I picked up a bottle of hair shampoo and started to find out what the ingredients are. First one the list is "Sodium Laureth Sulfate" (SLES in short) Source : Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_laureth_sulfate) An except from the page : SLES..."is an anionic detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). SLES is an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent ... used in many cosmetic products for their cleansing and emulsifying properties. They behave similarly to soap. Irritation[edit source] SLES is an irritant like many other detergents, with the irritation increasing with concentration.[2] It has also been shown that SLES causes eye or skin irritation in experiments done on animals and humans.[2] The related surfactant SLS is a known irritant,[3][4] and research suggests that SLES can also cause irritation after extended exposure in some people.[5][6] Other[edit source] Toxicology research by the U.S. OSHA and IARC supports the conclusions of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) and the American Cancer Society that SLES is not a carcinogen.[citation needed] 1,4-Dioxane contamination[edit source] Some products containing SLES have been found to also contain traces (up to 279 ppm) of 1,4-dioxane. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends 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.[11]" If you have the interest and time, you can find out more about it in the web. "Know what you are consuming, be an informed consumer".
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 05:54:32 +0000