According to the researchers, the rinse aid residue after washing in industrial dishwashers can contribute to the development of chronic diseases by damaging the protective layer in the intestines.
Industrial dishwashers are a convenient way to quickly clean and dry plates, glasses and cutlery in a variety of environments such as restaurants, schools and barracks. However, a recent study by researchers at the Swiss Institute for Allergy and Asthma Research (SIIAA) revealed that these devices pose risks to our health. SciTechDaily, a study has shown that one of the ingredients in commercial rinses has a toxic effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
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A typical cycle in a commercial dishwasher involves circulating hot water and detergent at high pressure for about 60 seconds. This is followed by a second 60-second wash and dry cycle, in which water and rinse aid are applied. Cezmi Akdis, director of SIIAA and professor of experimental allergy and immunology, who led the research, said: “What is particularly worrying is that many devices do not have an extra wash cycle to remove rinse aid residue. This means that potentially toxic substances remain on the dishes and are dried there.” The next time the dishes are used, this dried chemical residue can easily enter the gastrointestinal tract.
This inspired a research team led by Akdis to study the effect of ingredients in commercial detergents and rinses on the intestinal epithelial barrier, the layer of cells that lines the intestinal tract and controls what enters the body. A defect in this barrier is associated with conditions such as food allergies, gastritis, diabetes, obesity, cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorders, chronic depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Similar protective layers are found in the skin and lungs. As numerous studies have shown, many additives and chemicals that we encounter in our daily lives can damage these layers. “We hypothesize that defective epithelial barriers play a role in two billion chronic diseases,” says Akdis. This connection is explained by the epithelial barrier hypothesis, which Akdis’s research in this field over 20 years has helped develop.
The scientists used a newly developed technology for their study – intestinal organelles and human intestinal cells on microchips. The tissue forms a three-dimensional cluster of cells very similar to the human intestinal epithelium. The team used various biomolecular techniques to analyze the effect of commercial detergents and rinses on these cells. They diluted these substances to reflect the amount that can be found in dry food on a scale of 1:10,000 to 1:40,000.
As a result, high-dose rinses killed intestinal epithelial cells, while lower doses made them more permeable. The researchers also observed the activation of several genes and cell signaling proteins that may trigger inflammatory responses. A more detailed analysis showed that alcohol ethoxylates, a component of the brightener, were responsible for this reaction.
Akdis said these findings have important public health implications. “The effect we found could mean the onset of destruction of the intestinal epithelial layer, leading to the emergence of many chronic diseases,” he says. Akdis calls for urgent response: “As alcohol ethoxylates appear to be widely used in commercial dishwashers, it is important to educate the public about this risk.”
Previously Focus He wrote that scientists have found a way to get rid of “eternal chemicals.” Looks like all you need is soap and solvent.
Source: Focus
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