Sodium laurel sulfate is what makes shampoos lather, toothpastes foam and bubble baths bubble. This chemical is nearly ubiquitous in personal care products. While there is no evidence that this product causes cancer, it can irritate your skin and cause allergic reactions. Products without sodium laurel sulfate do exist, so if you are one of the few people that experience irritation, consider exploring alternative personal care products.
Identification
Sodium laurel sulfate is also known as sodium laureth sulfate, SLS, duponol and dodecyl sodium sulfate. This white powder has a soapy feel to the touch, not unlike laundry detergent. It has a molecular weight of 288.38 and dissolves easily in water. The melting point is between 204 and 207 degrees Centigrade.
Regulations
Sodium laurel sulfate is not included on the list of more than 900 chemicals that the State of California believes cause cancer. The FDA certifies that sodium laurel sulfate is generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, when used in food within certain limits. For example, this chemical is safe if used in concentrations less than 1,000 parts per million in egg white solids or as a whipping agent in the preparation of marshmallows if the concentration does not exceed 0.5 percent by weight. This GRAS certification is never granted if the ingredient causes cancer.
Other Issues
Although sodium laurel sulfate is not carcinogenic, it can be an irritant for some people, especially if it remains on the skin in high concentrations. However, an article appearing in the July 2010 "International Journal of Toxicology" reports that in practice it is not "regularly seen to be irritating because of the formulations" in which it is used. The Material Data Safety Sheet for this chemical indicates that it "causes irritation to the respiratory tract," and reports that symptoms "may include coughing, shortness of breath." However, this applies when the individual is handling sodium laurel sulfate powder in concentrations between 90 to 100 percent. This effect is minimized when the chemical is used in lower concentrations, such as in shampoos.
Perceived Risk
The Treehugger website characterizes the claim that sodium laurel sulfate causes cancer as an urban myth. This "misperception" may have started because the chemical can be used with chemicals that do cause cancer. For example, traces of carcinogen 1,4-dioxane were found in concentrations as high as 279 parts per million in personal care products such as shampoos.
References
- Treehugger; Common Eco-Myth: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Causes Cancer; Jeremy Elton Jacquot; July 2007
- "International Journal of Toxicology"; Final Report of the Amended Safety Assessment of Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Related Salts of Sulfated Ethoxylated Alcohols; V.C. Robinson, et al.; July 2010
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Lauryl Sulfate Salts
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Code of Federal Regulations Title 21: Food and Drugs: Food for Human Consumption; April 2010
- Healthy Child: Chemical Encyclopedia: Sodium Laurel Sulfate
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Household Products Database: Chemical Information: Sodium Laureth Sulfate; June 2010
