Is phosphorus in my dishwasher soap harmful for me or the environment?

Question

I saw a label on my dishwasher soap that said it contained a certain amount of phosphorus ( phosphates ) and I remember reading something about phosphorus being added to the air from vehicles on roads and that it was bad. What is the deal with all this phosphorus talk . Is some good is some bad is the phosphorus in my soap bad for me?

Answer 1

Phosphates aren't bad for you, but they are a pollutant in the water system. They are a nutrient for plants, and when flushed into lakes or oceans they contribute hugely to the growth of algae, which robs the water of oxygen and proceeds to kill off high-oxygen species (like fish).