Nonylphenol ethoxylate degradation in detergents during shelf time, a new exposure pathway, and a perspective on their substitution

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-05, Vol.31 (21), p.30497-30508
• Main Authors: Bernal-Jácome, Luis Armando, Izar-Landeta, Juan Manuel, Flores-Ramírez, Rogelio, González-Salazar, Luis Fernando, Vargas-Berrones, Karla Ximena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkyl polyglucosides; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biota; Chemical properties; Degradation; Detergents; Detergents - chemistry; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Endocrine Disruptors - analysis; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Ethylene Glycols - chemistry; Exposure; Health risks; Humans; Metabolites; Nonylphenol ethoxylate; Phenols; Pollutants; Research Article; Substitutes; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33260-7

Detergents are highly produced pollutants with environmental problems like foam generation and toxic effects in biota. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are efficient, economical, and versatile surfactants, used in detergents for more than 40 years due to their detergency capacity. In the environment, NPE biodegrades into the metabolite nonylphenol (NP), classified as an endocrine disruptor. The identification and quantification of 4-NP in a designed detergent and 30 commercially available detergents were performed to prove the degradation of NPE into 4-NP during storage time. This investigation introduces the first evidence of NPE degradation during storage in commercially available detergents, demonstrating a novel exposure pathway in humans that has not been explored before, representing potential human health risks. Therefore, simple, easy, low-cost, and available approaches to remove and substitute NP is paramount. Alkyl polyglucoside (APG) was assessed as a substitute, and the feasibility of this substitution was proven according to physical and chemical properties, cleaning performance, and antimicrobial properties. NPE substitution in detergents is demonstrated as a viable strategy to minimize exposure risks in humans and the environment.