I've heard about the carcinogenic theory before (and I would agree that it is definitely the most damaging of the SLS claims), but I haven't actually read enough about it to form an opinion. My issue is definitely more with the fact that SLS and SLES can enter the bloodstream, can stay in the body up to five days and are used in testing labs as a standard ingredient to irritate skin. My otherwise hearty family has some allergy issues, and my poor little niece has horrible exzema that has caused her problems almost since birth. I expect that there will be chemical irritation issues from most cleaning products, but I hate to see it in something that is marketed as "green" because most people will look to such products as gentler alternatives to traditional cleaners. Those with sensitivities need to know that there may be issues with using Greenworks cleaners, and most of those reactions would be because of SLS

Dear MommyKat (and Maria), I was on the pilot team that designed how we would formulate Green Works products, including the search for raw materials that were completely naturally-derived.  The number of effective, completely naturally-derived surfactants is very small, and our choice of plant-derived SLS was extensively vetted -- not only by us, but by the Design for Environment (DfE) and the Natural Products Association.  If there were health and toxicity concerns, they would not have allowed them in the products for which they granted their certification. As just one example of the issues cited by Maria, let me assure both of you that there is no way to generate nitrosamines from SLS -- it is a chemical impossibility.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformed and even misleading information on the Internet.  I honestly cannot understand why anyone would even post such information on-line, as it really undermines the reason for the Internet.  But as a result, we all need to look to authoritative sources for reliable information (as a rule, I don't even think it benefits anyone to even repeat such information since it validates their bad behavior!).  If SLS were a carcinogen, you would see it on lists such as those from the EPA and CalEPA (Proposition 65). As for irritation, when formulated with other compounds (such as alkyl polyglucoside or APG), researchers have found that the irritation potential of SLS is significantly reduced.  It is also key to note that we are not recommending that people use our cleaning products like they would personal care products.  Any concerns about our choice of ingredients entering the bloodstream through normal usage of our products should be the furthest thing from your mind. I hope that answers some of your questions.  If you have others, please be sure to post them!

Very informative, Greg, thanks so much! I had no idea that the irritation potential of SLS could be reduced by combining it with other ingredients. This is really my biggest concern with SLS, because, as I said, my family (like so many others) has problems with allergic reactions and skin conditions, and often it is incredibly difficult to pinpoint what caused them.

I agree that there is a big difference between the way one uses personal care products and cleaning products, and theoretically, there should be no reason for a dish soap to, for example, come into contact with the eyes or face. That being said, children can be notoriously unpredictable and I can quite clearly a time when I was five or six years old and helping wash dishes and, for some reason, decided I had to scoop up a handful of bubbles and eat it. I didn't find the taste horrific and went through a phase where I was often found with my mouth full of bubbles. It may not be the proper use of the product, but having watched my sons in a bubble bath I also know that it is by no means uncommon behavior! :) As a mother, I feel that the gentler and safer a product (even a cleaning product) can be made, the better. Knowing that the risk of irritation can be minimized is a load off my mind!

P.S. I agree, the amount of misinformation on the internet can occasionally make life harder instead of easier. Sorting through the jumble is difficult, but a small price to pay overall. With great power comes great responsibility... :)