Medium concernSurfactant
Polysorbate 80
Skin irritant
What it is
An ethoxylated sorbitan ester derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.
What it does
Emulsifier and solubiliser in foods, vaccines, and cosmetics.
Why it’s a concern
Ethoxylation creates the potential for 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide contamination. A 2015 study (Chassaing et al., Nature) suggested polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose disrupted gut microbiota and promoted intestinal inflammation in mouse models at dietary-relevant doses.
Also known as
tween 80polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate
CAS numbers
9005-65-6
Commonly found in
ice creamvaccineslotionprocessed food
Safer alternatives
- non-ethoxylated emulsifiers (lecithin, cetearyl olivate)
Related chemical families
Sources
- Chassaing et al. 2015, Nature