The
potential implications of SLS and SLES on Human Health
(Already know the dangers of SLS and just want to get some products? Click the link for a complete range of SLS-Free products)
Both
SLS and SLES are known to have many effects that can potentially
be detrimental to health. Among the possible dangers are
the following
The AJT
report staes that "Other studies have indicated
that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate enters and maintains
residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and
the brain from skin contact. This poses question
of it being a serious potential health threat to its
use in shampoos, cleansers, and tooth pastes."
Skin
Irritation
SLS
is used routinely in clinical studies. This may suggest
a level of comfort, however, the way in which it is used
is disturbing. Despite being the number one active ingredient
in virtually all soaps, shampoos and cleansers, the sole
purpose of using SLS in clinical studies is to cause skin
irritation that can then be used to identify the properties
of other chemicals!
Amazing
isn't it? For years, we have been applying known irritants
to our skin on a daily basis. To quote the ACT report "The
abbreviated symbol for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is used
around the world in clinical studies as a skin irritant.
SLS is the universal standard, by which a measured percentage
is evaluated to promote a given level of irritation and
reaction. By this SLS standard level of irritation, it
is then possible to evaluate the healing or modifying characteristics
of any ingredient or formula used on the SLS irritated
skin."
Most worryingly, irritation has been shown to occur at concentrations of 0.5%,
which is 1/60th the concentration found in some hand soaps. Caveat emptor!
Hormone
Imbalance
In the
last 100 years or so, many new health problems have come
to light. These include PMS / PMT, the so-called "menopausal
symptoms" which never used to exist, and more recently
a massive drop in male fertility which threatens our continued
existence in many western countries. SLS is most likely
a major contributor to all of these problems due to its
oestrogen mimicking activity.
Oestrogen
is a hormone found quite normally in both men and women.
Like all other hormones, it's circulating levels are rigidly
controlled by the glands of the body due to the potent
effect of its presence on virtually all cells. Not only
does SLS irritate the skin, it is also absorbed through
the skin (high levels of
skin penetration may occur at even low concentration).
Once in the body, the SLS molecule attaches to oestrogen
receptors, mimicking the effects of the hormone in various
body systems.
The result
is hormonal chaos. The body can no longer control it's
own oestrogen levels (or at least, what it sees as it's
own oestrogen levels - it can't tell the difference between
endogenous oestrogen and SLS) and therefore loses control
of many normal endocrine (hormonal) functions.
In men,
whose oestrogen levels are normally extremely low, this
massive increase causes breast
enlargement, reduction of male hormone levels and a massive
drop in both sperm count and sperm motility (ability
of the sperm to fertilise an ovum). Gender confusion may
also be related to SLS levels, either in the male himself
or in his mother during pregancy.
In women,
the reproductive system, which is totally controlled by
oestrogen and progesterone, goes haywire. Rapidly shifting
oestrogen levels and their effect on progesterone levels
mean that the body is totally confused, leading to menstrual
problems, menopausal symptoms and potentially infertility.
Because this subject is so important, we have devoted a
whole section of this site to womens
health.
Eye
Irritation / eye deformities in children
Have
you ever got shampoo in your eyes? Yes, so have I - not
pleasant is it? However, the potential effects of SLS on
the eye are much more worrying. In animal studies, 10%
SLS caused acute corneal damage. However, it is not just
direct eye contact that is the problem. According to the
American College of Toxicology, "tests show
permanent eye damage in young animals from skin contact
in non-eye areas".
In other
words, because SLS is absorbed through the skin, it can
cause PERMANENT eye damage WITHOUT ever directly coming
into contact with your eyes. As a result, you would expect
that childrens products would be SLS-free. Unfortunately
not, most childrens shampoos contain just as much SLS as
those for adults.
Thankfully, alternatives DO
exist, though you would be hard-pressed to find them in
your local chemist or supermarket.
Protein
Denaturing
Our cells
are made from protein. The development of those cells is
strictly regulated by the reproductive processes that are
continually at work removing damaged and old cells and
replacing them with healthy new ones. Virtually every cell
in the body is replaced at least every 7 years.
SLS exerts
its effects on
proteins by forming a chemical bridge between the fat-soluble
and water-soluble parts of the protein moecule. This disrupts
the hydrophobic forces needed to maintain the protein structure
and the molecule collapses, rendering it useless. This
effect is usually irriversible.
The result
of this is two-fold. Firstly, existing proteins are damaged,
leading to an increase in the amount of healing required
by the body. Secondly, new proteins can be damaged and
cells disrupted while they are under construction. It
is exactly this type of activity that can lead to the early
stages of skin cancer.
In the
skin, this process can be so severe, that
skin layers may separate and inflame due to its (SLS's)
protein denaturing properties.
Carcenogenicity
Quite
apart from it's potential to cause pre-cancerous conditions
by denaturing proteins, the oestrogen mimicking effects
of SLS also offers massive potential to cause cancer. It
is known that many cancers, not least breast and ovarian
cancer are directly related to oestrogen levels, in fact
some cancer cells actually secrete their own oestrogen,
which contributes to the growth of the tumour.
Clearly,
by disrupting normal oestrogen levels AND by causing similar
effects at a cellular level as endogenous oestrogen, SLS
exhibits MASSIVE potential to both cause and worsen cancerous
states. The incidence of breast cancer has increased several-fold
in the last 50 years, both in women and in men. Currently, according to the American Cancer Society, men
account for approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases.
This subject is discussed in more detail in our womens
health section.
There
is also a third way by which SLS can potentially cause
cancer. Carcinogenic nitrates 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 (many shampoos contain nitrate
compounds). A single shampooing can produce more cancer-causing
nitrates in the body than eating a pound of bacon, which
is VERY high in nitrates!
Whether
it is by these means or not, SLS in a known mutagen - it
is capable of damaging the genetic material found every
cell in your body. As mutagenicity has been strongly linked
to cancer, this is a major concern.
IF you
are worried about the effects of SLS on your health, please contact
us and we will do our best to help and advise you on
ways to limit both your exposure and your risk.
Take control of your health and exchange your toxin-filled household with SLS-free alternatives
Remove
SLS from your home:
SLS free products ARE availabe and are no more expensive
than normal products.
All natural healthy cleaning tips
available for free from Suze & Ev's Custom Clean at
start-cleaning-business.com
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