Scientists from the University of Zurich discovered that dishwasher detergents damage the human intestines. Results of the research team published In The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The team created intestinal organoids, which are miniature replicas of a lab-grown organ. Organelles were exposed to various detergents. It turned out that alcohol ethoxylates, which are often used in detergents, cause certain changes in genes. These genes are involved in cell survival, epithelial barrier function, cytokine signaling, and metabolism.
According to scientists, commercial dishwashers are designed for maximum efficiency: washing and rinsing dishes in two quick cycles of several minutes, using the minimum amount of water.
“Many appliances do not have an extra rinse cycle to remove detergent residue. This means that potentially toxic substances remain in the dishes and therefore in the food that people eat afterwards,” he said.