The American College of Toxicology says that SLS stays in the body up to five days. SLS also penetrates eyes and tissues (including systemic tissues such as the brain, heart, liver, lungs etc.) from skin contact, and retains residual levels long-term in those tissues.
	Let’s repeat that…. it penetrates eye tissue! Dr. Keith Green, Ph.D., D.Sc., reports that…."Sodium Lauryl Sulfate denatures the proteins of eye tissues, impairing development permanently. Because it is absorbed through the skin, it does not have to enter the eye directly….", and "Sodium Lauryl Sulfate impairs proper structural formation of young eyes and causes permanent eye damage. SLS causes eye irritation, is linked to cataracts, and delays healing of corneal tissue….". Click here to learn more about the potentially harmful effects of SLS on children.
	It impairs the ability to grow hair, and corrodes hair follicles. According to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and the Journal of the American College of Toxicology (Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983), SLS produces skin and hair damage, including cracking and severe inflammation of the derma-epidermal tissue. The protein-denaturing properties can also cause separation of skin layers, inflammation of the skin, and damage to the immune system. SLS has a "degenerative effect on the cell membranes" and causes slight to moderate skin irritation in low concentrations, and skin corrosion and severe irritation in high concentrations. In fact, SLS is routinely used in clinical studies to irritate skin tissue. It may also promote hair loss. Because it is a degreaser and a sudsing agent, SLS/SLES can also strip moisture and oils from the skin. [3], [4]
	SLS can be a mutagen, capable of changing the genetic information in your cells. It’s been used in studies to induce mutations in bacteria. According to Japanese studies, it can damage the cell’s DNA. [5]
	When used in products containing nitrogen-based ingredients, SLS can form carcinogenic nitrates that can enter the blood stream in large numbers, causing eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. [1]
	SLS produces nitrosamines (potent carcinogens that cause the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than even nitrate-contaminated food, such as some hot dog meats or some bacon). This happens especially when SLS/SLES is used in combination with the DEA, TEA, and MEA (Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine, and Monoethanolamine). The chemist who uncovered NDELA contamination in cosmetics, Dr. David H. Fine, estimates that each use of a nitrosamine-contaminated cosmetic would cause 50 to 100 micrograms of nitrosamine to be applied to the skin (compared with less than one microgram from consuming sodium nitrate-preserved bacon). [2]
	The American College of Toxicology study reports: "Both Sodium and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate appear to be safe in formulations designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin. In products intended for prolonged contact with skin, concentrations should not exceed 1%." However, in many products it is listed as the first ingredient, suggesting that it comprises more than 1% in these products (and because it’s contained in so many products that most people use on a daily basis, we should be considering the sum total of exposure). And now some toothpastes containing both SLS and Triclosan are claiming that their toothpastes "continue working" or "stay on the teeth" for up to twelve hours after brushing. As you can see, this hardly constitutes "discontinuous, brief use"!

[1] Hampton, Aubrey. Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Organica Press Metarasso, or Hampton, Aubrey. Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care. Organica Press, Tampa FL
[2] Ibid.
[3] Journal of Invest. Dermatology, 32-581, 1959 "Denaturation of Epidermal Keratin by Surface Active Agents"
[4] Wright, Camille S. Shampoo Report. Images International, Inc. 1989
[5] Vance, Judi. Beauty to Die For. Promotion Publishing, San Diego, CA 1998. Page 23.
[6] Journal of the American College of Toxicology (Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983)

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