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BETAINE

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COMMONLY FOUND IN


SYNONYMS

ABROMINE; LYCINE; TRIMETHYLGLYCINE (TMG), BDBM50103520, AKOS005206774, AM90357, CCG-266068, TOX21_301159, DB06756, Z2756787719, METHANAMINIUM, 1-CARBOXY-N,N,N-TRIMETHYL-, INNER SALT (9CI), AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, SUBSTITUTED, (CARBOXYMETHYL)TRIMETHYL-, HYDROXIDE, INNER SALT (7CI)


RESTRICTED

EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation.

Common Concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • No Data
    Asthma / Respiratory
  • No Data
    Skin Allergies & Irritation
  • No Data
    Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
  • No Data
    Cancer
  • No Data
    Environment


Top Scoring Factors

No information available on this substance.


Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
Health Issue Level of Concern Source
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Very toxic to aquatic life

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

May cause cancer

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Very toxic to aquatic life

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Known to cause reproductive toxicity

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Clear evidence of endocrine disruption in at least one animal study

some

EU Endocrine: EU Endocrine Disrupters

Carcinogenic to humans

some

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Agents classified by the IARC Monographs (through Volume 127)

Very toxic to aquatic life

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Probably carcinogenic to humans

some

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) - Cancer

Reasonably Anticipated To Be Human Carcinogen

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens

May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

may cause cancer

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

May damage the unborn child.

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Known to cause cancer

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Known to cause reproductive toxicity

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Carcinogenic to humans

some

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Agents classified by the IARC Monographs (through Volume 127)

Clear evidence of endocrine disruption in at least one animal study

some

EU Endocrine: EU Endocrine Disrupters

Known To Be Human Carcinogen

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens

May cause cancer

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Very toxic to aquatic life

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Known to cause reproductive toxicity (to females)

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Known to cause reproductive toxicity (to males)

some

California OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment): Proposition 65 List (2020 Update)

Suspected of damaging fertility.

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Reasonably Anticipated To Be Human Carcinogen

some

National Toxicology Program (NTP): NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens

Probably carcinogenic to humans

some

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Agents classified by the IARC Monographs (through Volume 127)

Probably carcinogenic to humans

some

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) - Cancer

Causes skin irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

peripheral nervous system impairment

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

hematologic effects

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

Harmful if swallowed

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

harmful in inhaled

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Harmful if swallowed

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

Possibly carcinogenic to humans

some

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Agents classified by the IARC Monographs (through Volume 127)

Harmful if inhaled

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

causes serious eye irritation

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

may damage fertility or the unborn child

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

may cause cancer

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

may cause harm to breast-fed children

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans

some

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel concludes this substance is safe for use when formulated to be non-irritating.

some

Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): CIR Assessments

Harmful if swallowed

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

harmful in inhaled

Only in: Household Cleaners

some

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website

No eye irritation observed in an animal test.

low

Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): CIR Assessments

No dermal sensitization observed in an animal test.

low

Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): CIR Assessments

Betaine may play a role in decreasing oxidative stress.

low

Guangfu Zhao, Fang He, Chenlu Wu, Pan Li, Nengzhang Li, Jinping Deng, Guoqiang Zhu, Wenkai Ren & Yuanyi Peng. 2018. Betaine in Inflammation: Mechanistic Aspects and Applications. Frontiers in immunology 9, 1070.

Low acute oral toxicity.

low

Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): CIR Assessments

Betaine was not carcinogenic in a study in rats (104 week, dietary exposure).

low

Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): CIR Assessments

No genotoxicity observed in in vitro assays with human or bacterial cells,

low

Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): CIR Assessments

This substance is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a food additive by the US Food and Drug Administration

Only in: Household Cleaners

low

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): FDA - Priority based Assessment of Food Additive (PAFA)



Understanding scores

EWG provides information on cleaning product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Healthy Cleaning ingredient hazard score, from A to F, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend


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