Chronic toxicity anionic surfactants

Subacute and chronic toxicity of alcohol and alcohol ether sulfates has been extensively tested in several animals and sometimes humans. The duration of the tests was in some cases as long as 2 years. When administered below the toxic amount no specific damages were observed in any of the species tested [333]. No severe side effects were observed in the study by Swisher, carried out with volunteers who ingested considerable amounts of anionic and nonionic surfactants over long periods [348]. Similarly, the effects produced by the intake of daily doses of 1 g of alcohol sulfate per person over 8 weeks [349],... 

River pollution from anionic surfactants, the primarily toxic ones, is of two types (a) acute toxic pollution due to, for example, an accidental spill from a container of full-strength surfactant products, and (b) chronic pollution due to the daily discharges of municipal and industrial wastewaters. The international literature contains the result of numerous studies that have established dosages for both types of pollutional toxicity due to detergents, for most types of aquatic life such as species of fish. 

There are no published reports of the chronic toxicity of C12AS to fish. Considering the comparable acute toxicity to fish and invertebrates of C12AS and the other anionic surfactants reported here, fish chronic toxicity values for C12AS are predicted to be similar to those reported for invertebrates. 

AES. The acute and chronic toxicity of AES has not been investigated as thoroughly as the toxicities of other anionic surfactants. However, sufficient data are available to provide a preliminary assessment of the potential hazard to aquatic life (Table VI). 

Chronic and sub-lethal toxicities of anionic surfactants to aquatic animals (invertebrates and vertebrates) generally occur at concentrations equal to greater than 0.1 mg/l. Table 22.13 gives an overview of the reported chronic toxicities to invertebrates, including freshwater and marine organisms. 

Table 22.14 presents chronic toxicities of surfactants to fish, mainly restricted to various blends and homologous of LASs. Additional information comes from Table 22.15, were other anionic surfactants were tested, leading to similar results (18). 

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