Is your laundry really sparkling white or are you just seeing things?
Optical brighteners are used in laundry soap and detergents to make clothes appear whiter and colors brighter. Optical brighteners are fluorescent; when clothes treated with brighteners are exposed to ultraviolent light they fluoresce or “glow,” giving the appearance that they are brighter and whiter.
Optical brighteners work by adhering to laundered clothing and can cause allergic reactions or skin irritations in those with allergies or sensitivities to the chemicals they contain.
In general, the chemicals used in optical brighteners are not readily biodegradable and may be toxic to fish and other marine life. The presence of optical brighteners in watersheds may indicate septic system issues or inadequate wastewater treatment.
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