Are anionic surfactants toxic?

05 Feb.,2024

 

INHERENT PROPERTIES OF CPRF AND CAP THAT MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS UPON INGESTION

9.1. Acute toxicity of cosmetics

The safety of cosmetic products is not evaluated for oral intake, except for oral care products (Directive 76/768/EEC).

The cosmetic frame formulations (COLIPA and EAPCCT 2000) detail basic information about ingredient types and the maximum concentrations for most cosmetic ingredients on the European market. The frame formulations system enables rapid identification of a cosmetic product that is unlikely to result in serious effects to health, when ingested or used inappropriately. These are a voluntary initiative of the industry and have no current EU legal status, but are provided to the national competent authorities. If a product does not comply with a frame formulation, or if there is no frame formulation for a given product, then formulation details, both qualitative and quantitative, need to be declared individually. Also, some other types of cosmetic products (e.g. nail cuticle removers, nail strengtheners, nail varnish removers, permanent wave neutralisers in powder form) have always to be declared in detail to poison centres.

The majority of cosmetic products represent a relatively low risk upon ingestion. A list of ingredients that according to scientific evidence may cause serious effects to human health if ingested was established by the working group. This was based on their experience, as well as on the acute toxicity data for these substances by oral routes when available in the published literature/toxicity databases or in the dossiers evaluated by the SCCS.

Table 5  (Annex III) is derived from the frame formulations, indicating the categories and examples of chemicals. The selection of ingredients was based on the judgement of the SCCS experts using RAPEX listings, concentration and hazard of the substances.

9.2. Acute toxicity of household products

Currently there are no frame formulations available for household products, but they are included in the 2009 proposed Regulation that will repeal and replace the current Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market which is scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2013.

The current practice is to indicate the chemical types and the concentrations of the ingredients for the following ranges; <5%, 5-25%, 15-30% and >30%. The ingredient concentration of a specific chemical type varies between manufacturers for similar products.

Common household cleaning products (see Table 6 , Annex III), most frequently cited in poisonings, are dishwashing and laundry detergents, toilet cleaners and bleaches (Wyke et al. 2009). Sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, alcohols and hydrogen peroxide were often cited in poisonings. Individually, these chemicals have a mild to low order of acute toxicity, e.g. surfactants have low acute toxicity of >2,000 mg/kg bodyweight in oral rat studies, with the exception of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates that have a toxicity of 1,500 mg/kg bodyweight. In mixtures, the combined action of the different types of surfactants may exacerbate the toxic effects of each other and also other ingredients present in low concentrations by increasing cell membrane permeability. However, as a rule of thumb, the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of the finished household product indicate a toxicity of >2,000 mg/kg bodyweight with an emetic dose of ~500 mg/kg bodyweight. Generally, pH, contact time, physical state, amount ingested, tritrable acid and alkaline reserve of the finished product are the most critical factors. Many of the chemicals are classified irritant or corrosive, due to either high or low pH.

Considering the main ingredients used in cosmetics and household chemical products and the substances involved in poisoning reported by poison centres or published papers (Lamireau et al. 1997, Lambert et al. 2000, Madden 2008, Madsen et al. 2001), the SCCS considers that the following substances should be considered as potential harmful ingredients after accidental ingestion:

  • Corrosive substances such as acetic acid, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium bisulphate, sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide and sodium phosphate.
  • Some surfactant (depending on types and/or concentration).
  • Alcohols and glycols such as ethanol, isopropanol and butyl glycol.
  • Essential oils such as pine oil, wintergreen oil and camphor.

The toxicity of these substances will be briefly described in the Annex IV. Discussion of all potentially toxic ingredients used in cosmetic or household products is beyond the scope of this opinion.

Household items such as cleaning products are a staple on top 10 toxins lists every year for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

This article decodes common ingredients in cleaners to help you better understand the potential toxic risk for pets and your treatment options.

Acids and Bases

Acids will cause gastrointestinal irritation (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain) with ingestion. But if a highly concentrated product or one with a very low pH is ingested, then burns to the mouth, esophagus and stomach may be possible.

