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Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS and SLES)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate(SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate(SLES)
Potentially, SLS is one of the most harmful ingredients in personal care products. SLS is used in testing labs as the standard ingredient to irritate skin. Industrial uses of SLS include garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, and car wash soaps not to mention over 90% of all personal care soap shampoos.
SLS is a surfactant used in shampoos, toothpastes and liquid soaps (including "all natural" products, as it comes from a natural source). Basically it is a foaming and cleaning agent. Its controversy stems from the belief by some that it is highly toxic, highly irritating and carcinogenic.
Recent studies have shown SLS to be a potentially dangerous addition to personal care products. One study indicates that SLS can penetrate the skin and be retrained in the eye, brain, heart, liver etc., with potentially harmful long-term effects. It could retard healing, cause cataracts in adults, and can keep children's eyes from developing properly.
Other research has shown that SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with commonly used ingredients found in many products. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing. SLES is the alcohol form (ethoxylated) of SLS. It is slightly less irritating but may cause more drying. They are used in personal-care products because they are cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam, and when salt is added it thickens to give the illusion of being thick and concentrated.
SLS can damage the immune system; causing separation of skin layers and inflammation of skin.
-Journal of the
American
College
of Toxicology; Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983
SLS penetrates into the skin and into the eyes, and is also held in the brain, heart and liver. A single drop stays in the brain and body for a few days - Doctor's worry: Is your baby safe?
-By David L. Kern, New health and longevity
SLS denatures proteins of eye tissues - impairing eye development permanently, causing improper eye development in children.
-Dr. Keith Green, PHD, D.Sc.,
Medical
College
of
Georgia
Researchers estimate the nitrate absorption of one soap shampoo is equal to eating a pound of bacon.
The FDA has recently warned shampoo manufacturers of unacceptable levels of dioxin in products containing SLES.
SLS can also enhance the allergic response to other toxins and allergens.
"Dangerous Beauty" by David Lowell Kern.
SLS is a mutagen. It is capable of changing the information in genetic material found in cells.
SLS has been used in studies to induce mutagen in bacteria.
-Higuchi, Araya and Higuchi, school of medicine,
Tohoku
University
: Sendai 980 Japan
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET ON SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
EM SCIENCE -- SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURETH-13, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, DX2495
Part Number/Trade Name: SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, DX2495
General Information
Proprietary: NO
Ingredient: SULFURIC ACID, MONODODECYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT; (SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE) Ingredient Sequence Number: 01
NIOSH (RTECS) Number: WT1050000 CAS Number: 151-21-3 OSHA PEL: N/K (FP N) ACGIH TLV: N/K (FP N) Unusual Fire And Expl Hazrds: EMITS TOXIC FUMES ON THERMAL DECOMPOSITION
Stability: YES
Cond To Avoid (Stability): EXCESSIVE HEAT.
Materials To Avoid: OXIDIZERS.
Hazardous Decomp Products: CO*X, SO*X, NA*2O.
Hazardous Poly Occur: >
Health Hazard Data
===========================================================================
Route Of Entry - Inhalation:
YES Route
Of Entry - Skin:
YES Route
Of Entry - Ingestion: YES Health Haz Acute And Chronic: ACUTE:CAUSES MILD IRRITATION ON CONTACT W/SKIN, EYES OR MUCOUS MEMBRANES. SKIN CONTACT COULD CAUSE IRRITATION OR ALLERGIC REACTION. MODERATELY TOXIC BY INGESTION. CHRONIC:TESTS ON LAB ANIMALS INDICATE MATERIAL MAY CAUSE MUTAGENIC EFFECTSSigns/Symptoms Of Overexp: SEE HEALTH HAZARDS. Med Cond Aggravated By Exp: DATA NOT AVAILABLE. Emergency/First Aid Proc: EYES:FLUSH THOROUGHLY W/WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES.
SKIN:
WASH
THOROUGHLY W/SOAP & WATER.
INHAL:REMOVE TO FRESH AIR.
INGEST:IF CONSCIOUS, INDUCE VOMITING.
GET MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ALL CASES OF OVEREXPOSURE.
===========================================================================
Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
===========================================================================
Steps If Matl Released/Spill: TAKE UP & CONTAINERIZE FOR PROPER DISPOSAL.
Neutralizing Agent: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Waste Disposal Method: TO BE PERFORMED IN COMPLIANCE W/ALL CURRENT LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
Precautions-Handling/Storing: KEEP CONTAINER CLOSED. STORE AT CONTROLLED ROOM TEMPERATURE. DO NOT BREATHE DUST. DO NOT GET IN EYES, ON SKIN, ON CLOTHING. DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY.
Respiratory Protection: NIOSH/MSHA APPROVED RESPIRATOR APPROPRIATE FOR EXPOSURE OF CONCERN (FP N
Ventilation: MATERIAL SHOULD BE HANDLED OR TRANSFERRED ONLY IN AN APPROVED FUME HOOD OR W/ADEQUATE VENTILATION.
Protective Gloves: NEOPRENE, PVC OR EQUIVALENT GLOVES.
Eye Protection: ANSI APPROVED CHEM WORKERS GOGGS (FP N).
Other Protective Equipment: EYE WASH & SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE.
Work Hygienic Practices: WASH THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING.
Suppl. Safety & Health Data: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Label Required: YES
Technical Review Date: 17MAY95
Label Date: 17MAY95
Label Status: M
Common Name: SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, DX2495
Chronic Hazard: YES
Signal Word: WARNING!
Acute Health Hazard-Moderate: X
Contact Hazard-Moderate: X
Fire Hazard-None: X
Reactivity Hazard-None: X
Special Hazard Precautions: ACUTE:CAUSES MILD IRRITATION ON CONTACT W/SKIN, EYES OR MUCOUS MEMBRANES.
SKIN CONTACT COULD CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTION.
MODERATELY TOXIC BY INGESTION.
CHRONIC:TESTS ON LAB ANIMALS INDICATE MATERIAL MAY CAUSE MUTAGENIC EFFECTS.
Protect Eye: Y
Protect Skin: Y
Protect Respiratory: Y
Label Name: EM SCIENCE
Label Street: 111 WOODCREST
Label
City
: CHERRY HILL
Label
State
: NJ
Label Zip Code: 08034-0395
Label Country: US
Label Emergency Number: 800-424-9300(CHEMTREC)
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