Posting # 1)
SLS in fact has been proven to cause cancer in rats when an excessivly high concentration
of SLS was soaked into a gauze pad and applied to shaved area of the rats body for months
at a time. I feel you have nothing to worry about. Having said that as a manufacturer of
shampoos we will be removing the SLS from our product, just to be on the safe side and to
prevent any negative PR. I hope you can wash your hair with confidence. I certainly do. Posting
# 2)
I have talked to Proctor and Gamble and they told me that they do have SLS in their
products. I am waiting to hear from Revlon and Alberto, but SLS is used to clean garage
floors of grease, and used as a degreaser in other prducts. i for one will find a hair
product that does not contain this ingretent from now on. I will let ya'll know if i find
anything more on this and if i find any other products that use this ingredient .
Posting # 3)
Dear all, Please read the following news and be carefully to choose the appropriate one
next time. Check the ingredients listed on your shampoo bottle, and see if they have this
substance by the name of Sodium Laureth Sulfate or simply SLS. This substance is found in
most shampoo, the manufactures use it because it produces a lot of foam and it is cheap.
BUT the fact is that SLS is used to scrub garage floors, and it is very strong. It is also
proven that it can cause cancer in the long run, and this is no joke. Well, I went
home and check my shampoo (Vidal Sasoon). Iit hasn't got it, but others such as Vo5,
Palmolive etc..they've got this substance, so I've called up to one of the companies (u
must think I had nothing better to do. No, I am just concerning our health. Well, I told
them their product contains a substance that will cause people to have cancer, and u know
what they said , they said "Yeah! We knew about it but there is nothing we can do
about it. We need that substance to produce foam. Oh, by the way the Colgate toothpaste
also contains the same substance to produce the bubbles". Oh, my God, I've been using
the Colgate since when I was born ,what the world is that, are we going to die very soon.
They said they are going to send me some info. Researches have shown that in the
1980s, the chance of getting cancer is 1out of 8000 and now in the 1990s, the chances of
getting cancer is 1out of 3, which is very serious. So I hope that you will take this
seriously and pass this on to all the people you know, and hopefully, we can stop
"giving" ourselves the cancer virus. This is serious, after you have read this,
pass it on to as many people as possible, this is not a chainletter, but it concerns our
health. End forwarded message
Posting # 4)
I have been calling around looking for Nisim or Nioxin here in Kansas City and a woman at
a salon that specializes in thinning hair told me that sodium lauryl sulfate is a
dipilatory and can actually contribute to hair loss. any info? also i have looked at my
shampoos and found: sodium laryl sulfate sodium laureth sulfate ammonium laryl sulfate
ammonium laureth sulfate , any ideas on the difference?
Posting # 5)
I read that Sodium Laurlyl Sulfate can cause hair loss? Can anyone refute or verify
this--also, Sodium Laureth Sulfate did not seem to have this effect, does anyone know the
difference betweent the two?
Posting # 6)
A lot of shampoos have both SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)and SLES(sodium lauryl ether
sulfate) in them; both are implicated in hair loss in men and women. For more information
please see http://www.ifeelfantastic.com/skihair.htm.
(no longer available) and http://web.cyberis.net/vhosts/ecopax.com/
neways/sls_sles.html.(see below) These web sites
say that both SLS and SLES are implicated in premature hair loss in men and women and may
be one of the reasons for widespread incidence of hair thinning. Even scarier, SLS is said
to corrode the hair follicle and impair its ability to grow hair; and SLES causes a
dramatic decline in the hair growth cycle and prolongs the hair loss phase by a factor of
8. All this stuff is mentioned on these web pages. I can't verify the credibility of these
web pages, but I have heard these very same things about SLS and SLES as of late; I wish I
had this information 5 years ago. I'm currently using a very mild shampoo by Redken and a
baby shampoo that doesn't have either one of these ingredients. Hope this helps.
Posting # 7)
Extracted from the URL http://web.cyberis.net/vhosts/ecopax.com/neways/sls_sles.html.
Quote:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate :
This inexpensive detergent is commonly used in cosmetic cleansers, hair shampoos, bath and
shower gels, bubble baths, etc. - It is probably the most dangerous ingredient used in
skin and hair-care products. In the cleaning industry SLS is used in garage floor
cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps, etc. It is very corrosive and readily attacks
greasy surfaces.
Sodium lauryl sulfate is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin
irritant. Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may
then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin.
A recent study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated
Into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the
tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes from
developing properly and caused cataracts to develop In adults.
