EWG's Guide to
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HAZARD SCORE RANGE
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F

PHOSPHATES

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
 
High Concern
 
Developmental &
Reproductive Toxicity
 
Some Concern
 
Cancer
 
No Data, Some Concern
 
Environment
 
No Data, Some Concern
 
Top scoring factors: Evidence of skin irritation/allergies/damage; general ecotoxicity; damage to vision
This unspecific ingredient, Phosphates, can be found in 9 products.
Print
 

Evidence

Health issue
 
Level of Concern
 
Source
Phosphates
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Only in: Oven Cleaner; Drain Opener/Clog Remover; Hard Water Stain Remover; Toilet Cleaner; Stove Top Cleaner; Household Cleaners
 
high
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Phosphates
Phosphates in detergent cause lake pollution and eutrophication
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
high
 
G. R. Alexander. 1977. The rationale for a ban on detergent phosphate in the Great Lakes Basin. Ciba Foundation symposium(57), 269-84.
Phosphates
A review article reports phosphates are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in people.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
some
 
Eberhard Ritz, Kai Hahn, Markus Ketteler, Martin K. Kuhlmann & Johannes Mann. 2012. Phosphate additives in food--a health risk. Deutsches Ärzteblatt international 109(4), 49-55.
Phosphates
A review article reports phosphates increase risk for cardiovascular disease in people with chronic kidney disease.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
some
 
Jaime Uribarri. 2007. Phosphorus homeostasis in normal health and in chronic kidney disease patients with special emphasis on dietary phosphorus intake. Seminars in dialysis 20(4), 295-301.
Phosphates
A review article reports phosphates are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in people.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
some
 
Robert N. Foley. 2009. Phosphate levels and cardiovascular disease in the general population. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN 4(6), 1136-9.
Phosphates
A review article reports phosphates are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in people.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
some
 
Geoffrey A. Block, Keith Hruska, Harald Jüppner, Myles Wolf, Marcello Tonelli, Ravi I. Thadhani, Kevin J. Martin, Markus Ketteler, Joachim H. Ix & David C. Wheeler. 2013. Phosphate Homeostasis in CKD: Report of a Scientific Symposium Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.
Phosphates
A review article reports phosphates are associated with increased risk for kidney disease in people.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
some
 
Geoffrey A. Block, Keith Hruska, Harald Jüppner, Myles Wolf, Marcello Tonelli, Ravi I. Thadhani, Kevin J. Martin, Markus Ketteler, Joachim H. Ix & David C. Wheeler. 2013. Phosphate Homeostasis in CKD: Report of a Scientific Symposium Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.
Phosphates
A peer-reviewed publication reports phosphates are associated with increased risk for coronary artery disease in people.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
some
 
Ana Ludimila Cancela, Vanda Jorgetti, Fabiana Giorgetti Graciolli, Luciene Machado dos Reis, Pedro Alves Lemos, Carlos Eduardo Rochitte, Patrícia Taschner Goldenstein, Silvia Maria Titan, Raul Dias Santos & Rosa Maria Moysés. 2012. Phosphorus is associated with coronary artery disease in patients with preserved renal function. PloS one 7(5), e36883.
Phosphates
A peer-reviewed publication reports phosphates are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in people.
Only in: Food Scores®
 
some
 
Ravi Dhingra, Lisa M. Sullivan, Caroline S. Fox, Thomas J. Wang, Ralph B. D'Agostino, J. Michael Gaziano & Ramachandran S. Vasan. 2007. Relations of serum phosphorus and calcium levels to the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the community. Archives of internal medicine 167(9), 879-85.
Phosphates
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Only in: Drain Opener/Clog Remover; Oven Cleaner; Hard Water Stain Remover; Toilet Cleaner; Stove Top Cleaner; Household Cleaners
 
some
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Phosphates
skin irritation
 
some
 
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis
Phosphates
NTP Toxcast scored 1.5-2.5
 
some
 
National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis
Phosphates
Harmful if swallowed
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
some
 
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website
Phosphates
Causes serious eye damage
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
some
 
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): GHS Data from ECHA Website
Phosphates
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
Phosphates
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)
Phosphates
European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
low
 
EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database
Phosphates
European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life
Only in: Household Cleaners
 
low
 
EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database
 


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