Lauryl+Sulfate

Lauryl Sulfate
 * Can result in: suspected carcinogen linked kidney and liver damage; nervous system disruption; damage to eyes leading to cataracts; eczema and dermatitis, known to inflame skin layers.
 * Why used: foaming agent and emulsifier.
 * Found in: toothpaste, shampoo, bath salts, body and shower gels.
 * Banned in: Europe and Central America

 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a dangerous shampoo ingredient, but it is mainly used because it is an inexpensive detergent and because it makes mixture foam well. The hazards that come with this shampoo ingredient is scalp irritation, stinging eyes, tangled, split and fuzzy hair. Many people believe that when they are shampooing their hair they are doing something that will protect it from being damaged, but with this harsh ingredeint that is being added they are actually causing their hair to get damaged. The science behind this chemical ingredient is that it has degenerative effect on the cell membrane because of its protein denaturing properties.

 Eye health is also a concern since a person can possibly get shampoo in their eye while showering. Often, in order to make a shampoo gentle to the eyes, the manufacturer will utilize a combination of anionic surfactants (i.e., detergents) with nonionic detergents. An anionic detergent contains a negatively charged polar group. A nonionic detergent has no polar end. However, while anionic detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate are the most irritating to the eye, nonionic deteregetns are less irritating. Therefore, in order to make shampoos a lot more safe they often replace the harsh chemical with nonionic substances.

Concerns
 * studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. This poses the question whether it could be a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos, cleansers, and toothpastes.
 * Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties.
 * Although sodium lauryl sulfate is not carcinogenic in experimental studies, it has been shown that it causes severe epidermal changes in the area it is applied, indicating a need for tumor-enhancing assays.
 * Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to
 * the hair follicle could result from such deposition.

References Steinman, David. "SOdium Lauryl Sulfate." //Healthy Living. N.d. Web. April 25 2012.//



Chemical structure
Its chemical formula is [|C] [|H] 3(CH2)10CH2( [|O] CH2CH2)//n//O [|S] O3 [|Na]. Sometimes the number represented by //n// is specified in the name, for example laureth-2 sulfate. The product is heterogeneous in the number of ethoxyl groups, where //n// is the mean. It is common for commercial products for //n//= 3. SLES is prepared by [|ethoxylation] of [|dodecyl alcohol]. The resulting ethoxylate is converted to a [|half ester of sulfuric acid], which is [|neutralized] by conversion to the [|sodium] [|salt]. [|[1]] The related surfactant [|sodium lauryl sulfate] (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate or SLS) is produced similarly, but without the ethoxylation step. SLS and [|ammonium lauryl sulfate] (ALS) are commonly used alternatives to SLES in consumer products. [|[1]]

1,4-Dioxane contamination
Some products containing SLES have been found to also contain low[// [|vague] //] levels of [|1,4-dioxane], with the recommendation from the [|U.S. Food and Drug Administration] that these levels be monitored. [|[7]] The [|U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] classifies 1,4-dioxane to be a probable human [|carcinogen] (not observed in epidemiological studies of workers using the compound, but resulting in more cancer cases in controlled animal studies), and a known irritant with a no-observed-adverse-effects level of 400 milligrams per cubic meter) at concentrations significantly higher than those found in commercial products. [|[8]] Under [|Proposition 65], 1,4-dioxane is classified in the U.S. state of California to cause cancer. [|[9]] [|[10]] The FDA encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane, though it is not required by federal law. [|[]