Surfactants, anionic and nonionic

Surfactants are the major components of cleaning products and find several applications in industrial processes. These organic amphipathic molecules, containing both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic group, are classified by their ionic properties in water and cover a wide range of chemical structures and toxicities. Due to their intended use, most of these chemicals come in contact with the skin. Accidental ingestion, eye contact and inhalation represent the main routes for poisoning. The use of surfactants in household and industrial cleaning products mostly implies environmental emissions into wastewater treatment and aquatic systems, representing a toxicity concern for environmental organisms.