Investigation of genotoxic effects of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) 70 with in vitro methods

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are anionic surfactants found in many products used in daily life. In this study, the genotoxic effects of SLS and SLES 70 were investigated by in vitro CBMN assay, Comet assay and HPRT assay on healthy human lymphocyte cells. In the findings obtained; doses higher than 6% of SLS and 0.10% of SLES 70 had toxic effects on healthy human lymphocyte cells, while 6% of SLS and 0.10% of SLES 70 showed a clastogenic activity by increasing micronucleus formation. 6%, 4% and 2% concentrations of SLS and 0.10%, 0.08% and 0.06% concentrations of SLES 70 increased the tail length, tail intensity and tail moment values with Comet parameters statistically significantly compared to the spontaneous value and caused DNA damage in the form of strand breaks. 6% and 4% concentrations of SLS and 0.10% and 0.08% concentrations of SLES 70 caused moderate gene mutation in the HPRT assay. According to these experimental findings, it was concluded that SLS and SLES 70 may have cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on healthy human lymphocyte cells in vitro, depending on the dose and time. It is envisaged that these results will be supported by further studies.