JOY FEELINGS MAGAZINE December 2016 New Year issue | Page 71

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Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate Sodium lauryl sulfate is a known skin and eye irritant and
enhances allergic response to other toxins and allergens. It
is used as a lathering agent and detergent, and is present
in hundreds of commercial shampoos, body washes, and
bubble baths, as well as skin creams and some brands of
toothpaste. When sodium laurel sulfate is combined with
ethylene oxide (ethoxylized) to create the milder sodium
laureth sulfate, it may become contaminated with 1,4dioxane, a probable carcinogen. 1,4-dioxane readily
penetrates the skin. While 1,4-dioxane can be removed
from products easily and economically by vacuum
stripping during the manufacturing process, there is no
way to determine which products have undergone this
process. Labels are not required to show this information.
This processing may also lead to the creation of a known
carcinogen, ethylene oxide. Ammonium lauryl sulfate is
the same compound as sodium lauryl sulfate and has the
same uses, but the sodium group has been replaced with
an ammonium atom. Although it is also a skin irritant,
ammonium lauryl sulfate is not considered quite as
hazardous as sodium lauryl sulfate, unless it is
ethoxylized. During its ethoxylation to become
ammonium laureth sulfate, it is also likely to be
contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen,
and ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen.

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