EWG's Guide to
Healthy Cleaning

Find products and ingredients Learn how the Guide works Discover EWG VERIFIED®

HOME / INGREDIENTS / Sodium bisulfite


C

SODIUM BISULFITE

Substance Image

SEARCH PRODUCTS


COMMONLY FOUND IN


SYNONYMS

SODIUM BISULFITE, MIXTURE OF NAHSO3 AND NA2S2O5, EC 231-548-0, SODIUM BISULFITE (JP17), SODIUM HYDROGEN SULFITE SOLUTION (45% OR LESS), KSC492I6N, SODIUM BISULFITE, ACS REAGENT, DTXSID8034902, CTK3J2466, TOX21_303826, DSSTOX_GSID_47218


RESTRICTED

EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation.

Common Concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

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


Top Scoring Factors

Evidence of respiratory effects; general systemic/organ effects; skin irritation/allergies/damage


Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
Health Issue Level of Concern Source
Collapse content Expand content

Health Canada reports that sulfites may cause an anaphylactic reaction in people.

Only in: Food Scores®

high

Health Canada. 2005. Sulphites - One of the nine most common food products causing severe adverse reactions.

The European Union Scientific Committee on Food reports that this substance is genotoxic.

Only in: Food Scores®

high

Scientific Committee on Food. 1996. European Commission reports of the Scientific Committee on Food (35th Series). 35th Series, 23-27.

Harmful if swallowed

Only in: Household Cleaners

moderate

EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes

The European Union Scientific Committee on Food reports that this substance can cause gastrointestinal hyperplasia in animals.

Only in: Food Scores®

moderate

Scientific Committee on Food. 1996. European Commission reports of the Scientific Committee on Food (35th Series). 35th Series, 23-27.

The European Union Scientific Committee on Food reports that this substance causes skin allergies.

Only in: Food Scores®

some

Scientific Committee on Food. 1996. European Commission reports of the Scientific Committee on Food (35th Series). 35th Series, 23-27.

Causes respiratory irritation

some

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

upper respiratory tract irritation

some

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

Health Canada reports that sulfites may cause allergy-like respiratory symptoms and hyperactivity in people.

Only in: Food Scores®

some

Health Canada. 2005. Sulphites - One of the nine most common food products causing severe adverse reactions.

The European Union Scientific Committee on Food reports that this substance can cause respiratory symptoms and hyper-reactivity in people.

Only in: Food Scores®

some

Scientific Committee on Food. 1996. European Commission reports of the Scientific Committee on Food (35th Series). 35th Series, 23-27.

Causes skin irritation

some

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

The European Union Scientific Committee on Food reports that this substance can cause gastrointestinal irritation in people.

Only in: Food Scores®

some

Scientific Committee on Food. 1996. European Commission reports of the Scientific Committee on Food (35th Series). 35th Series, 23-27.

The European Union Scientific Committee on Food reports that this substance can cause gastrointestinal inflammation in animals.

Only in: Food Scores®

some

Scientific Committee on Food. 1996. European Commission reports of the Scientific Committee on Food (35th Series). 35th Series, 23-27.

not classifiable as a human carcinogen

low

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

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)

The European Union Scientific Committee on Food reports that this substance does not cause cancer.

Only in: Food Scores®

low

Scientific Committee on Food. 1996. European Commission reports of the Scientific Committee on Food (35th Series). 35th Series, 23-27.



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


4

Products with This Ingredient

VIEW ALL PRODUCTS WITH THIS INGREDIENT




Cleaners Healthy Living App Cleaners Healthy Living App

EWG research
on the go

Find personal care, cleaning, and food products on the EWG Healthy Living app.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

EWG research
on the go

Find personal care, cleaning, and food products on the EWG Healthy Living app.

DOWNLOAD THE APP