From: "organicnutritionalenergycoop" Date: Sat Aug 13, 2005  7:33 pm Subject: FYI: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate FYI SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE Locks Daughter's Choice….ONE COOP now carries JASON Healthy Mouth Tea Tree Toothepaste & Aruvedic Toothpoaste Jason Natural Cosmetics Biotin Shampoo No Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates Concentrated, Extra Gentle. pH 5.5. For Thinning, Dry, or Damaged Hair. Revitalizes & Promotes Healthy Growth. Biotin & Polysorbate 60. UV Sun Protection. No Animal By-Productsm No Animal Testing. Bio-Degradable, 70% Organic This wonder-working hair nourishing conditioning shampoo is formulated with 3 proteins and Planthenol-3™ to revitalize and help relieve unsightly falling hair, dry, itchy, flaky scalp, damaged hair and split ends. A breakthrough combination of non-oily humectants, moisturizers, vitamins, minerals, proteins and selected botanicals energizes the scalp and helps promote a natural, healthy hair growth. Which leads ONE to wonder…What is with the Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates anyway??? "Why take care of yourself with personal care products that may contain toxic, irritating, harsh and, in some cases, known cancer-causing ingredients? We can't imagine. They are absorbed directly into the body through the skin", the largest organ. Part of the digestive AND elimination systems. Surfactants: n : a substance capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved. In other Words, Surfactants break the bonds that hold stuff together. SOAP is a surfactant. Surfactants are the ingredients that provide lather and cleanse-ability in products such as shampoos, shower gels and liquid soaps. They are important ingredients because they have a significant impact on a product's cleansing strength. Some surfactants are associated with occurrences of skin irritation, such as sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, because they are too strong. [Cocamidopropyl betaine (Coconut derived), Disodium cocoamphodiacetate (Coconut derived), Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate (Coconut derived), Sodium lauroyl lactylate (Palm kernel and sugar derived), and Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (Coconut derived)]. These naturally derived sudsing agents have a relatively large molecular structure, so that they will not penetrate the skin. Unlike sodium laureth/lauryl sulfates that have a relatively small molecular structure that easily penetrates the skin causing irritation and dryness. http://www.health-and-beauty.us/lauryl-laureth-sulfates.html Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an emulsifier and surfactant found in cosmetic products such as shampoos, toothpastes, bubble baths, shower gels, lotions and creams. The industrial cleaning industry also uses SLS in garage floors cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash soaps. But it doesn't mean it's bad for you. ¿¿¿WHAT????? (Emulsifiers break down the oils including those in your skin and body) "The controversial surfactant derived from coconut oil is reportedly linked to skin irritation, eye damage and canker sores. SLS can potentially react with other types of ingredients (DEA, MEA, and TEA) found in personal care and cleaning products which may form nitrosamines or potential carcinogens (Cancer causing chemicals). However, in 1983 was deemed safe by a panel of independent physicians and scientists assembled by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association and the FDA ¡¡¡as long as it is washed off!!!??? "SLS (Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulfates) which is known to cause allergic reactions and……" http://www.epinions.com/content_3850018948 "Want to know some symptoms of SODIUM LAURYL/LAURETH SULFATE on human bodies? Eye diseases, skin disorders of all kinds-most of those typical skin diseases fall into this category, falling out of hair, lung damage if inhaled in heated form, inability of skin to replenish its oils, corrosive affect on flesh. "Those are just the ones that come to mind as I write this. "The more research I did on this, the angrier I got. The approval of this ingredient in all of our body washes and products is approved by the FDA, but it is cumulative (it adds up) in the body and is listed as hazardous on the data sheets that the US gov. puts out on chemicals. "In a study of the human eye, you will see that there are several layers that keep the eyeball working. The first is oil, the second tears, and the third is mucus. "SLS (for the sake of brevity, I will use initials) is a corrosive de-greaser. They use it to clean garage floors. They also use it to give animals all kinds of eye and skin diseases so they can test medicines on them. "It has been known to retard growth and development of eyeballs in young children. It has been linked to cancer, cataracts, and baldness. "Know anyone with alopecia? How about that shedding you thought was normal in the winter time of your hair? Rashes that come out only in wintertime? "SLS keeps the skin so stripped that it can not maintain its own moisture level from the oils it is supposed to use to keep skin healthy. "A WORD OF CAUTION HERE. MANY NATURAL PRODUCT LINES HAVE DECIDED TO SHIRK UNDER THE LINE OF ATTACK AGAINST THESE INGREDIENTS BY USING A NEWLY DEVELOPED VERSION OF SLS CALLED SODIUM MYRETH SULFATE. http://www.vermontsoap.com/sls.html "Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate (SLS) is currently the primary foaming agent of Western civilization. It is usually found in combination with cocamidopropyl betaine (cocabetaine) and diethanolalamine (DEA), which itself has fallen under scrutiny of late. SLS is found in shampoos, bath gels, car washes, dish detergents, bar "soaps", laundry detergents, etc. It is a wetting and dispersing agent, emulsifier, degreaser and foamer. It also increases skin permeability roughly 100 times and is used in lotions to increase absorption of micronutrients through the skin. Here are the potential negatives: 1. It is used in toothpaste to make it foam and also so the paste will stay together when coming out of the machines. Unfortunately it also aggravates the gums causing irritation. A University of Oslo (Norway) report states that individuals with gum disease had their symptoms cleared 40 times faster when non-SLS toothpaste was used. 2. There is a possible link between SLS and permanent damage to the eyes of infants. The Italian study I heard about was 40 years old. This definitely deserves further investigation. 