Sodium laureth sulfate
| File:Sodium laureth sulfate.png | |
| Identifiers | |
|---|---|
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.036.281 |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| CH3(CH2)10CH2(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na C11+nH23+4nNaO4+nS | |
| Molar mass | around 420 g/mol (274.35 + 44.05n) g mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
| |
Sodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). It is an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent made by mixing sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, and sodium salt.[1]
Its chemical formula is CH3(CH2)10CH2(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na. Sometimes the number represented by "n" is specified in the name, for example laureth-2 sulfate. The commercial product is heterogeneous, both in the length of the alkyl chain (12 being the mode of the number of carbon atoms), and in the number of ethoxyl groups, where n is the mean. n=3 is common in commercial products. SLES can be derived from ethoxylation of dodecyl alcohol used to make SDS.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate or SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) are commonly used alternatives to SLES in consumer products.[2]
Health Impacts
Sodium laureth sulfate has been shown to increase the frequency of canker sores among people with frequent recurring sores. People with recurrent canker sores are thus recommended to avoid use of toothpastes containing sodium laureth sulfate.[3]
Cancer
The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) and the American Cancer Society have stated that the common belief that SLES is a carcinogen is an urban legend, a view confirmed by toxicology research by the OSHA, NTP, and IARC.[4] SLES and SLS, and subsequently the products containing them, have been found to contain parts-per-thousand to parts-per-million levels of 1,4-dioxane, with the recommendation that these levels be monitored.[5] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers 1,4-dioxane to be a probable human carcinogen, meaning that a daily consumption of one gram of 1,4-dioxane over a lifetime would increase the cancer risk by about one part in 3000.[6] Such an intake would correspond to eating liters of "contaminated" sodium laureth sulphate on a daily basis, which would be rather unhealthy because of the sodium laureth sulphate itself, which is not used in products that are intended for oral ingestion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane, although it is not required by federal law.[7]
See also
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate (Sodium lauryl sulfate)
References
- ^ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-sodium-lauryl-sulfate.htm
- ^ Sodium Laureth Sulfate POE(2). Chemical Land 21, Seoul, Korea. Product Identification
- ^ [1] Herlofson BB, Barkvoll P, "The effect of two toothpaste detergents on the frequency of recurrent aphthous ulcers.", Acta Odontol Scand., Vol. 54 No. 3, pp.150-3, Jun (1996).
- ^ Rumor: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Causes Cancer. The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association. 13, October 2000. Consumer Information
- ^ Roderick E. Black, Fred J. Hurley, Donald C. Havery. Occurrence of 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetic Raw Materials and Finished Cosmetic Products. Journal of AOAC International.2001 May;84(3):666-670. Abstract
- ^ 1,4-Dioxane (1,4-Diethyleneoxide). Hazard Summary. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000. Fact Sheet
- ^ FDA/CFSAN--Cosmetics Handbook Part 3: Cosmetic Product-Related Regulatory Requirements and Health Hazard Issues. Prohibited Ingredients and other Hazardous Substances: 9. Dioxane
External links
- Description and health effects of sodium laureth sulfate by Children's Health Environmental Coalition