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EPA to ban chemical found in commercial detergents

Officials at the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said that detergents containing the non-ionic surfactant nonyphenol polyethoxylate (NPnEO) will be banned because of fears that it acts as an endocrine disruptor when released into the environment.

Nonyphenol (NP), the breakdown product of NPnEO, is chemically similar to estrogen and has been found to lower sperm count in animal studies.

Lin Long-ju (林龍珠), a specialist at the EPA, said the Toxic Chemical Substances Management Act (毒性化學物質管理法) was amended on Jan. 3 to ban the chemical. However, the rule has yet to come into effect.

"Although we have been in communication with them for a while, we will formally instruct the manufacturers to change their formulas in July," Lin said.

Once the policy is implemented, companies found to be manufacturing detergents containing NPnEO will be fined from NT$1 million (US$30,000) to NT$5 million, Lin said. Until then, consumers are advised to look for detergents bearing the EPA's Green Mark.

"We're heartened by the development," Environmental Quality Protection Foundation chairman Liou Ming-lone (劉銘龍) said. "Academics, environmental groups and government organizations cooperated and got the job done."
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