Sodium lauryl sulphate
Last updated: 19/08/2023
(Also known as: sodium lauryl sulfate; SLS)
Sodium lauryl sulfate is an anionic surfactant commonly used in detergents and cleaning. While widely used in pesticide formulations as a surfactant and dispersant it is considered an inert ingredient without pesticidal activity. However, products are available, largely for the domestic market, which are used to control common insect pests by physical rather than toxic effects. It is highly soluble in water and non-volatile. It tends not to be persistent in the environment. It is highly toxic to aquatic organisms. It is low to moderately toxic to humans but may cause allergic reactions of skin, eye or respiratory tract.
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate
Ecotoxicity
Human health
A substance mainly used as a surfactant. It has no pesticidal activity but helps control chewing and sucking pests by physical means. Also used in hygiene. personal care products and cosmetics.
Apids; Mealybugs; Immature mosquitoes; Whitefly; Spider Scale; Psyllid.
All edible and ornamental crops
Based on published science it highly effective as a surfactant. Limited effect as a pesticide.
Current
-
Not applicable - not appp
Not applicable
Not applicable
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
Not applicable - not a ppp
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
No - not a ppp
ATAustria
BEBelgium
BGBulgaria
CYCyprus
CZCzech Republic
DEGermany
DKDenmark
EEEstonia
ELGreece
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
ESSpain
FIFinland
FRFrance
HRCroatia
HUHungary
IEIreland
ITItaly
LTLithuania
LULuxembourg
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#
#
#
#
#
#
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LVLatvia
MTMalta
NLNetherlands
PLPoland
PTPortugal
RORomania
SESweden
SISlovenia
SKSlovakia
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#
#
#
#
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ISIceland
NONorway
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None
C₁₂H₂₅O₄SNa
CCCCCCCCCCCCOS(=O)(=O)[O-].[Na+]
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DBMJMQXJHONAFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M
InChI=1S/C12H26O4S.Na/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-16-17(13,14)15;/h2-12H2,1H3,(H,13,14,15);/q;+1/p-1
Yes
Insecticide, Other
Surfactant; Wetting agent
Inorganic compound
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Natural
Physical means - oxygen deprivation - suffocation and dehydration. Acts similarly to that of horticultural soaps.
151-21-3
205-788-1
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079011
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No data found
288.38
sodium dodecylsulfate
sodium dodecylsulfate
-
[Potential serious water contaminant], [Approved under Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union; US EPA]
-
Not applicable
Not applicable
UNM
Not applicable
Not applicable
Cream coloured flaky solid with musky odour
Available in a variety of formulations including ready-to0use mixes
100000
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
High
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204
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
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588
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
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-
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3.98 X 1001
Calculated
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1.6
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
Low
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0.6
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
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-
-
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1.47 X 10-06
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Low volatility
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-
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-
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Biodegradable under aerobic conditions
3.0
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-persistent
3.0
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-persistent
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Literature gives soil DT₅₀ as appox. 77.5 hrs
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Soil adsorption and mobility
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Cannot be calculated
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None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
1288
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
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24.9
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate
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1.8
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
Daphnia magna
Moderate
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HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
High (class III)
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1288
P3 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
600
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 4 = Verified data
Rabbit
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Negligible risk based on proposed pattern of use
Minimal risk based on proposed pattern of use. PPC recommended
EU MRL pesticide database 
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Carcinogen
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
; E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
No data found
XNo, known not to cause a problem
No data found
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
 
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
 
May cause ulceration of oral tissues
Not explosive Avoid contact with strong acids, alkalis and oxidising agents Not expected to autoignite; Not highly flammable
Health: H315, H319
Not listed (Not listed)
Not regulated
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sodium lauryl sulphate
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Record last updated:
19/08/2023
Contact:
aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal , 22 (4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242