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| An old internet rumour is routinely re-circulated, and is often perpetuated in media articles, alleging that SLS can cause irritation and may even cause cancer. | An old internet rumour is routinely re-circulated, and is often perpetuated in media articles, alleging that SLS can cause irritation and may even cause cancer. | ||
| The safety of SLS has not been questioned by the European Commission, nor its expert advisory committee (the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products, or SCCP), nor by any of the member states. | |||
| The safety and toxicity of this ingredient was reviewed in 1983 by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel of the USA. They concluded that SLS was safe for use in cosmetic products. This conclusion was re-confirmed by the CIR in 2002, after an additional 250 scientific research studies were considered. | |||
| Although prolonged contact with high concentrations may cause irritation, this is not seen at the low concentrations of SLS used in cosmetics and personal care products, such as shampoos and toothpastes; which have a long history of in-use safety. | |||
| SLS has an excellent safety record and has never been found to be carcinogenic even though it has been investigated many times around the world. It is widely used because of its good cleansing properties and because it combines safety with efficacy. Consumers may continue to use and enjoy their cosmetic and personal care products with confidence. | |||
| Sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) is also is used in many cosmetic products for its surfactant properties. This widely used cleansing agent is perfectly safe for use on the skin; it is therefore not surprising that other industries would choose to use this safe, effective and biodegradable cleanser too. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 04:18, 24 March 2009
Not to be confused with Sodium lauryl sulfate.| File:Sodium laureth sulfate.png | |
| Identifiers | |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.036.281 
|
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | CH3(CH2)10CH2(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na C11+nH23+4nNaO4+nS |
| Molar mass | around 420 g/mol (274.35 + 44.05n) g mol |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C , 100 kPa). Infobox references | |
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.
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.
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) are surfactants (“surface – active agent”: a substance, like a detergent, which enables a liquid to foam), which are used in many cosmetic products for its cleansing and emulsifying properties.
An old internet rumour is routinely re-circulated, and is often perpetuated in media articles, alleging that SLS can cause irritation and may even cause cancer.
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
External links
- Description and health effects of sodium laureth sulfate by Children's Health Environmental Coalition