It's cheap...It foams a lot...It thickens with salt.

Industrial Use:

1. Harsh Floor Cleaners

2. Engine Degreasers

3. Car Wash Detergents

4. Laundry Detergents

Personal Care Product Use:

1. Toothpaste

2. Shampoos

3. Body Gels

4. Bubble Baths

5. Facial Cleansers

6. Baby Wipes, Baby Shampoos & Bubble Baths

Quotes from various scientific articles

SLS can damage the immune system; causing separation of skin layers and inflammation of skin.
--Journal of the American College of Toxicology; Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983

SLS penetrates into the skin and into the eyes, and is also held in the brain, heart and liver. A single drop stays in the brain and body for a few days.
--"Doctor's worry: Is your baby safe?," By David L. Kern, "New Health And Longevity"

To prevent canker sores, avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is often used in toothpaste.
--Brad Rodu, DDS, Oral Pathologist, University of Alabama At Birmingham School Of Medicine, in "BottomLine Personal"

SLS denatures proteins of eye tissues - impairing eye development permanently.
--Dr. Keith Green, PHD, D.Sc., Medical College of Georgia

SLS is a mutagen. It is capable of changing the information in genetic material found in cells. SLS has been used in studies to induce mutagen in bacteria.
--Higuchi, Araya and Higuchi, School of Medicine, Tohoku University: Sendai 980 Japan

SLS is a potent carcinogen when contaminated with a nitrosamine.
--FDA Report 1978

A clinical study showed that "a significantly higher frequency of aphthous ulcers was demonstrated when the patients brushed with an SLS toothpaste. An SLS-free toothpaste may thus be recommended for patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers."

--Herlofson BB, Barkvoll P., Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway, "The Effect Of Two Toothpaste Detergents (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate [SLS] And Cocoamidopropyl Betaine [CAPB]) And On The Frequency Of Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers," Acta Odontol Scand 1996 Jun;54(3):150-3. (Read the article at National Library of Medicine/PubMed, PMID: 8811135 on the web.)

Articles about Sodium Lauryl and Sodium Laureth Sulphate

Click on the following links

Material Safety Data Sheet - Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

Report by a NEWAYS Scientist on SLS

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate And Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers

New Contaminant Found In Many Shampoos: SLS, Propylene Glycol & Dioxane

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Final Report On The Safety Assessment Of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Shame On Shampoo: Shampoo Linked To Sperm

Good News for Kids Who Hate Baths: SLS

Research To Prevent Blindness: Detergent Penetration Into Young And Adult Eyes

Your Children May Be In Danger From Baby Shampoos, Skin Lotions, Baby Wipes And Toothpaste According To Doctors And Medical Researchers

Skin Irritability To Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

The Stop Cancer Book by Dr. Samuel Epstein of the Cancer Prevention Coalition

An article from the Cancer Prevention Coalition on Cosmetics and Toiletries

An article from Positive Health mentioning SLS and SLES and other commonly used, potentially harmful ingredients, with references


For more information, see our recommended list of books by clicking here


To see our complete range of products free from Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate, click here

Back to Top

Home | Info | Products | Contact Us | Join Us | Site Map | Catalogue Request

"Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the most widely used detergent in toothpastes, has been reported to cause adverse effects on oral soft tissues. This double-blind cross-over study indicates that sensitive patients may contract mucosal irritation through SLS in toothpastes. Less toxic detergents,..,are desirable in oral hygiene products."
--Herlofson BB, Barkvoll P., Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Dental School, University of Oslo, Norway. "Oral Mucosal Desquamation Caused By Two Toothpaste Detergents In An Experimental Model," Eur J Oral Sci 1996 Feb;104(1):21-6, brokstad@odont.no.uio (Read the article at National Library of Medicine/PubMed, PMID: 8653493 on the web.)


This 9-month clinical study "suggested that the denaturing effect of SLS on the oral mucin layer, with exposure of the underlying epithelium, induces an increased incidence of Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers (RAU)."

--Herlofson BB, Barkvoll P., Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway. "Sodium Lauryl Sulfate And Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers. A Preliminary Study.," (Read the article at National Library of Medicine/PubMed, PMID: 7825393 on the web.)

Click on the calculator to find out how many chemical exposures you receive