title: Skin irritation potential of mixed surfactant systems.
abstract: Virtually all current detergent formulations contain mixtures of surfactants. Our experience and test data on these formulations, which is in agreement with that of many others, has shown that in use the formulations exhibit lower acute irritation potential than predicted by simple summation of the irritation potential of the individual actives. Using the criteria of the Dangerous Preparations Directive (EC Directive 88/379/EEC), many of these formulations classify as irritant in the neat state, with consequent labelling requirements. Such classification is based on addition of irritant components giving a total concentration which exceeds a nominal threshold. In this study, mixtures of surfactants were tested by application to a panel of 31 human volunteers for up to 4 hr, using the technique established for the assessment of acute skin irritation potential. The positive control, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at 20% concentration, gave an 84% positive response. Dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine (DDAB) at the same concentration gave a 94% response. However, a combination of 20% of each of these surfactants in the same panellists gave a response of only 44%--a significant reduction in the irritation potential. A further test conducted with a mixture of 10% SDS and 10% DDAB in a second panel gave a 31% positive response compared with a 94% positive response to the 20% SDS control in that panel. These results clearly demonstrate that the acute irritation potential of mixed surfactants cannot be predicted by simple summation of the irritation potential of the component substances. Initial results of the mechanistic investigation indicate that the reduced irritation induced by the mixed surfactant systems correlates with a reduced critical micelle concentration (CMC). However, the reduced CMC itself seems not to be responsible for the lowered irritation, since these experiments were conducted at concentrations well above the CMC. It is proposed that the critical event leading to skin irritation is binding to skin protein and that in mixed surfactant systems, the individual surfactants exhibit less affinity for this protein.
authors.affiliation: Unilever Environmental Safety Laboratory, Sharnbrook, Bedford, UK.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hall-Manning
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rennie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Revell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barratt
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Basketter
mesh_terms: D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003902:Detergents / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology; D005960:Glucosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008823:Micelles; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012882:Skin Tests; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D005960:Glucosides; D007509:Irritants; D008823:Micelles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D001622:Betaine