A comparative study to investigate the effect of household cleaning

agents on plant growth of Solanum melongena and Solanum

lycopersicum.

Research question:

To what extent will the four different types of household cleaning agents
(at same concentration) affect morphological (plant height, leaf length,
and leaf area) growth of Eggplant (Solanum melongena) and tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum) when grown for a period of 15 days.
Introduction
Solanum melongena, also known as eggplant, is a food source that is consumed
daily around the world. Eggplant requires a warm climate and has been cultivated
in its native Southeast Asia since remote antiquity1. A staple in cuisines of the
Mediterranean region, eggplant figures prominently in such classic dishes as the
Greek moussaka, the Italian eggplant parmigiana, and the Middle Eastern
relish baba ghanoush2. Eggplant (Solanum melongena) belongs to the Solanaceae
family. It grows from 50 to 150 centimetres tall, along with large coarsely lobed
leaves that are 10 to 20 centimetres long and 5 to 10 centimetres broad. The stem is
often spiny. The flowers vary from white to purple, with five lobed corolla and
yellow stamens. In tropical and subtropical climates, the eggplant can be sown
directly into the garden. In temperate climates it grows better when transplanted
into a garden after the winter season has passed3. Eggplant is indigenous to India
and is one of the most well-known and significant vegetable in India. It is the
second large-scale vegetable grown in India. The annual production of 8–9 million
tons amounts to one quarter of the global production. Eggplant is adjusted to
various agro-climatic areas and grown consistently in a year and throughout the
nation. It is primarily grown by small farmers and holds a coveted position as it is
an important source of income for them4. Brinjal highlights in the dishes of each
family in India, regardless of food inclinations, salary levels, or economic well-
being.

Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) is a flowering plant, which also belongs to the

Solanaceae family. It is cultivated widely and has originated in the Andes
mountains of South America5. A large amount of tomato is used in products like
1
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Eggplant.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia
Britannica, inc., 26 Nov. 2019, <www.britannica.com/plant/eggplant.>
Accessed on 3 September 2020.

2
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Moussaka | Food. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia
Britannica, inc., 3 Sept. 2019, <https://www.britannica.com/topic/moussaka>
Accessed 3 September 2020.

3
“Eggplant.” Eggplant - New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Eggplant.
Accesses 4 September 2020.

4
Gowda, Lalitha R. Solanum Melongena. 2016, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-
sciences/solanum-melongena. Accessed 3 September 2020.

5
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Tomato.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Nov.
2019, www.britannica.com/plant/tomato. Accessed 4 September 2020.
tomato juice, tomato puree, ketchup and canned tomatoes. Generally, most people
eat tomatoes in salads or add it in different types of dishes. Tomato plants are
usually branched, spreading from 60 to 180 cm. The five-petaled flowers are
yellow, pendant, and clustered. They are usually red, scarlet, or yellow, though
green and purple varieties do exist, and they vary in shape from almost spherical to
oval and elongate to pear-shaped. Each fruit contains at least two cells of
small seeds surrounded by jellylike pulp6. Just like eggplant, tomato requires a
warm climate and enough sunlight. If the plant is not watered regularly, it may
cause blossom-end rot due to unstable moisture and calcium deficiency.
Approximately, the annual production of tomatoes are 160 million tonnes on a
global scale.
Water pollution has direct and indirect sources. Direct sources include discharge
of chemicals from factories and household waste directly into surface water such
as ponds, rivers and lakes. Whereas, indirect sources include acid rain or
contaminated groundwater. Water pollution is a global challenge that has increased
in both developed and developing countries, undermining economic growth as well
as the physical and environmental health of billions of people7. Although global
attention has focused primarily on water quantity, water-use efficiency and
allocation issues, poor wastewater management has created serious water-quality
problems in many parts of the world, worsening the water crisis. Global water
scarcity is caused not only by the physical scarcity of the resource but also by the
progressive deterioration of water quality in many countries, reducing the quantity
of water that is safe to use8. Water companies, Food producers and farmers are
experiencing pressure from clients with extended demands within the supply of
potable water, excellent quality in food unfastened from pollution and foods with
accurate nutritional values. A major menace to human health is the growth of
pollutants in soil, water resources and foods coming from daily use of different
cleaning agents. Pollutants from fertilised fields, municipal sewage and industries

6
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Tomato.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Nov.
2019, www.britannica.com/plant/tomato. Accessed 4 September 2020.