3. May increase hair loss, and promote skin and scalp irritation in sensitive individuals. May produce skin and hair damage including cracking and inflammation. SLS is a known skin irritant and is used in lotion tests. First the skin is irritated with SLS - then the soothing effects of the lotion is tested on it. 4. A (remote) possible bladder cancer risk factor exists. But only if you hold your urine in your bladder for long periods of time (Trucker Syndrome)." http://www.health-and-beauty.us/sodium_lauryl_sulfate.html "In its final report on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a "degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties." What's more, the journal adds, "high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration." "Interestingly, sodium lauryl sulfate "is used around the world in clinical studies as a skin irritant," notes the journal. The publication expressed additional concerns: Carcinogenic nitrosamines can form in the manufacturing of sodium lauryl sulfate or by its inter-reaction with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients within a formulation utilizing this ingredient. Other studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. This poses the question whether it could be a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos, cleansers, and toothpastes. * Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties. * Although sodium lauryl sulfate is not carcinogenic in experimental studies, it has been shown that it causes severe epidermal changes in the area it is applied, indicating a need for tumor-enhancing assays. Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to the hair follicle could result from such deposition. Google :"Bald sodium lauryl sulfate" and see what comes up Threat to Eye Health "Damaging effects of sodium lauryl sulfate on eye health are also of concern. In experimental, acute eye tests, a solution of 10 percent sodium lauryl sulfate "caused corneal damage to the . . . eyes if not irrigated or irrigation was delayed." "A solution of 5.1 percent "caused mild irritation." "There may be another more insidious problem with use of sodium lauryl sulfate. Bear with us if we use a little scientific lingo in this section of the report. Your reward will be a better appreciation for whether sodium lauryl sulfate poses undesirable health effects. Often, in order to make a shampoo gentle to the eyes, the manufacturer will utilize a combination of anionic surfactants (i.e., detergents) with nonionic detergents. An anionic detergent contains a negatively charged polar group. A nonionic detergent has no polar end. Anionic detergents "display remarkable detergent, emulsifying, and foaming properties." Nonionics are "generally considered as the mildest of all surfactants" whose use "has been restricted because of poor foaming potential. They serve more often as auxiliary detergents." "However, while anionic detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate are the most irritating to the eye, nonionic detergents are less irritating. What's more, according to Tom Conry, author of Consumer's Guide to Cosmetics, "Some of the nonionic surfactants are believed to anesthetize the eyeball. Although we have not been able to track down all of these anesthetizing surfactants, the most common ones are cocamide MEA and DEA, and lauramide MEA and DEA." This is why anionic detergents are frequently combined with nonionic detergents to make shampoos gentle to the eye. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In essence, while more aggressive anionic detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate are irritating the eye, the eyeball has been anesthetized (numbed) by nonionic detergents also in the formulation. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Look at shampoo labels and such combinations will be apparent. Further, according to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, "Tests show permanent eye damage in young animals from skin contact in non-eye areas. Studies indicated sodium lauryl sulfate kept young eyes from developing properly by possibly denaturing the proteins and not allowing for proper structural formation. This damage was permanent." Substitution of Gentler Detergents Poses Additional Risks "Unfortunately, many of the gentler detergents that may be substituted for sodium lauryl sulfate pose their own health hazards. For example, many companies have begun to use ethoxylated detergents such as sodium laureth sulfate, cocamide DEA or lauramide DEA because they tend to be less irritating. "Consumers can recognize shampoo ingredients containing ethoxylated detergents and related ingredients by looking for the prefix, word, or syllable PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, eth (as in sodium laureth sulfate), or oxynol. "Both our own commissioned independent laboratory testing and that of the federal government have documented ethoxylated alcohol compounds are frequently contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is carcinogenic and is listed by the federal government as a probable human carcinogen. "Also, according to a 1998 report from the federal National Toxicology Program, two DEA-based compounds‹cocamide DEA and lauramide DEA‹have been demonstrated to be cancer-causing in at least in one species of animal. The Doctors' Prescription for Healthy Living "According experts on the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel (established by the Cosmetic Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, a cosmetic industry trade association), both sodium lauryl sulfate and its close chemical cousin ammonium lauryl sulfate "appear to be safe in formulations designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin. It should be recognized that shampoos represent such brief, discontinuous use products that are thoroughly rinsed, thus clearly minimizing the risk from sodium lauryl sulfate." "It should also be recognized that many people shampoo daily, and we really do not know whether a lot of little exposures to sodium lauryl sulfate are dangerous or not." "Given the lack of adequate research and suggestive evidence, however, we believe it might be wise for health-conscious consumers to seek products without sodium lauryl sulfate, especially with regard to young children. Indeed, consumers have the power to choose safe and perhaps even better products without sodium lauryl sulfate. "This may be a very wise choice for another reason. We have found very often the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate in a shampoo formulation is a "marker" for the use of other undesirable ingredients, including formaldehyde (embalming) containing preservatives (e.g., imidazolidinyl urea); possible cancer-causing wetting agents (e.g., cocamide DEA); and nitrosamine- forming agents (e.g., triethanolamine). Also, it should be mentioned that in Germany, where there is a concerted effort underway now to label cosmetics and personal care products as certified natural, formulations containing sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate cannot be so certified, reports Michael Wrightson, president of Logona Kosmetik." Mothers to be>>> http://www.gentlemothering.com/topics/naturalhealth.php