Are eco-labeled

detergents really
less toxic than
conventional
detergents?
Samantha Vasquez, Salome Cruz y Catalina Ayala
8A
Hypothesis
 If we expose two plants with different water-mixed substances,
one with normal detergent and other with eco-labeled detergent,
then the water that has the eco-labeled detergent will be less
harmful to the plant because for a detergent to be eco-labeled it
needs to go through a series of regulations that do not allow any
substances that are toxic or non-biodegradable, such as
Phosphate-containing compounds, Toxic heavy metals and their
chemical compounds, Phthalates, Chelating agent EDTA, and
additives like perfumes, color and brightening agents that are
usually present in normal detergents; these chemicals affect plants
greatly, especially in photosynthetic activity in plants since
chlorophyll is sensitive to said chemicals and other detergent
ingredients.
 Materials

 Water (20ml per plant)

 Detergente Ecológico | BIOGAR
(20ml per plant)
 Detergente top terra liquido
ecologico (20ml per plant)
 Detergente Liquido Fab (20ml per
plant)
 3 Plastic cups
 4 garden pansies
 A place that recieves 6-8 hours of
sunlight
 Ruler
Procedure
 1. step: Place the 3 Garden Pansies in a sunny place, where they can get 6-7 hours of
sunlight.
 2.step: Make three different mixtures; one with 20ml of water and 20ml of BIOGAR
(Solution 1), another on with 20ml of water and 20ml of Topterra (Solution 2), and the
final one of 20ml of water and 20ml of Fab (Solution 3)
 3.step:Take notes of the state of the 3 plants, color, height, number of the petals, etc.
 4.step¨:Water¨ the plants with the mixutures, each plant has a different mixture, three
times a week for 3 weeks.
 5.step: Make a control group that is being watered with 40ml of water three times a
week for 3 weeks under the excact same circumstances.
 6. step:Take notes for the state of the plants and compare them with the control group
once the 3 weeks are over.
 7.step: Identify the plant that is most similar to the control plant, in terms of height,
color, and overall witherness. Also how fast each plant withered.
 8. step:Collect, Analyze and Interpret data.
Fab:
Plants images:
Control:
Top terra:
Eco:
Recolectation of data

Day 1 :
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Graphs:
Fab:
Conclusions:

 Based on the collect data so far it is safe to conclude that the top terra
detergent is in fact not better than normal detergent. Based on the data
collected the tp tera is worst tan the conventional detergent such as fab, it
made the plant wither faster and compare to the control the plant growth is
affected.
The top terra has some ingredients that contribut to the harmfull effect on the
enviorment, such as optical brightening agents and perfume, bouth of this
ingredients affect the enviorment and the growth of the plants.
Sources
 Counting the cost of cleanliness. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://toxicslink.org/docs/06031_Detergent_Factheet_English.pdf
 Y., & D. (1941, March 13). THE EFFECT OF DETERGENTS ON THE
CHLOROPHYLLPROTEIN COMPOUND OF SPINACH AS STUDIED IN THE
ULTRACENTRIFUGE. Retrieved February 6, 2019, from
http://jgp.rupress.org/content/jgp/24/6/753.full.pdf
 Guidelines for ecological detergents and other cleaning agents. (2016,
January 21). Retrieved February 5, 2019, from https://n-
bnn.de/sites/default/dateien/bilder/Downloads/160203_Guidlines%20for%20
ecological%20detergents.pdf
 Harrington, J. (2016, October 07). Potted Pansy Care. Retrieved from
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/potted-pansy-care-61354.html