EWG's Guide to
Healthy Cleaning

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HAZARD SCORE RANGE
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F

COLORS

Products with this unspecific ingredient may be composed of any the specific substances listed below. The evidence shown is based on the most concerning group member.
Asthma/Respiratory
 
No Data, Some Concern
 
Skin Allergies &
Irritation
 
No Data, Some Concern
 
Developmental &
Reproductive Toxicity
 
Some Concern
 
Cancer
 
No Data, Some Concern
 
Environment
 
No Data, Some Concern
 
Top scoring factors: Evidence of Government enforceable restrictions; general systemic/organ effects; developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects
This unspecific ingredient, Colors, can be found in 252 products.
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Evidence

Health issue
 
Level of Concern
 
Source
Colors
The FDA prohibits the use of this substance in cosmetics because it causes cancer in rats.
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
high
 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1990. Termination of provisional listings of FD&C Red No. 3 for use in cosmetics and externally applied drugs and of lakes of FD&C Red No. 3 for all uses. Federal Register 55, 3516.
Colors
FDA finds this substance to be an animal carcinogen, causing tumors in rats.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
high
 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1990. Termination of provisional listings of FD&C Red No. 3 for use in cosmetics and externally applied drugs and of lakes of FD&C Red No. 3 for all uses. Federal Register 55, 3516.
Colors
Synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
high
 
2021. Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children. California Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Colors
The European Food Safety Authority reports this substance causes thyroid tumors in rodents with limited relevance to humans.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
moderate
 
European Food Safety Authority & Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS). 2010. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Erythrosine (E 127) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 9(1), 1854.
Colors
Harmful if swallowed
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
some
 
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website
Colors
Harmful in contact with skin
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
some
 
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website
Colors
NTP Toxcast scored 2.5-3.5
 
some
 
National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis
Colors
Organohalogen compounds are often found to be persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative, and associated with chronic health concerns
 
some
 
Prasada Rao S. Kodavanti & Bommanna G. Loganathan. 2017. Organohalogen Pollutants and Human Health. International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 359-366.
 


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