Sodium lauryl sulphate

Sodium lauryl sulphate	Last updated: 21/08/2026
(Also known as: sodium lauryl sulfate; SLS; sulfuric acid, mono-C12-14-alkyl esters, sodium salts; Sulphuric acid, mono-C12-14-alkyl esters, sodium salts)

SUMMARY

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.

Hazard alerts

The following Pesticide Hazard Tricolour (PHT) 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. The alerts for Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are based on applying the FAO/WHO (Type 1) and the PAN (Type II) criteria to PPDB data. Further details on the HHP indicators are given in the tables below. Neither the PHT nor the HHP hazard alerts take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus they do not represent risk.

PHT: Environmental fate	PHT: Ecotoxicity	PHT: Human health	Highly Hazardous Pesticide
Environmental fate Low alert: Non-persistent Warning: Significant data are missing	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Daphnia acute ecotoxicity: Moderate Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health Moderate alert: Mammals acute toxicity: Moderate Warning: Significant data are missing

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

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.

Example pests/issues controlled

Aphids; Mealybugs; Immature mosquitoes; Whitefly; Spider Scale; Psyllid; Enhances pesticide product performance

Example applications

All edible and ornamental crops

Efficacy & activity

Based on published science it highly effective as a surfactant. Limited effect as a pesticide.

GB regulatory status

GB Retained EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not applicable - not a ppp. May be authorised at national level under different legislation

Date GB regulatory inclusion expires

Not applicable

GB LERAP status

Not applicable

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not applicable - not a ppp. May be authorised at national level under different legislation

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Not applicable

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Not applicable

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Not applicable

Listed in EU database

No - not a ppp

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece
#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#
ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg
#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#
LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia
#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway
#	#

Additional information

Also used in

USA

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Sodium lauryl sulphate is considered isomeric because the commercial substance is not a single pure molecule but a mixture of structural variants arising from how it is manufacture

Chemical formula

C₁₂H₂₅O₄SNa

Canonical SMILES

CCCCCCCCCCCCOS(=O)(=O)[O-].[Na+]

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

DBMJMQXJHONAFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

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

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Pesticide type

Insecticide; Other substance

Other bioactivity & uses

Surfactant; Wetting agent; Adjuvant

Substance groups

Inorganic compound

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Physical means - oxygen deprivation - suffocation and dehydration. Acts similarly to that of horticultural soaps.

Insecticide behavioural & physiological effects

CAS RN

151-21-3

EC number

205-788-1

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

079011

PubChem CID

CLP index number

No data found

Molecular mass (Da)

288.38

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

sodium dodecylsulfate

IUPAC name

sodium dodecylsulfate

CAS name

Global Governance status: Listed (✓) under

UK Poisons List Order 1972	Rotterdam Convention	Montreal Protocol
XNo The Poisons List Order 1972	XNo Rotterdam Convention	XNo Montreal Protocol
Stockholm Convention	OSPAR	EU Water Framework Directive
XNo Stockholm Convention	XNo OSPAR	XNo EU Water Framework Directive

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Forever chemical

Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP)

Type I

Type II

Other status information

Potential serious water contaminant; Approved under Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union, USEPA; USEPA minimum risk pesticide

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

UNM

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Not applicable

Physical state

Cream coloured flaky solid with musky odour

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1920s, discovered & patented; 1930s, used as a detergent; 1960s, recognised as an inert USA; 2009, approved EU

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Progreen Ltd

Example products using this active

Example products using this substance as a possible coformulant

Selected: ACME (Open in PFC)

Selected: Actara 25 WG (Open in PFC)

Selected: Amy (Open in PFC)

Selected: Arber Bio Protectant (Open in PFC)

Selected: Armicarb (Open in PFC)

Selected: Armicarb Garden (Open in PFC)

Selected: Armicarb Spray (Open in PFC)

Selected: Armicarb Vigne (Open in PFC)

Selected: Controlla 450 WG (Open in PFC)

Selected: Cynoff WP (Open in PFC)

Selected: Eagle (Open in PFC)

Selected: Grandevo WDG (Open in PFC)

Selected: Karma (Open in PFC)

Selected: Kite (Open in PFC)

Selected: Lancelot 450 WG (Open in PFC)

Selected: Lieto (Open in PFC)

Selected: Regalia (Open in PFC)

Selected: Regalia Maxx (Open in PFC)

Selected: Shavit F 720 WG (Open in PFC)

Selected: Squire Ultra (Open in PFC)

Selected: Trigard 75 WP (Open in PFC)

Formulation and application details

Available in a variety of formulations including ready-to-use products

Commercial production

Produced commercially by the ethoxylation of dodecyl alcohol, which is produced from palm kernel oil or coconut oil.

Impact on climate of production and use

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C at pH 7 (mg l⁻¹)

100000

High

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Melting point (°C)

204

Boiling point (°C)

588

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

3.98 X 10⁰¹

Calculated

Log P

1.6

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

0.6

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

1.47 X 10^-06

Low volatility

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Biodegradable under aerobic conditions

Soil degradation (days) (Aerobic conditions)

DT₅₀ (typical)

3.0

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

3.0

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

General literature: DT₅₀ approx. 77.5 hrs

Soil mineralisation

Aerobic (at 20 °C)

Anaerobic (at 20 °C)

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Value

Cannot be calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Potential for loss via drain flow

Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀ (hrs) as indicator of long-range air transport risk

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

1288

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short Term Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Mammals - Long Term (Chronic) Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹ dw soil)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Beneficial insects (Butterflies)

Contact

Notes

Oral

Notes

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

24.9

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 3.09

Danio rerio Embryo

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

1.8

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 10

Ceriodaphnia dubia

Moderate

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic Plants (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves – Acute LC₅₀, mortality (mg l⁻¹)

> 0.66

Crassostrea gigas Larva

Regulatory Threshold Levels (RTLs)

Note: These RTLs have been calculated using the regulatory approach used in the European Union and based on ecotoxocity values in the PPDB.

Species group

RTL

Notes

Mammals

128.8

Worst case of acute and chronic mammals

Birds

No data

No data for acute and chronic birds

Soil organisms

No data

No data for acute and chronic earthworms

Terrestrial plants

No data

No data for non-target plants vegetative vigour and seedling emergence

Pollinators

No data

No data for contact and oral honeybees

Arthropods

No data

No data for parasitic wasps and predatory mites

Fish

0.249

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic fish

Aquatic invertebrates

0.018

Worst case of temperate acute and chronic aquatic invertebrates

Aquatic plants

No data

No data for free-floating plants, rooted plants, acute and chronic algae

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

1288

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short Term Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Mammals - Long Term (Chronic) Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

600

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Negligible risk based on proposed pattern of use

Occupational

Minimal risk based on proposed pattern of use. PPC recommended

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Health issues

Specific human health issues (hazard-based)

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

May cause ulceration of oral tissues

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not explosive
Avoid contact with strong acids, alkalis and oxidising agents
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Health: H315, H319

WHO Classification

Not listed

UN Number

Not regulated

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

sodium lauryl sulphate

French

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:

21/08/2026

Contact:

aeru@herts.ac.uk

Please cite as:

Tzilivakis, J., Lewis, K.A., Green, A. and Warner, D.J. (2026) A decade of growth and impact of the Pesticide Properties Database (PPDB). Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 32(6), 1104-1129. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2026.2702066

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

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