Chapter 2: Other surfactants · Part 1: Non-ionic surfactants
EO/PO copolymers
- Made from a hazardous chemical
- Contaminant risk
The worst fact: in a 28-day rat study, breathing a fine spray mist of a closely related C16-18 alcohol EO/PO caused lung damage at the highest dose. Australia's regulator said repeatedly breathing fine droplets "released from the sprays of the chemicals is likely to cause severe lung injury".
Why brands use it: a surfactant in detergents and cleaning products.
Take care if: you spray it. Australia classes C10-12 alcohol EO/PO as "Harmful if swallowed; Harmful in contact with skin; Causes skin irritation; Causes serious eye damage; Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure".
Comes from: propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, added to propylene glycol in blocks (poloxamers) or to a fatty alcohol (alcohol EO/POs). Australia classes both as "May cause genetic defects; May cause cancer". That doesn't mean they're in the product, but it's not a great starting point for something you clean with.
Myth check: no common myth we could source.
Contaminants: 1,4-dioxane (Australia: "May cause cancer") and leftover ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, listed as impurities of a commercial poloxamer. They're unlikely in a well-made product, but it's a factor you can't see on the label.
Fair to say: the regulator found sprays that make such fine droplets aren't expected for these chemicals. Poloxamer 188 helped soften stools in a clinical trial when combined with a bulk laxative, and poloxamers are only minimal eye irritants and not skin sensitisers in animal tests.
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.
- NICNAS/AICIS. IMAP Tier II assessments: ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols (2019); alkoxylated aliphatic alcohols (2020); nonylphenols; nonylphenol ethoxylate sulfate and phosphate esters (environment, 2016); cationic surfactants; mono- and dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds (environment, 2016); cocamidopropyl betaine; fatty acid amidopropyl dimethylamines. Public reports STD/1386 (esterquat, 2011) and STD/1363 (lauryl hydroxysultaine).
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review: alkyl glucosides (2013); poloxamers (2008); cocamidopropyl betaine and amidopropyl betaines (2012); alkyl betaines (2018); alkyl sultaines (2024); lauriminodipropionates (2013); coconut oil and related ingredients (2011); fatty acids and fatty acid salts (2019).
The full source list is at the end of Chapter 2.