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Chapter 2: Other surfactants · Part 1: Non-ionic surfactants

Amine oxides

  • Contaminant risk
Also called
lauramine oxide, cocamine oxide, cocamidopropylamine oxide
Found in
dishwashing liquid, hand wash, shampoo

The worst fact: in a 1982 study, two nitrosamines were found in 3 of 11 dishwashing liquids and 1 of 4 surface cleaners tested; one of them was at 112 to 661 ppb. "All of the products formulated with this amine oxide contained these two nitrosamines." In a 1984 rat study, the amine oxide alone didn't increase tumours, but given with nitrite in drinking water, 10 of 24 male rats got liver tumours, against 3 in rats given plain water.

Why brands use it: it's "used as a foam builder and stabilizer".

Take care if: it could splash in your eyes. 81% of company reports to the EU class lauramine oxide as "Causes serious eye damage" (company data, not an official classification).

Comes from: lauramine oxide: dimethyldodecylamine reacted with hydrogen peroxide. Cocamidopropylamine oxide is built on an amidoamine made with DMAPA.

Myth check: no common myth we could source.

Contaminants: nitrosamines (see the worst fact) and, in the amidoamine type, DMAPA (Australia: "May cause an allergic skin reaction."). They're unlikely in a well-made product, but it's a factor you can't see on the label.

Fair to say: the nitrosamine measurements are more than 40 years old; we found no recent ones. The US EPA's Safer Choice list rates both amine oxides a green circle.

Correct as of November 2026. What the badges mean

Sources

  • Safe Work Australia. Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS): classifications for alcohol ethoxylates, C10-12 alcohol EO/PO, cocamidopropyl betaine, nonylphenol, DODMAC, and for ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, dimethyl sulfate, methyl chloride, benzyl chloride, epichlorohydrin, DMAPA, monochloroacetic acid and 1,4-dioxane.
  • HSDB (US National Library of Medicine), via PubChem, including Gosselin, Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products (1984); ECHA C&L Inventory (company notifications, via PubChem); JECFA, sodium oleate (via PubChem).
  • Nitrosamines in dishwashing liquids and surface cleaners (1982), PMID 6890512.
  • Tumours in rats given nitrosatable amines and nitrite (1984), PMID 6541624.

The full source list is at the end of Chapter 2.