MICHELE NAVA
IIT srl, via Alba 18, 21052 Busto Arsizio (Va), Italy

Abstract

the 1.4 dioxane (1) is a known breast carcinogen compound and it is added to the other chemicals to make them less harsh. Today’s demand is to minimize the concentration of 1.4 dioxane in all cosmetic products. For this reason this is to discuss the simple and economic system for removing of this component especially in sulfonation plants. Vacuum-stripping can remove 1.4 dioxane from an ethoxylated product, or manufacturers can skip ethoxylation entirely by using less-irritating ingredients to begin with (2).
1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen linked to organ toxicity, may be found in as many as 22 percent of the more than 25,000 cosmetics products in the Skin Deep database, but usually it is not indicated on ingredient labels. That’s because 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant created when common ingredients form the compound when mixed together (2).

CHARACTERISTICS OF 1.4-DIOXANE

1.4-dioxane is generated through a process called sulfonation of ethoxylated alcohols. Lauryl alcohol sulfate, a chemical that is irritating on the skin, is often converted to the less-harsh chemical sodium laureth sulfate. The conversion process can lead to contamination of this ingredient with 1.4-dioxane.
Most commonly, 1.4-dioxane is found in products that create suds, like shampoo, liquid soap and bubble bath. Environmental Working Group’s analysis suggests that 97 percent of hair relaxers, 57 percent of baby soaps and 22 percent of all products in skin deep may be contaminated with 1.4-dioxane (1).

HEALTH ISSUES OF 1.4 DIOXANE
Cancer incidence has been demonstrated to be raised by the 1.4-dioxane that readily penetrates the skin (3). 1.4-dioxane is considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (4) and is listed as an animal carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (5). It is included on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer or birth defects (6).

PROCESSES TO MINIMIZE 1.4 DI ... ...