Scents & Sensibility Newsletter - Volume
II - Issue 13 - May 7, 2001
The Colossal Coconut Controversy - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Good or Bad?
First, What Is It?
Before tackling the debate over the pro's
and con's of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
let's first define what it is. Simply speaking,
SLS is a derivative of coconut oil and an
effective detergent being used in brake fluid,
engine degreasers and anti-freeze. SLS is
also a common ingredient in almost every
personal care product found on the market
today, from toothpaste, to shampoos, (including
baby shampoos), lotions, shower gels, liquid
soaps, bubble baths and even Candy Bubbles.
The exceptional foaming quality of SLS coupled
with its low cost make it a popular agent
in many products used today.
So What Is The Big Deal?
Is it a carcinogen? Does the product which
we come in contact with numerous times a
day, cause contact dermatitis, cataracts,
hair loss, allergic reactions and dandruff?
Do a search on the internet and you will
find as many more detractors than supporters,
however some SLS supporters are well regarded
environmentalists. Tom's of Maine, defend their use of SLS in toothpaste naming
both its long history and federal approvals
as proof of its safety. Sandy Maine, the venerable founder of SunFeather Soaps lists SLS in many of her recipes from her
book Herbal Housekeeping, by Interweave Press and sells it on her
website. In response to a letter to the editor
stating concern about her use of SLS, in
a March 2000 issue of Herb Companion, Maine suggests contacting the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) and The Pathology Guy website for more information. The Pathology
Guy attributes much of the carcinogenic concerns
surrounding this chemical to a misunderstanding
of studies done by mainstream scientists
and further points out that many of the sites
casting concern on SLS are offering SLS free
products for sale. Indeed, such is the belief
that the whole SLS scare is a hoax that it
has earned the 'toxin du jour' award at the
urban legends and myths site snopes2.com. Even SLS detractors say that, by itself,
SLS is not likely carcinogenic but must be
mixed in compounds with other ingredients
to form nitrates, potential cancer causing
carcinogens.
Among SLS detractors is another venerable
firm, Aubrey Organics, regarding it as a
skin irritant, amongst other things, and
the evidence strongly supports that this,
at least, is true. Check the International Chemical Safety Cards for SLS
and you will find that it is highly corrosive,
toxic to the skin and can be inhaled causing
severe irritation to the lungs. The report
further warns in the event of a spill to
'NOT LET THIS CHEMICAL ENTER THE ENVIRONMENT'.
SLS is also used in animal testing as a skin
irritant to test the healing capabilities
of new products. Another site, webdeb.com, lists an article that blames SLS for the
high incidence of gingivitis in this country,
stating further that Europe restricts the
us of SLS in toothpaste for this reason.
Because SLS is a corrosive cleaner, it is
believed to irritate the follicles of the
hair causing hair loss, yet it is a common
ingredient in baby shampoos and while a skin
irritant, it is found in dandruff shampoos
also. Some sites go so far as to say, that
your short term memory will improve if you
avoid products with SLS and that SLS impairs
the development of the eye and cornea in
young children. One thing is certain SLS
has a low molecular weight allowing it to
be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream
unlike other products like collagen molecules
which are too large to pass through even
the skin.