues that are present in the mouth. Its effect on environment includes wastewater contamination that produces various genetic diseases in the aquatic organisms. For humans, it causes a number of problems along with certain benefits. Burning sensation in gums and teeth is caused due to excessive use of ethyl alcohol, which is one of the main components of any mouth rinse. Those people who regularly use a mouth rinse are more likely to face burning sensation as compared to those people who seldom use a mouth rinse. Mouth ulcers, soreness, and altered tastes are also some serious problems, which are caused due to use of concentrated chemicals in the form of mouth rinse. We can take example of antimicrobials, which are although very beneficial yet their excessive use can cause various mouth infections. The excessive use of fluoride contained mouth rinses can create the problem of fluoride toxicity for the humans. Swallowing a mouth rinse can lead to fluoride poisoning or alcohol overdose for the children under the age of 12 years (Miller). Children usually swallow the mouth rinse because they like its taste, which creates intoxication problems for the children. Phenolic compounds are also somewhat toxic to the health of humans as they are cytotoxic agents. However, they do not affect the human pulp. Astringents also produce some side effects for the humans. “[Astingents] do not have antimicrobial activity to eradicate pathogens in moderate to severe cases and can be uncomfortable to the patient” (Dohar 29). Therefore, we can say that mouth rinses also bring many side effects along with certain benefits for the human beings. Conclusion Summing it up, shampoos and mouth rinses are two of the most essential items present in every bathroom. People use them for specific purposes. Shampoos are used for hair maintenance whereas mouth rinses are used to clean the mouth. Both of these items contain such chemicals, which are although very beneficial for the humans, yet they have a number of side effects if they are used excessively. No information on toxicity does not mean that these items are safe to be used by humans. Therefore, proper analysis of all ingredients should be done before buying any such item and, if possible, only doctor-recommended items should be bought in order to reduce the number of side effects associated with these items. Works Cited Dohar, Joseph. Managing the Draining Ear. Ontario: BC Decker Inc., 2004. Khilawala, Rashida. “Shampoo Ingredients.” Buzzle.com, 21 Jan. 2010. Web. 02 Nov. 2010 . Miller, Krystal. “Mouthwash Ingredients.” Ehow.com. 01 Apr. 2010. Web. 02 Nov. 2010 . Nelson, Rachel. “What is The Effects of Conditioners on Hair?.” Ehow.com. N.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2010 . Read More