Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about which ingredients to avoid in product formulations. But there’s a hidden catch…toxic chemicals can exist in a product formulation without being listed on the ingredient list. Some of the most harmful toxins are trace impurities that come from essential ingredients. 1,4-dioxane is one such culprit.  

What is 1,4-Dioxane?

1,4-Dioxane comes from ethoxylated surfactants, legacy formulation ingredients that are used to improve water solubility and provide a stable foam to cleaning products. However, the production of ethoxylated surfactants entails the risk of producing the toxic, hard to separate byproduct¹. 

While once considered an invaluable stabilizer for chlorinated solvents, specifically those used in deep cleaning of industrial machinery, 1,4-dioxane has become a particularly controversial chemical². While not acutely toxic (LD50 = 5200 mb/kg in rats), 1,4-dioxane is an irritant and classified by numerous regulatory bodies as either a probable or known carcinogen.^3,4,5  

1,4-Dioxane Risks

1,4-Dioxane’s true risk lies in the fact that it is a forever chemical. The diether structure of 1,4-dioxane gives the chemical remarkably high stability in water. Further, 1,4-dioxane does not bind to minerals or soil and resists most forms of biodegradation, making it spread rapidly and accumulate in groundwater like other forever chemicals such as polyfluoroalkyl substances.^2,6,7 Detectable 1,4-dioxane has been found in an alarming number of utility-supplied tap water locations in the U.S.²  

Consumer products have never used 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient. However, due to the high usage levels of associated ethoxylated surfactants, the U.S. FDA has tested these products and their ingredients for the chemical since 1979. These tests have shown levels up to 279 parts per million (ppm) for on-the-shelf consumer products.⁸ Testing in 2019 showed levels of 1,4-dioxane as high as 17 ppm in on-the-shelf consumer products.⁹ 

Removing 1,4-Dioxane

If 1,4-dioxane is a known impurity of ethoxylated surfactants, why is it not removed during their production process? Unfortunately, 1,4-dioxane has low volatility and is unable to be extracted from most ethoxylated surfactants. The principle 1,4-dioxane removal systems that have been developed are time and energy intensive.^10,11 Due to this, not all manufacturers completely strip their ethoxylated surfactants from 1,4-dioxane.⁹ When 1,4-dioxane is not removed, it accompanies the ethoxylated surfactant into the finished formula¹.  

High–foaming surfactants are essential performance ingredients for household and I&I cleaning products, but even trace 1,4-dioxane from these materials can make its way to groundwater and contaminate water supplies for years. What options do formulators have for maintaining the performance of their products while avoiding 1,4-dioxane?  

Changing 1,4-Dioxane Regulations

There are a growing number of regulatory restrictions being put into place limiting the amount of harmful chemicals like 1,4-dioxane in consumer products. One example is New York, which passed a law in 2019 that:

1. Requires manufacturers to disclose the presence of 1,4-dioxane on product labels
2. Limits the amount of 1,4-dioxane in a product to no more than 2 parts per million (ppm)

The New York law went into effect December 31, 2022. The law applies to common household cleaning products including  hard surface cleaners, dish soaps, laundry detergents and more. The state has also established a testing program for these cleaning products to ensure they meet the new requirements.

Creating 1,4-Dioxane-Free Formulations

Luckily, there’s a solution to avoid 1,4-dioxane in product formulations. Formulators are beginning to look at replacing ethoxylated surfactants with customized sophorolipids—biosurfactants in the glycolipid class that are specifically designed to have better performance and sustainability. One example is the recently launched Amphi^® line of biosurfactants by Locus Performance Ingredients.

The Amphi^® sophorolipids are naturally derived, non-GMO, have remarkably low usage rates and none of the irritation or toxic byproducts of petrochemical surfactants. This includes no 1,4-dioxane, ethylene oxide (EO), formaldehyde or other trace chemicals.

The Amphi^® ingredient line also features a range of HLB and foaming characteristics, providing formulators with the flexibility needed for formulation optimization.

Amphi^® Line of Biosurfactants: Approvals and Certifications

The full Amphi^® line of biosurfactants is REACH registered, enabling use across the European Union (EU).  The commonly used Amphi^® M biosurfactant is also TSCA and CleanGredients approved for use in Safer Choice-certified products, including for direct release applications.

Not all products that are CleanGredients-listed are approved for direct release. What makes Amphi^® M particularly noteworthy is its ability to meet both the Safer Choice surfactant and direct release criteria. Meeting the stringent direct release criteria means that Amphi^® M can be safely discharged into the environment without causing harm. This is a significant advantage over other surfactants as it makes Amphi^® M an ideal ingredient for formulations such as detergents, power wash cleaners, car washes and boat washes.

Availability of market-ready ingredients like Amphi^® biosurfactants, which are listed in the CleanGredients database and have no 1,4-dioxane concerns, streamline time to market for formulators to develop clean-label, Safer Choice products.

For general surfactant information, download our report.