7
Water Pollution from Agriculture: a Global Review ... www.fao.org/3/a-i7754e.pdf .
Accessed 4 September 2020.

8
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (www.fao.org/land-
water/overview/globalframework/global-framework) and the International Water Management Institute
(IWMI) (www.iwmi.cgiar.org) are leading agencies in combating global water scarcity by promoting state-
of-the-art sustainable water management scenarios. Accessed 4 September 2020.
contain phosphates and nitrates. The early development of germinating seeds is
dependent on uptake of water, fertility of the soil and various other favourable
environmental factors. Household waste like cleaners, paint, oil, animal waste, and
other pollutants reach the drainage system and flows into channels, lakes, rivers
and oceans which can be dangerous for the marine animals and plants.
However, from 1940 onwards, till now and may be in future also household
cleaning agents are going to be used regularly and commonly. These cleaning
agents include soap bars and liquid gels used for washing hands, face or body,
detergent powders or cakes for cleaning laundry items, household cleansers are
used to clean furniture, glass, plastic. The common ingredients in all these cleaning
agents are fat, alkali, glycerine, surfactants or surface-active agents, bleaches,
ammonia, 2-Butoxyethanol, chlorine, sodium hydroxide added together with odour
and colour. The different types of chemicals have various effects on plants,
animals and even humans.

1.1: Ammonia (fig. 1) is the molecular structure of ammonia. Ammonia is used in

several daily used household cleaning products. Usually, ammonia is used as a
nitrogen source, but high concentration of ammonia can cause the formation of
burnt leaves and may also kill the plants. If ammonia is present in waterbodies at
high concentration, then ammonia causes toxic build up in tissues which leads to
death. Also, if ammonia is consumed by terrestrial animals, it can cause damage to
their throat and stomach. Exposure to high concentration (>2,500 ppm) of
ammonia in the air can be extremely harmful to humans as it can result in
blindness, lung disease and even death.

Fig. 1 Molecular structure of Ammonia

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-link-solar-hydrogen-ammonia.html

1.2: 2-Butoxyethanol (fig. 2) is the molecular structure of 2-Butoxyethanol.

Common household cleaning products like glass cleaners, liquid soaps and all-
purpose spray-cleaners contain butoxyethanol, for its ability to help dissolve
substances such as grease and dirt9. 2-Butoxyethanol does not kill the plants until
the plants are exposed to a large release of 2-Butoxyethanol. The harmful effect
most often reported in animals exposed to 2-butoxyethanol is destruction of red
blood cells that results in the release of haemoglobin, which is known as
haemolysis10. Breathing problems occurred in rats and mice that breathed or
swallowed large amounts of 2-butoxyethanol for short periods. Bloody or reddened
stomach or intestines, probably related to haemolysis, were seen in rats that
swallowed very high doses of 2-butoxyethanol and in rabbits that had skin contact
with very large amounts11. In humans, high level exposure causes irritation to the
eyes and nose, results in metallic taste and many people vomit. It can also cause
problems in reproduction and minor birth defects.

Fig. 2 Molecular structure of 2-Butoxyethanol

https://www.chemsrc.com/en/cas/1219803-96-9_1424388.html

When these cleaning agents are used frequently or disposed of through drains or
getting rid of them by dumping directly into the ecosystem, which would gradually
seep into the water supply that plants depend on. Water contamination disrupts the
lives of marine animals that live in water and those that rely upon it, such as
marine plants, and close by human that rely upon the water as a natural resource.
Phosphates in clothing and dishwasher cleanser have a fertilising impact, setting

