Surfactant safety

The biological changes caused by surfactants and their metabolites in the body, that is, the possible toxic and side effects on the body include acute toxicity, subacute toxicity, chronic toxicity, effects on fertility and reproduction, embryo toxicity, teratogenicity, causing Mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, allergenicity, hemolytic and so on. Surfactants come into contact with different parts of the human body in different ways, which will put forward different requirements for the above toxic and side effects.

Surfactants are more and more widely used in systems that come into contact with the human body, such as medicines, foods, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. With the improvement of human living standards, people have toxic and side effects on surfactants in various contact formulas Put more and more attention. For different purposes, the focus of surfactants is mainly on irritation to mucous membranes, sensitization to skin, toxicity, heredity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity and hemolysis, digestion and absorption, biodegradability, etc. aspect. For cosmetics, for example, the principle of selecting ingredients was to dress up beautifully before. The choice of surfactants only considered how to achieve the best first effect or main effect, such as washing, foaming, emulsifying, dispersing, etc .; second consideration To exert its secondary effect or auxiliary effect, little or no consideration is given to the effect of the surfactant on the natural state of the skin, hair, and the like. Now the principle of selecting surfactants gradually tends to consider how to play the best role of surfactants under the premise that the normal and healthy state of skin and hair protection is first met, and the toxic and side effects on the human body are minimized. Efficacy and auxiliary effects. This development trend makes surfactant raw material suppliers, formulators and manufacturers all face a challenge, that is, how to recognize and evaluate the safety and mildness of surfactants to provide consumers with the safest, gentlest and The most effective product. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate the safety and mildness of the original surfactant varieties and new surfactants.

       Cationic surfactants are often used as disinfectants and disinfectants, which have a strong killing effect on various bacteria, molds and fungi, but also have toxic side effects. They reduce the functioning of the central nervous system and the respiratory system and congest the stomach. Anionic surfactants are less toxic and do not cause acute toxic harm to the human body within the commonly used concentration range, but will cause discomfort and diarrhea in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. Non-ionic surfactants are low-toxic or non-toxic, and non-toxic by oral administration. Among them, PEGs are the least toxic, followed by sugar esters, AEO and Span, Tween, and alkylphenol polyethers are more toxic.