Name PEG-15 STEARMONIUM CHLORIDE Description Octadecanaminium, N-methyl, ethoxylated, chlorides (15 mol EO average molar ratio) Benefits ANTISTATIC, SURFACTANT – CLEANSING Considerations • Ethoxylated Chemical This is an ethoxylated chemical, meaning it’s been created with ethylene oxide, traces of which, along with its carcinogenic byproduct, 1,4-dioxane, can remain in the product.
• Quaternary Ammonium Compound This chemical is also in a class of chemicals called quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats as they are called for short. Quats have been found in some studies to be toxic to mitochondria in our body's cells. • Possible Endocrine Disruptor Quats and PEGs have also been found to disrupt hormones, especially estrogen. • Contamination Concerns There is some data to suggest that quaternary ammonium compounds can release carcinogenic nitrosamines under certain conditions. Research Sources https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4260154/ https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp1404 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es902840h
https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/final-risk-evaluation-14-dioxane Summary Contamination concerns (carcinogenic ethylene oxide and/or 1,4-dioxane, nitrosamines), suspected endocrine disruption.
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