1. Before and After the ban on Phosphorus
Detergents
Before and After the ban on Phosphorus
Jesse Bennett Lisa Sasso Jacob Jozefowski

2. A Brief History on Detergents
After WWII began to develop synthetic detergents
Made up of a surfactant and a builder
Phosphates make good builders but hard to treat

3. Introduction to P in Detergents
Use grew rapidly to about 220,000 metric tons in 1967 as synthetic detergents became common.
At the peak use of phosphate detergents, consumption of P was about one-tenth of the amount used for fertilizer.

4. Phosphorous
One pound of P can grow 700 pounds of algae (Source: Historical Perspective of the Phosphate Detergent Conflict,Chris Knud-Hansen, 1994).

5. Impacts of Phosphorus Rapid water quality decline (Eutrophication)
Algae growth (algal blooms frequent)Mats of green sludge,
Oxygen depletion,
Die-offs of fish and other aquatic life,
Drinking water  Taste and odor problems

7. A Growing Concern
By 1959 all detergents contained 30%-50% phosphate builders
Lake Erie was of big concern
Half of P inputs came from urban of which % from detergents
Something had to be done with battle lines being drawn between the scientific community and the detergent industry

8. Taking Sides
Limnologists testify before congress suggest eliminating phosphates from detergents
The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), questioned whether phosphorus was indeed the principal cause of eutrophication
The Congressional report did recommended the immediate reduction, and eventual elimination, of phosphates in detergents;

9. Experimental Lake 226
In 1973 D. W. Schindler did a study on eutrophication and recovery in experimental lakes
Lake 226 was one of the most telling outcomes
The lake has two basins which meet a narrow choke point
A sea curtain was spread across this point and while N and C were added equally to both sides P was only added to one side
The Study concluded that “Fully 50 percent of the phosphorus coming into the St. Lawrence Great Lakes could be eliminated by simply banning or greatly reducing detergent phosphates, a step already taken in Canada and a few U.S. states” and that “a basin-wide ban on detergent phosphates would quickly bring about a partial recovery of Lakes Erie and Ontario”

10. States with Detergent Bans
Source: USGS

11. Michigan Detergent Ban
1977 State of Michigan bans detergents with more than 0.5% elemental phosphorus.
Phosphorus concentration in wastewater influent reduced by 23%
Phosphorus concentration in wastewater effluent reduced by 24%

12. Michigan Detergent Ban
Reduced phosphorus in influent resulted in less chemical additives required to remove phosphorus from wastewater, and less sludge produced.
Estimated chemical cost saving for Michigan: $730,000 per year

13. Detergent Ban Success
The success of this ban along with other bans within the Great Lakes resulted in many other regions implementing phosphorus bans.
1994 phosphorus no longer used in domestic laundry detergent.
P loads to Lake Erie from 14,000 metric tons in 1972 to 2,000 metric tons in 1990

14. Sources
Hartig, J.H., Horvath F.J., (1982), A preliminary Assessment of Michigan’s Phosphorus Detergent Ban, Water Pollution Control Federation Vol. 54, No.2, Feb 1982, pp Hartig, J.H., et al., (1982) Effects of Michigan’s Phosphorus Ban on Municipal Chemical Costs, Water Pollution Control Federation Vol 54, No. 3, Part I, Mar. 1982, pp Litke, D.W., (1999), Review of Phosphorus Control Measures in the United States and Their Effects on Water Quality, U.S. Geological Survey: Water-Resources Investigations Report D. W. Schindler, (1974), Eutrophication and Recovery in Experimental Lakes: Implications for Lake Management, Science, Vol. 184, No (May 24, 1974), pp Congressional Report HR April 14, "Phosphates in Detergents and the Eutrophication of America's Waters" Committee on Government Operations.