Unlike bases, acids will cause immediate pain upon contact, which typically helps limit exposure. Acids are commonly found in toilet bowl cleaners, metal cleaners and pool sanitizers. 

Bases, or alkalis, will cause gastrointestinal irritation as well. Like acids, they can cause corrosive injury with ingestion of highly concentrated product or products with a very high pH (>10). Bases are commonly found in oven cleaners, drain openers and automatic dishwasher soaps.

Bleach

There are two different types of bleaches: chlorine and non-chlorine (color safe). Chlorine bleach is also known as sodium hypochlorite. Most household bleaches contain 3-5% hypochlorite and when ingested primarily cause irritation to mucosal membranes leading to possible vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.

If a large amount of household bleach—or any amount of a concentrated hypochlorite (like a swimming pool disinfectant)—is ingested, burns of the mouth, esophagus and stomach are possible. Esophageal stricture is a rare sequela of a more serious ingestion. 

Non-chlorine bleach typically contains hydrogen peroxide or percarbonates. In most household products the hydrogen peroxide content is low, around 3-5%. At this concentration ingested hydrogen peroxide may cause vomiting, mild gastrointestinal irritation, and on rare occasion gastrointestinal erosions.

With ingestion of more concentrated hydrogen peroxide (10% and higher) more serious effects may be seen: hemorrhagic gastritis, burns to the mouth, esophagus, stomach and possible gas embolization.

Percaronates, such as sodium carbonate, are alkaline corrosives that will result in ulcerations to the mouth, esophagus and stomach when ingested. While not common, esophageal strictures are possible sequela.

Enzymes

Enzymes are natural catalysts that help control the rate at which chemical reactions occur. They are most often found in laundry detergents and automatic dishwashing products. In household cleaners there may be several different kinds of enzymes found such as proteases, amylases and lipases. Generally enzymes have a wide margin of safety, so significant effects are typically not expected.

Surfactants

Surfactants are molecules that help reduce the tension of water, helping it to penetrate and loosen soil.  Most commercially produced cleaning products contain surfactants. There are three different categories of surfactants: anionic, nonionic and cationic. 

Ingestion of anionic and nonionic surfactants most commonly result in mild and self-limiting gastrointestinal upset. They can cause irritation to the skin and eye; rarely aspiration or caustic injury to the gastrointestinal tract may occur.

Examples of anionic detergents include alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonate and dialkyl sulfosuccinate. Examples of nonionic surfactants include ethoxylated alcohols, PEG stearates, and alkyl aryl polyether sulfates.

Ingestion of cationic surfactants can be more serious, particularly in cats who appear to be sensitive to these surfactants. Cationic surfactants are irritating to mucosa, leading to gastrointestinal upset, but are more likely to cause burns of the mouth, esophagus and stomach than anionic or nonionic surfactants.

Hemorrhagic gastritis, aspiration, CNS depression and acute lung injury are possible with more serious exposure; dermal burns may occur with dermal exposure of concentrated products.

Examples of cationic surfactants include benzalkonium chloride and cetrimonium bromide. In addition to fabric softeners, they can be found in sanitizers, potpourri oils and germicides. 

Solvents

Solvents are substances that are able to dissolve other substances. In cleaning products there are several different chemicals that may be used as solvents; short chain alcohols, glycol ethers, d-limonene and pine oil are a few of the more common.

Both short chain alcohols and d-limonene are likely to results in mild and self-limiting gastrointestinal upset. Typically the concentrations of glycol ethers and pine oil found in household cleaners is low, limiting their toxicity to gastrointestinal upset. Ingestions of larger concentrations of either can be more serious. 

Chelants

Chelants bind to charged metal ions such as calcium and magnesium and prevent them from forming insoluble precipitates. This is primarily a concern with cleaning products to address hard water or water containing a higher amount of calcium and/or magnesium. Common chelants include ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, citrates and silicates. These chelants can result in gastrointestinal upset.

Are anionic surfactants toxic?

Ingredients & Toxicities of Cleaning Products

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