LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATE (LAS) - UNEP Chemicals

OECD SIDS LINEAR ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATE (LAS)
Reference: Nusair, T.L., Danneman, P.J., Stotte, J., and Bay, P.H.S. 1988. Consumer
products: Risk assessment process for contact sensitization. Toxicologist
8:258. (abstract).
Reliability: 4 Not assignable
(c)
Type: Occlusive epicutaneous
Results: LAS was applied at 1% once to middle Europeans for 24 hours. Test
duration was 6 days. The authors concluded that LAS was sufficiently
compatible to the skin.
Remarks: Information as cited in the IUCLID Data Sheet.
Reference: 1) European Commission. 2000a. Benzenesulfonic acid, C10-13-alkyl derivs.,
sodium salts. Year 2000 CD-ROM edition.
2) Matthies, W., Henkel KgaA, unpublished data, Report No. 890356 (1989).
Reliability: 4 Not assignable
(d)
Type: Comparison of human experience to eye exposure to surfactants with animal
eye irritation studies
Methods: Summaries of human manufacturing accident and consumer accident eye
irritation incidents over several years were collected for laundry, household
and personal cleaning products. These summaries included the date the
incident occurred, the exact product or formulation involved, the estimated
time for the eyes to return to normal, and a brief description of the eye
response. A total of 231 manufacturing employee incidents and 284
consumer incidents were usable, covering 24 and 23 different products,
respectively. The results of these human contact incidents were compared to
the results of studies conducted using two rabbit eye irritation procedures
commonly used to assess eye irritation. These two methods are briefly
summarized below:
1. The FHSA (modified Draize) test utilized albino rabbits, which were
dosed into the conjunctival sac with 0.1 mL of liquid product or the
weight of the solid product equivalent to 0.1 cc. The eyelids were held
shut for one second after instillation. The animals were observed at 1, 2,
3, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days or longer.
2. The Griffith low-volume eye irritation test utilized albino rabbits, with
the test substances dosed directly on the cornea with 0.01 mL of liquid
product or the weight of solids equivalent to 0.01 cc. The eyelid was
released immediately after dosing without forced closing. The animals
were observed for the same time periods as above.
Results: Median days-to-clear for human accident eye exposure are minimal. Only
one product was as high as 7 days and the rest were 2 days or less. A total of
88.1% of the eyes cleared in 4 days or less. There was no reported
permanent eye damage. Both of the animal methods produced more severe
eye responses than were reported from human eye accidents with the same
consumer products (Freeberg et al. 1984).
Remarks: Animal studies consistently overestimated the human response to accidental
exposure. Of the two animal methods, the low-volume rabbit test gave a
closer correlation, while the FHSA test gave the least correlation. A followup
study published in 1986 confirmed this conclusion. Finally, an additional
paper published in 1995 compared consumer eye irritation comments from
1985 to 1992 with the results of low volume eye tests (LVET). The clinical
data and consumer experience consistently showed less eye irritation in
humans from exposure to products than was observed in animal studies.
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 307