9
“Butoxyethanol.” ChemicalSafetyFacts.org, 7 May 2020,
www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/butoxyethanol/. Accessed 4 September 2020.
10
ATSDR - Public Health Statement: 2-Butoxyethanol and 2 ... www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?
id=345&tid=61. Accessed on 4 September 2020.
11
ATSDR - Public Health Statement: 2-Butoxyethanol and 2 ... www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?
id=345&tid=61. Accessed on 4 September 2020.
off the wide development of algae that saps away the water's oxygen, lessening
biodiversity. By reducing water tension, surfactants allow other pollutants in water
bodies to be absorbed more easily by plants and animals12. However, there are a
few common household chemicals that don’t affect plants at all. Cleansers are
generally diluted with water for utilizing on plants to battle pests, since the
cleanser dries out insects. The cleanser must be used at a low concentration of 2
percent or 3 percent. Nor else, Cleansers get on the surface of the leaves which
harm or kill them by stripping the waxy layer off of the leaves. The epidermal cells
of aerial plant parts are often covered in a waxy cuticle that not only prevents water
loss from the plant, but also prevents microbial pathogens from coming into direct
contact with epidermal cells and thereby limits infection. The cuticle can be
relatively thin (aquatic plants) or extremely thick (cacti). The hydrophobic nature
of the cuticle also prevents water from collecting on the leaf surface, an important
defence against many fungal pathogens that require standing water on the leaf
surface for spore germination13. In case the cleanser is absorbed by the plant roots
when dissolved in water, the cleanser can disrupt the lipid layer around the roots,
which can stop them from taking up water and nutrients. Also, Photosynthesis is a
vital event required for a plant’s development, but exposure to cleansers can have a
huge impact causing broad changes either in the plant height or leaf length.
Detergents can induce denaturation of the reaction centres of photosystems. Plants
are unable to survive after a few weeks. The plant height and leaf length reduction
can inhibit growth as detergent may destroy plant cells and reduced water uptake
because of higher osmotic water potential.

Research Question: To what extent will the four different types of household
cleaning agents (at same concentration) affect morphological (plant height, leaf
length, and leaf area) growth of Eggplant (Solanum melongena) and tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum) when grown for a period of 15 days.

12
Franklin-Cheung, Alexandra. “How Do Household Cleaning Products Affect the Environment?”
BBC Science Focus Magazine, 2018, www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/how-do-household-
cleaning-products-affect-the-environment/. Accessed 3 September 2020.

13
Freeman, Brian C., and Gwyn A. Beattie. “DisplayTitleAn Overview of Plant Defenses
against Pathogens and Herbivores.” Overview of Plant Defenses, 2008,
www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disimpactmngmnt/topc/Pages/OverviewOfPlantDiseases.aspx.
Accessed 4 September 2020.
 CHAPTER 2: Methodology
Objectives

Objective 1: To study the change in plant height in Eggplant (Solanum

melongena) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) due to exposure to different types
of cleaning agents at the same concentration.

Null Hypothesis: The plant height will not be affected due to exposure to different
types of cleaning agents at the same concentration.

Alternative Hypothesis: The plant height will be affected due to exposure to

different types of cleaning agents at the same concentration.

Objective 2: To study the change in leaf length in Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) due to exposure to different types of cleaning
agents at the same concentration.

Null Hypothesis: The leaf length will not be affected due to exposure to different
types of cleaning agents at the same concentration.

Alternative Hypothesis: The leaf length will be affected due to exposure to

different types of cleaning agents at the same concentration.

Objective 3: To study the change in leaf area in Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) due to exposure to different types of cleaning
agents at the same concentration.

Null Hypothesis: The leaf area will not be affected due to exposure to different
types of cleaning agents at the same concentration.

Alternative Hypothesis: The leaf area will be affected due to exposure to different
types of cleaning agents at the same concentration.
Variables

Independent Variable:

Variable Unit/Uncertainty Method of Measurement

household cleaning ------ The plants were exposed

products to different types of
household cleaning
products.

Dependent Variable:

Variable Unit/Uncertainty Method of Measurement

Shoot length ±0.05 cm 30 cm ruler was used

Leaf length ±0.05 cm 30 cm ruler was used

Leaf area

Controlled Variable:
Materials required:
Experimental sample
1. 25x potted plants of Solanum melongena
2. 25x potted plants of Solanum lycopersicum
3. 60ml-Phenyl
4. 60ml-Colin
5. 60ml-Lizol
6. 60ml-pril

Chemicals
7. 6000ml water

Instruments
8. Ruler (cm/±0.05)

Apparatus

9. 1x Measuring cup 100 ml (±0.05)

Miscellaneous 

10. 50x Placards

11. 50x Pots
12. Marker
13. Plastic bottles
14. Coloured tape