Hazardous Chemicals Found in Many Personal Care and Home Care Products

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

What you don't know can hurt you!

Sodium/Ammonium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates - AMONG THE WORST

SLS & ALS found even in "100% natural" products

Many so-called "natural" products contain SLS or ALS. They may even have a label that says, "100% natural ingredients". But, just because it says natural, doesn't mean it's good for you. Poison ivy is natural, too; but I sure don't want that on my skin.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and its close relatives Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES), and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "foam up". These chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.

Unfortunately, both sodium laureth sulfate and its cousins are also very dangerous, highly irritating chemicals. Far from giving "healthy shining hair" and "beautiful skin", soaps and shampoos containing these sulfates can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity.

There are four categories of these sulfates. They include Anionic, Nonionic, Cationic and Amphoteric. Amphoteric and Anionic are the types found in most shampoos, conditioners and lotions. Anionic are the cheapest and foam the best while Amphoteric are the mildest group and are used in shampoos for their conditioning abilities. Their sibling, the Nonionic group, are used in spray-on oven cleaners. But here is where the problem lies.

A study cited in the Wall Street Journal (November 1, 1988) linked these sulfates to cataracts and nitrate absorption (nitrates are carcinogens-or cancer causing substances). Apparently, this absorption occurs when these sulfates becomes contaminated with NDELA (N-nitrosodiethanolamine) during processing. This contamination comes about as a result of these sulfates coming into contact with any number of chemicals including TEA (triethanolamine) which is a commonly used ingredient in shampoos as a detergent.

The equation looks like this: SLS + TEA = NDELA (a nitrosamines and a recognized carcinogen).
While many companies claim that these sulfates themselves are safe ingredients (the jury is still out on this) there is a growing concern with what we refer to as the ?chemical cocktail?. When many ingredients come into contact with one another (see the equation above), some will bond forming cancer causing nitrosamines. This is where the danger lies. To be realistic, there is no way that the FDA could possibly test all of the combinations of chemicals available. So, while some chemicals may be mild or classified as safe independently, once you combine them, dangerous things can happen. Just because SLS supposedly comes from coconuts doesn't?t mean the molecular structure of the combination of chemicals isn't?t potentially damaging.

So why are dangerous chemicals like these sulfates used in our soaps and shampoos?

The answer is simple - it is cheap. The sulfates found in our soaps are exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where they are used to degrease car engines.

In the same way as they dissolve the grease on car engines, these sulfates also dissolve the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that they denature skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.

Where you're likely to find SLS

Sodium lauryl sulfate is used in most shampoos and toothpaste. Go to the grocery store and try to find shampoo or toothpaste that does not have sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate in it. Does your toothpaste have this FDA re.uired poison warning label?

Special dangers of SLS in toothpastes

Did you know that the fastest way to get something into your bloodstream is under your tongue? Nutrients, as well as poisons, can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the dense network of blood vessels lining the mucous membrane of the mouth.

According to the PHYSICIANS DESK REFERENCE MANUAL, oral delivery is 10 times more efficient than anything that is swallowed, because ingredients enter the blood stream directly, and are not filtered and broken down by the liver and digestive organs.