Dishwasher detergents damage human intestines, research says

The detergents intended for dishwashers damage human intestines, researchers at the University of Zurich have found out. The results of this research team's work were published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The aforesaid team created intestinal organoids that were exposed to various detergents. Alcohol ethoxylates, often used in detergents, have been found to cause certain gene changes. These genes are involved in cell survival, epithelial barrier function, cytokine signaling, and metabolism.

According to researchers, commercial dishwashers are designed for maximum efficiency.

Many appliances don't have an extra rinse cycle to remove detergent residue; that means potentially toxic substances remain on dishes, which means—also on food that people then eat, the researchers noted.