May cause hair loss by attacking the follicle. Classified as a drug in bubble baths
because It eats away skin protection and causes rashes and infection to occur.
Is potentially harmful to skin and hair. Cleans by corrosion. Dries skin by stripping the
protective lipids from the surface so it can't effectively regulate moisture.
Another extremely serious problem is the connection of SLS with nitrate contamination. SLS
reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms nitrosomines
(nitrates). Nitrates are potential cancer-causing carcinogenics.
Because of the alarming penetrating power of SLS, large amounts of these known carcinogens
are absorbed through the skin into the body. A variation of SLS is SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
(Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate- SLES). It exhibits many of the same characteristics and is a
higher-foaming variation of SLS.
A typical MSDS Data sheet on Sodium Lauryl Sulfate:
http://www.chem.utah.edu/MSDS/S/
SODIUM_DODECYL_SULFATE_(SDS) (no longer available)
End Quote |
Posting # 1)
Looking over the NET, it looks like the "NEWAY" company has come up a brilliant
idea to sell millions of dollars of theirs, and any other "la natural" products
to the accepting public. Almost every product I've checked on has this ingredient in it as
a foaming agent. Saving creams, liquid soaps, shampoo, you name it, its probally in there.
It comes from coconut oil, from what I can gather. Is there a scientist on board? Someone
without a vested interest in these companies! How about the FDA, anyone home? Posting
# 2)
The only distributed information on the net labeling Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or Sodium
Laureth Sulfate as a carcinogen is being distributed by either scared people asking
questions, or from distributors and affiliates of a new Natural product from NEWAYS.
Neways does not use SLS or SLES, how convenient. Because almost all current shampoos and
toothpaste use SLS or SLES, they appear to be using this as a scare tactic for product
sales. Do your own homework, everything is online.
If you are directly exposed to non diluted 100% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate SLS, which I would
not recommend, here is what HSS (Department of Health and Human Services) has to say;
International Chemical Safety Card EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM OR REPEATED EXPOSURE: Repeated or
prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. Please note that Dermatitis is not
Cancer, it is a rash. Acute (sudden onset, short OR long lived) dermatitis = redness and
blisters Chronic (Slow onset, lingering) Dermatitis = redness and scaling
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcs/ipcs0502.html
One last note, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on television, but Cancer is NOT a
virus. Stupid people continue to breed.
Posting # 3)
I Have recieved the E-Mail that says SLS causes cancer I will check on this product and
find what I can. However, after reading what I can for a few hours this morning, it
appears this is a SCAM by people who have decided to sell ALL NATURAL product s!! This is
horrible and I will certainly remember the names of these comapnies !
Posting # 4)
Don't throw out your shampoo's and body washes just yet. This is a marketing ploy, in very
poor taste. Run a search on SLS on any search engine, you will see an ad for NEWAYS. Do
not get put out by every email you get warning you of something. The FDA is NOT that
Corrupt. Unless you hear a reliable, published report from the New England Journal of
Medicine, NIH, or AMA don't assume everything to be true. There are many things used as
industrial cleaners that we use, with no problems, every day. Are you going to not use
Baking Soda or Vinegar also?
Posting # 5)
The email about SLS recently came wafting through our office email. I would up doing the
same research somebody above did, and came to the same conclusions: that NEWAYS is pushing
the scare in order to sell their product as an alleged alternative.
As a caution against believing such stuff, I would like to remind everyone that
**Dihydrogen Monoxide** is also used in both floor cleaners and shampoos, not to mention
nuclear power plants. To find out more about this chemical, simply type the term
"dihydrogen monoxide" into your search engine or browser, and read one of the
sites you find.
OK, for the chemically uneducated among you, if you are now actually worried about
"dihydrogen monoxide" I'll give you a clue: The chemical formula for dihydrogen
monoxide is... H2O.
Posting # 6)
It appears that some people in this discussion group have discovered the source of the
ridiculous claim that sodium laureth sulfate (SLES, actually) causes cancer. This
falsehood is being propagated by a company called Neways International. I encourage all
who read this message to spread the word about this immoral marketing practice. To
capitalize on people's justifiable fear of this terrible disease to sell a commodity
product like shampoo is shameful at best. You can see the exact pack of lies in JENN'S
message.
I am experienced in the personal care industry, and am very familiar with the safety and
toxicology testing done on SLES. Without a doubt, this chemical DOES NOT cause cancer in
animals or humans. SLES and its unethoxylated sister, sodium lauryl sulfate, are used in
shampoos, soaps, body washes, and other products you find in the home. These are synthetic
detergents. They are not foaming agents. These chemicals, in their undiluted form, are
irritating to the skin and eye. They are used at very low concentrations (around 1%) in
most formulas. At this percentage, they provide effective cleansing without being
irritating to the skin and scalp.
