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Revision as of 02:35, 5 March 2009 by ජපස (talk | contribs) (→Dioxane and cancer fears: clearer?)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 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.
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.
Dioxane and cancer fears
Toxicology research by the OSHA, NTP, and IARC have confirmed the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) and the American Cancer Society disputation of the urban legend that SLES is a carcinogen. Though SLES and SLS contain parts-per-thousand to parts-per-million levels of the known carcinogen 1,4-dioxane it takes a daily consumption of one gram of 1,4-dioxane over a lifetime to increase the cancer risk by about one part in 3000. Such an intake corresponds to eating liters of sodium laureth sulphate on a daily basis, which is more of a health-hazard due to the sodium laureth sulphate itself being a substance not 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.
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
- 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