TEA-Lauryl Sulfate
The question

Is TEA-Lauryl Sulfate safe in shampoo?

CautionShampoo

A triethanolamine-salt cleansing surfactant whose triethanolamine base can act as a precursor to carcinogenic nitrosamines if nitrosating agents are present.

What the research flags

  • Triethanolamine (the amine base of this surfactant) is a precursor that can react with nitrosating agents to form N-nitrosamines such as N-nitrosodiethanolamine, which are carcinogenic; the study urged that amines and nitrosating agents in cosmetics be minimized to levels as low as technically feasible (Lim 2018, PMID 29694274)
  • In the same cosmetics risk assessment, measured triethanolamine and nitrosamine levels produced margins of exposure and safety above the concern thresholds, so no apparent safety concern was found in the specific products tested (Lim 2018, PMID 29694274)
  • As an anionic surfactant it also carries the lauryl-sulfate class potential for skin-barrier disruption and irritation (Salomon 2022, PMID 36856374)

Regulatory
IARC Class: NL (triethanolamine not classified)

Other shampoo ingredients on file

Sources & references

  1. [1]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 29694274
  2. [2]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 36856374

Research disclaimer: Ratings reflect peer-reviewed research and regulatory assessments available at the time of publication, not the dose or formulation of any specific shampoo product. This is not medical advice.