There's another big lie in the Neways propaganda that you should know about, and that is
the claim that one in three people will get cancer in the 1990's. This was obviously
written by a person with no knowledge of epidemiology. Think about that claim in the
context of your own experience. That means that out of 12 of your closest friends, 4 would
have cancer! The cancer rate in 1990 was 203.5 in 100,000, or about 1 in 500 (0.2%).
Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1994 It is still a rare disease. In fact, the rates of all
cancer types are declining, with the exception of lung cancer in females. Lung cancer, as
you know, has a strong etiologic link with smoking. Further, to Jenn's message, there is
no cancer virus. I hate to be picky, but one does not develop cancer this way.
If you have strong feelings about these deceitful marketing ploys used by Neways, I
suggest you check out the e-mail address that Sarah lists above. She is apparently a
Neways distributor, and you can let her know how you feel. In the meantime, please don't
waste your money on cheap marketing tricks, and don't throw away a perfectly good product
because of some snake-oil company's spurious claims.
Posting # 7)
I am a pharmaceutical chemist with a Ph.D. in Chemistry, and have spent some time
searching the internet for a well-designed, legitimate clinical study which demonstrates a
correlation between cancer and either sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth
sulfate (SLES), and have found nothing. This is not unexpected since these compounds are
simply mild detergents which help to dislodge and/or dissolve dirt, oils and protein
during the cleaning process.
Quite simply, if you get soap or detergent in your eyes it will burn. If you have
extrememly sensitive skin a rash may ensue. These are short term effects and likely will
not lead to additional complications. Any claims to the contrary are currently unfounded.
It appears that some unscrupulous marketing shills have been upsetting many people and
trying to sell their products by spreading these ridiculous rumors.
Posting # 8)
For those who are afraid of chemicals such as SLS (aka SDS), ask yourself the reason
behind your bias. What evidence is there to support the claim that SLS causes cancer? Have
similar tests been done with the chemicals in "NEWAY" or "SHAIR
NATURALS" products?
Rest assured, that if you were to test the components of some commercial product next to
the components of it's "natural" counterpart, you can expect about half of them
to cause cancer in BOTH cases. Bruce Ames, developer of the Ames test for carcinogenicity
has been trying to push this point home for years. The FDA tests products from Dupont
(using the Ames test, among others), but they typically don't test the components of
cabbage, which if they did, they'd find a bunch of nasty horrible compounds (as defined by
LD50 in mice or ability to cause mutation). Whether synthetic, or from your salad, about
half the chemicals we are surrounded by are toxic in the tests we use to define toxicity.
The lesson? Keep eating cabbage, but remember your chemistry. Compounds is compounds.
Cabbages didn't evolve to be eaten, they evolved to be cabbages (and they produce a lot of
nasty chemicals trying to ward off predators). We typically don't think of
"natural" things as the chemicals which they are, which is why they are not
tested.
Be informed. Back up your bias. If you're going to live in fear, know the evidence. Don't
be afraid of chemistry, it's more fun and easy than you think.
Posting # 9)
Don’t confuse Sodium Lauryl Sulfate with sodium laureth sulfate…
This is a rather lengthy reply to your concerns and questions on "Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate (SLS)". Check out the information I am providing and you will be able to make
an informed decision about products that contain this ingredient and others that are
mentioned here in.
"NO" Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) dose not cause cancer by its self. However when
SLS is combined with other ingredients such as (Diethanolamine (DEA), Monethanolamine
(MEA), Triethanolamine (TEA), etc) nitrosamine (nitrates) are formed.The nitrosamine's
(N-Nitrosodiethanolamine) is a known carcinogen and is formed when SLS and TEA are
combined. One or more can be found in most shampoos.
SLS is also known as a Mutagen! This means it is capable of actually changing the genetic
information found in cells. SLS is also a Skin irritant and has been found to cause
changes in eye development and tissue, and slows the healing of the corneal epithelium
(surface layer of the cornea) by as much as 10 days instead of the normal 2 days.
Yes "SLS" is used as a irritant in test to show the effectiveness of other
substances and products.
Check out the following web sites for non-biased information. I used the search engine
EXCITE to locate them.
