Nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt monohydrate is used in synthetic detergents - primarily in carpet shampoo. According to the NIEHS:

"Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) is a synthetic amino-polycarboxylic acid chelating agent used chiefly as a replacement for phosphates in detergents. NTA sequesters magnesium and calcium ions present in hard water, which would normally inhibit the activity of detergent surfactants."*

This ingredient is suspected of causing cancer. It is listed as such by California's Proposition 65 (Workers' Right-to-Know legislation), and by RTECS# AJ1070000.