Biological changes caused by surfactants and their metabolites in the body, i.e. possible side effects on the body include acute toxicity, subacute toxicity, chronic toxicity, impact on reproduction, embryotoxicity, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, sensitization, hemolysis, etc. Surfactants contact with different parts of human body in different ways, which will put forward different requirements for the above side effects.


Surfactants are widely used in the systems contacting with human body, such as medicine, food, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. For different purposes, the focus of surfactant is mainly on the irritation to mucous membrane, sensitization to skin, toxicity, heredity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity and hemolysis, digestive absorption, biodegradation, etc. For example, for cosmetics, in the past, the principle of selecting ingredients was mainly to dress up beautiful, and the selection of surfactants was only to consider how to achieve the best first effect or main effect, such as cleaning, foaming, emulsifying, dispersing, etc.; secondly, the second effect or auxiliary effect was considered, with little or no consideration of the impact of surfactants on the natural state of skin, hair, etc. Now, the selection principle of surfactant gradually tends to consider how to give full play to the best main and auxiliary efficacy of surfactant under the premise that it can protect the normal and healthy state of skin and hair and produce as few side effects as possible on human body. This development trend makes the suppliers, formulators and manufacturers of surfactant raw materials face a challenge, that is, how to re recognize and evaluate the safety and gentleness of surfactants, and provide consumers with the safest, gentlest and most effective products. Therefore, it is necessary to reevaluate the safety and mildness of the original surfactants and new surfactants.


Cationic surfactants are often used as disinfectants and fungicides, which have strong killing effect on all kinds of bacteria, molds and fungi, but also toxic side effects. They can reduce the function of the central nervous system and respiratory system, and make the stomach congested. The toxicity of anionic surfactant is relatively low. In the range of normal application concentration, it will not cause acute toxicity damage to human body, but after oral administration, it will cause gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Nonionic surfactants belong to low toxicity or non-toxic category, which are non-toxic after oral administration. Among them, peg is the lowest toxicity, followed by sugar ester, AEO, span and tween, and alkylphenol polyether is the higher toxicity.