CDC - Center for Disease Control and Prevention Home Page Use the site search button and
look up: (1) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - International Chemical Safety Card (2) Diethanolamine
(DEA)
NTP - Nation Toxicology Program (NTP) Home Page Go to - Chemical Health & Safety
Information Go to - Search the entire H&S Database Enter the following Case No.'s
XXX-XX-XX only in the Search window: (1) 151-21-3 (Sodium Dedecyl Sulfate - same as sodium
lauryl sulfate) (2) 111-42-2 (Diethanolamine (DEA)) (3) 7681-49-4 (Sodium Fluoride used in
toothpaste) (4) 107-98-2 (Propylene Glycol) (5) 1116-54-7 ( N-Nitrosodiethanolamine)
FDA - Food and Drug Administration Select Cosmetics - DEA in Cosmetics - ALPHA Hydroxy
Acids for Skin Care - FDA Authority - Change / Reductions in Cosmetics Program
Senator Edward M. Kennedy's web site Go to Statements Go to 1997 Statements Scroll down to
September and read: (1) Kennedy to Fight Cosmetic Regulation changes … (9/5) (2)
Kennedy Floor Statement on FDA Reform (9/8) These alone should open every ones eyes to
some possible serious problems with the personnel care products they use.
JAMA - Journal of The American Medical Association Search Publications site - In subject
box type - SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE "This shows that SLS is used as irritant for
testing"
I fell this information will be very helpful to you in making an Informed Decision on the
use of products that contain these ingredients. As you can tell this is not a scare
tactic, even though that is the only way to get some people to listen.
My wife and I are Independent Representatives for a Company that has been manufacturing
personnel care products for over 10 years without any of these potentially dangerous and
questionable ingredients. We would be glad to provide you with more information on these
safe and effective products if you desire.
Posting # 10)
Extracted from: http://worldmall.com/erf/sls.htm
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate -- Not a Cancer Risk
I'm a medical doctor, board-certified in both anatomic and clinical pathology. I operate
the world's largest free online personalized health information service.
I have gotten at least twenty inquiries about the sodium lauryl sulfate E-mail campaign.
The author claims that sodium lauryl sulfate, a detergent found in some shampoos and
toothpastes, causes cancer in laboratory studies using animals.
Life has taught me not to attribute to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity.
This one's a misunderstanding. Here's the truth.
Sodium lauryl sulfate is routinely used to solubilize chemicals used in cancer experiments
prior to injecting them into test animals. Somebody read the list of substances injected,
and mistook the solubilizer for the active ingredient.
I ran a search of the NIH database, and there is exactly no evidence that the detergent
itself causes cancer. All the carcinogens (chemicals that clearly cause cancer) that I've
heard of (and I follow this stuff) are electrophiles, protein-kinase C activators,
chromosome-scramblers, and/or mitogens. I'd be extremely surprised if the simple sodium
lauryl sulfate molecule is any of these things.
Since the author calls sodium lauryl sulfate "the cancer virus", it must be
someone who's not gotten far in basic biology.
I've spent years as part of the fight against tobacco, and have represented several
plaintiffs who have been harmed by exposure to genuine industrial poisons. I become
equally angry over people who expose others to substances that genunely cause cancer, and
people who make money selling books that peddle groundless fear. I have handled lauryl
sulfate myself. It's a coarse powder, and a very good detergent. All soaps and detergents
can irritate the eyes, and coarse powders can irritate the skin. The same warnings
probably appear on your own powdered laundry detergent. This doesn't make either one a
carcinogen.
I am not using this page to debate the ethics of animal research, to discuss the merits of
homemade soap against what you buy from a corporation, or to claim any moral high-ground
beyond a fondness for truth.
You may use your shampoo and toothpaste without worrying about sodium lauryl sulfate.
Ed Friedlander, M.D., Pathologist
Posting # 11)
This is directly from the Canadian Health and Welfare Website (similar to USA FDA)
Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS) - Internet Hoax A letter has been circulating the internet
which claims that there is a link between cancer and sodium laureth (or lauryl) sulphate
(SLS), an ingredient used in shampoos and toothpastes. Health Canada has looked into the
matter and has found no scientific evidence to suggest that SLS causes cancer. It has a
history of safe use in Canada.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that this e-mail warning is a hoax. The
letter is signed by a person at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and includes
a phone number. Health Canada contacted the University of Pennsylvania Health System and
found that it is not the author of the sodium laureth sulphate warning and does not
endorse any link between SLS and cancer.
Health Canada considers SLS safe for use in cosmetics. Therefore, you can continue to use
cosmetics containing SLS without worry. If you still have any concerns, there are products
which are SLS-free available on the market.
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