Ingredient Safety Information
Ethylene Diamine DiSuccinate (SS-EDDS)
[S,S]-EDDS is used at a low level (less than 1%) in laundry detergents as a chelator. Its function in the laundry is to soften the wash water by sequestering (= keeping in solution) the hardness ions.
It is a low molecular weight, non-sorptive and non-volatile ingredient. [S,S]-EDDS is readily and ultimately biodegradable.
The toxicity of [S,S]-EDDS to aquatic organisms varies greatly depending on the species tested. The algae being the most sensitive (due to metal chelating effects - see more to read) with an EC50 of 1.29 mg/L. The toxicity to both invertebrates and fish is low (EC50 > 1000 mg/L).
SS-EDDS was developed by P&G Research and Development organisation after many years of research leading to the discovery that SS-EDDS is the only isomer that is fully biodegradable.
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It is a low molecular weight, non-sorptive and non-volatile ingredient. [S,S]-EDDS is readily and ultimately biodegradable.
The toxicity of [S,S]-EDDS to aquatic organisms varies greatly depending on the species tested. The algae being the most sensitive (due to metal chelating effects - see more to read) with an EC50 of 1.29 mg/L. The toxicity to both invertebrates and fish is low (EC50 > 1000 mg/L).
SS-EDDS was developed by P&G Research and Development organisation after many years of research leading to the discovery that SS-EDDS is the only isomer that is fully biodegradable.
Read more, ingredient info sheet
(PDF file)Put into filesafe
Some Publications by P&G Scientists
- Diederik Schowanek, Drew McAvoy, Don Versteeg, Arnbjörn Hanstveit. Effects of Nutrient Trace Metal Speciation on Algal Growth in the Presence of the Chelator [S,S]-EDDS. Aquatic Toxicology, 36, 253-275, 1996.
- Diederik R. Schowanek, Tom C.J. Feijtel and Thomas W. Federle. Effect of Concentration and Environmental Form of Tetradecenyl Succinic Acid on its Mineralization in Soil. Biodegradation, 7, 377-382, 1997.
- Diederik Schowanek, Tom C.J. Feijtel, Christopher M. Perkins, Frederick A. Hartman, Thomas W. Federle and Robert J. Larson. Biodegradation of [S,S], [R,R] and Mixed Stereoisomers of Ethylene Diamine Disuccinic Acid (EDDS), a Transiotion Metal Chelator. Chemosphere, 34 (11), 2375-2391, 1997.
- J.S. Jaworska, D. Schowanek, T.C.J. Feijtel. Environmental Risk Assessment for Trisodium [S,S]-Ethylene Diamine Disuccinate, a Biodegradable Chelator used in Detergent Applications Chemosphere, 38 (15), 3597-3625, 1999.
- P.C. Vandevivere, H. Saveyn, W. Verstraete, T.C.J. Feijtel and D.R. Schowanek. Biodegradation of Metal-[S,S]-EDDS Complexes Environmental Science & Technology, 35 (9), 1765-1770, 2001.
- P. Vandevivere, F. Hammes, W. Verstraete, T. Feijtel and D. Schowanek. Metal Decontamination of Soil, Sediment, and Sewage Sludge by Means of Transition Metal Chelant [S,S]-EDDS. Journal of Environmental Engineering, September, 802-811, 2001.
