Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

"Both Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and its close relative Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are
commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we
expect to "foam up". Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically nown as
surfactants.
!nfortunately, "oth sodium laureth sulfate and its cousin are also very dangerous, highly irritating
chemicals. #ar from giving "healthy shining hair" and ""eautiful sin", soaps and shampoos
containing sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, sin damage,
permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity.
$lthough sodium laureth sulfate is somewhat less irritating than SLS, it cannot "e meta"olised "y
the liver and its effects are therefore much longer%lasting. &his not only means it stays in the "ody
tissues for longer, "ut much more precious energy is used getting rid of it.
$ report pu"lished in the 'ournal of &he $merican (ollege of &oxicology in )*+, showed that
concentrations of SLS as low as -../ could cause irritation and concentrations of )-%,-/
caused sin corrosion and severe irritation. 0ational 1nstitutes of 2ealth "2ousehold 3roducts
4irectory" of chemical ingredients lists over +- products that contain SLS and SLES. Some soaps
have concentrations of up to ,-/, which the $(& report called "highly irritating and dangerous".
Shampoos are among the most fre5uently reported products to the #4$. 6eports include eye
irritation, scalp irritation, tangled hair, swelling of the hands, face and arms and split and fu77y
hair. &his is highly characteristic of sodium laureth sulfate and almost definitely directly related to
its use.
So why is a dangerous chemical lie sodium laureth sulfate used in our soaps and shampoos8
&he answer is simple % it is cheap. &he sodium laureth sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the
same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car
engines.
1n the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, SLES also dissolves the oils on your
sin, which can cause a drying effect. 1t is also well documented that it denatures sin proteins,
which causes not only irritation, "ut also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the
lower, sensitive layers of the sin.
&his denaturing of sin proteins may even "e implicated in sin and other cancers.
3erhaps most worryingly, sodium laureth sulfate is also a"sor"ed into the "ody from sin
application. 9nce it has "een a"sor"ed, one of the main effects of SLS is to mimic the activity of
the hormone 9estrogen. &his has many health implications and may "e responsi"le for a variety
of health pro"lems from 3:S and :enopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing
female cancers such as "reast cancer, where oestrogen levels are nown to "e involved."
" Studies on SLS have shown that;" ('udi <ance, Beauty &o 4ie #or, 3romotion 3u"lishing, )**+)
). "Shampoos with SLS could retard healing and eep children=s eyes from developing properly.
(hildren under six years old are especially vulnera"le to improper eye development. (Summary of
6eport of 6esearch to 3revent Blindness, 1nc. conference."
>. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate can cause cataracts in adults and delays the healing of wounds in the
surface of the cornea."
,. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate has a low molecular weight and so is easily a"sor"ed "y the "ody. 1t
"uilds up in the heart, liver and "rain and can cause ma?or pro"lems in these areas."
@. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate causes sin to flae and to separate and causes roughness on the
sin."
.. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate causes dysfunction of the "iological systems of the sin."
A. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is such a caustic cleanser that it actually corrodes the hair follicle and
impairs the a"ility to grow hair."
B. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is routinely used in clinical studies deli"erately to irritate the sin so
that the effects of other su"stances can "e tested." (Study cited "y the Call St 'ournal, )st
0ovem"er )**+)
Ethoxylation; Ethoxylation is the process that maes degreasing agents such as Sodium Lauryl
Sulphate (SLS) less a"rasive and gives them enhanced foaming properties. Chen SLS is
ethoxylated, it forms Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), a compound used in many shampoos,
toothpastes, "ath gels, "u""le "aths, and industrial degreasants. &he pro"lem is, the extremely
harmful compound ),@%dioxane may "e created during the ethoxylation process, contaminating
the product. ),@%dioxane was one of the principal components of the chemical defoliant $gent
9range, used to great effect "y the $mericans during the <ietnam Car to strip off the ?ungle
canopy to reveal their enemy. ),@%dioxane is a hormonal disrupter "elieved to "e the chief agent
implicated in the host of cancers suffered "y <ietnam military personnel after the war. 1t is also an
oestrogen mimic thought to increase the chances of "reast cancer and endometrial cancer, stress
related illnesses and lower sperm counts.
4r Samuel Epstein ($uthor and research Scientist) reports; "&he "est way to protect yourself is to
recognise ingredients most liely to "e contaminated with the),@%dioxane. &hese include
ingredients with the prefix word, or sylla"le 3ED, 3olyethylene, 3olyethylene Dlycol,
3olyoxyethylene, eth (as in sodium laureth sulphate) or oxynol. Both polysor"ate A- and
polysor"ate +- may also "e contaminated with ),@%dioxane. (Epstein, 4r Samuel, Safe Shoppers
Bi"le, 3.)*-%)*))"