FINAL REPORT ON THE SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF SODIUM ALPHA-OLEFIN SULFONATES1

Sulfonates used in cosmetics as surfactant-cleansing agents. The highest con-centration reportedly is 16 % in shampoos and bath and shower products. These ingredients are a mixture of long-chain sulfonate salts prepared by sulfonation of α-olefins of various carbon chain lengths noted as subscripts. In the manufac-ture of these ingredients, delta and gamma sultones may be produced. Sodium α-Olefin Sulfonates are poorly absorbed through normal skin, but are signifi-cantly absorbed through damaged skin. Acute oral LD50 values were 1.3 2.4g/kg in rats and 2.5-4.3 g/kg in mice. Short-term toxicity studies using rats showed no consistent effects, even with exposures in the 0.5-1.0 g/kg range. Concen-trations above 10 % produced moderate ocular irritation and a concentration of 5 % produced mild ocular irritation in rabbits. In reproductive and develop-mental toxicity studies, fetal abnormalities were noted, but only at doses that were maternally toxic. Genotoxicity data were mostly negative and oral and der-mal carcinogenicity studies were negative. Various animal and clinical stud-ies found irritation and sensitization. Sensitization was attributed to low leve