SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
Surfactant - Cleansing Agent; Surfactant - Emulsifying Agent
Also listed as
DODECYL SODIUM SULFATE; PEG- (1-4) LAURYL ETHER SULFATE, SODIUM SALT; POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (1-4) LAURYL ETHER SULFATE, SODIUM SALT; POLY (OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL) ,A -SULFO-W (DODECYLOXY) -, SODIUM SALT; POLYOXYETHYLENE (1-4) LAURYL ETHER SULFATE , SODIUM SALT; SODIUM PEG LAURYL ETHER SULFATE; SODIUM POLYOXYETHYLENE LAURYL ETHER SULFATE; SODIUM POLYOXYETHYLENE LAURYL SULFATE; SODIUM SALT PEG- (1-4) LAURYL ETHER SULFATE; SODIUM SALT POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (1-4) LAURYL ETHER SULFATE; SODIUM SALT POLY (OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL) ,A -SULFO-W (DODECYLOXY) -
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
| Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
 | Contamination concerns - ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps |
|
See products containing SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | |
About SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE: Sodium Laureth Sulfate is the sodium salt of sulfated ethoxylated lauryl alcohol that conformsgenerally to the formula: where n averages between 1 and 4.
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE has reported used in the following product types: shampoo (788); body wash/cleanser (645); facial cleanser (348); hair color and bleaching (178); exfoliant/scrub (154); liquid hand soap (140); bubble bath (131); mascara (100); dandruff/scalp treatment (74); conditioner (73)
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Possible carcinogen | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 9868 |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human irritant - strong evidence | products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne) | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses | RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 15 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | •Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product •Irritation (eyes, skin, or lungs) • |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | POLY(OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL), _-SULFO-_-(DODECYLOXY)-, SODIUM SALT | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| RODERICK E, 2020 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | Impurity: 1,4-Dioxane |
| ATSDR, 2007 | PEGS, -ETHS, -OXYNOLS | |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (guinea pig ) |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (guinea pig ) |
| RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 9868 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 9868 | SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| Open scientific literature | RODERICK E. BLACK, FRED J. HURLEY, and DONALD C. HAVERY. "Occurrence of 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetic Raw Materials and Finished Cosmetic Products." U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 200 C St, SW, Washington, DC 20204. 666 BLACK ET AL.: JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL VOL. 84, NO. 3, 2001 |
| Open scientific literature | ATSDR. 2007. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: Public Health Statement for 1,4 Dioxane Available: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs187.html [accessed April 16 2008]. |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H., ed., New York, Churchill Livingston, 1975 -,12,1975 |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H., ed., New York, Churchill Livingston, 1975 -.12,1975 |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H., ed., New York, Churchill Livingston, 1975 -,12,1975 |
| RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 | RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H., ed., New York, Churchill Livingston, 1975 -.12,1975 |
| RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J.V., Institut Pro Vychovu Vedoucicn Pracovniku Chemickeho Prumyclu Praha, Czechoslovakia, 1972 -,275,1972 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1983 | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology. (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 1651 Third Ave., New York, NY 10128) V.1-12, 1982-1993. Discontinued. 2(5),1,1983 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 9868 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. OTS0539868 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 9868 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. OTS0539868 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
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