Phosphates

Phosphates: Used in conventional laundry and dishwasher detergents to battle the buildup of soap scum (which causes a ring around the collar, for instance), phosphates accumulate in waterways and have deleterious environmental effects. Phosphates in detergents act as water softeners. Run off from these products can fertilize aquatic plants, speeding up the natural aging process of bodies of water. Plants grow quickly and then die faster than they can be decomposed, causing a build-up in lakes and bays.