Sodum lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium dodecyl fulfate (SDS), is a molecule with a tail of 12 carbon atoms, attached to a sulfate group, which gives the molecule the amphillic porperties of a detergent. It is an anionic surfactant used in industrial products such as engine degreasers and floor cleaners, as well as personal use products such as toothpaste, shampoo, some dissolvable aspirins and fiber therapy caplets. It is also used in bubble baths for for its ability to thicken and create lather.
There are health concerns about SLS indicating that it may cause skin problems and that SLS in toothpaste may cause aphthous ulcers or canker sores. In addition, handling SLS in its solid form can cause it to particulize into the air, risking inhalation which can lead to choking. Although rumor has circulated throughout the internet for years that SLS is a carcinogen, studies have not borne this out, and the American Cancer Society's position is that it has not been determined to cause cancer.
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