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ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Score
Data: Fair
CAS50-81-7
facial moisturizer/ treatment (293 products)
hair color and bleaching (222 products)
anti-aging (210 products)
moisturizer (156 products)
conditioner (124 products)
Show all 1,739 products that contain ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C).
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ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)


image source: PubChem
Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Cancer no information
Developmental & reproductive toxicity no information
Allergies & immunotoxicity no information
Use restrictions no information
Contamination concerns: none
Other LOW concerns: Data gaps

About the ratings

EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below 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. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer

Function/use(s): Antioxidant; Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Skin-Conditioning Agent - Miscellaneous; BUFFERING; MASKING; SKIN CONDITIONING

About ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C): Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is a naturally occurring antioxidant.

Synonym(s): ASCORBIC ACID, VITAMIN C; L-ASCORBIC ACID; 3-KETO-L-GULOFURANOLACTONE; 3-OXO-L-GULOFURANOLACTONE; 3-OXO-L-GULOFURANOLACTONE (ENOL FORM) ; ADENEX; ALLERCORB; ANTISCORBIC VITAMIN; ANTISCORBUTIC VITAMIN; ARCO-CEE; ASCOLTIN

Data gaps

type of concern product conditions reference
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product   Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
Safety assessment was based on related chemical   Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
52,639 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results ->   PubMed

Ecotoxicology

type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Multiple, additive exposure sources

type of concern product conditions reference
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food   FDA Food Additive Status
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food   FDA Everything Added to Food

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

type of concern product conditions reference
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
show more

Persistence and bioaccumulation

type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be persistent    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
show more

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
FDA Food Additive StatusASCORBIC ACID• PRES
• GRAS
• GMP - CFR182.3013
• DS
• GRAS
• GMP - CFR182.5013
• NUTR
• GRAS
• GMP - CFR182.8013
• MISC
• GRAS/FS
• Part 137
• Cereal Flours
• 150.141; 150.161
• Art Sw Jellies & Preserves
• 155.200 - Canned Mushrooms & Artichokes
FDA Food Additive StatusVITAMIN C• See Ascorbic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsL-ASCORBIC ACIDQQQ01,QQQ11,QQQ50
FDA Everything Added to FoodASCORBIC ACID• ASP
Roelandts, 1998ASCORBIC ACIDMay protect skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes further against UVB-induced cytoxic effects
Darr, 1992ASCORBIC ACIDSome protection against UVB-induced erythema and sunburn-cell formation
Bissett, 1990ASCORBIC ACIDSome protection against skin wrinkling and tumour formation
Darr, 1996ASCORBIC ACIDSome protection against skin wrinkling and tumour formation
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListL-ASCORBIC ACID,,Low-Health Priority,,,,,,,
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListL-ASCORBIC ACIDreported as used in fragrance compounds in 2008

Other RTECS® classifications [shown for informational purposes only]
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
RTECS®- Agricultural and Biological Chemistry 1981ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium )
RTECS®- Cancer Research 1982ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human oth)
• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Inhibition ( human oth)
• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems ( human oth)
RTECS®- Eiyo to Shokuryo 1981ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: sperm (silkworm par)
RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1993ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (mouse ipr)
RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1995ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (hamster ovr)
RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1980ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ovr)
RTECS®- Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 1978ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mammal lym)
• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (mouse lvr)
RTECS®- Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 1979ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Neurospora crassa )
RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse orl)
• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test (mouse orl)
RTECS®- Mutation Research 1982ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Inhibition ( human hla)
RTECS®- Oncology 1978ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Inhibition ( human oth)
RTECS®- Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 1953ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (other micro-organisms )
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (Bacillus subtilis )
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sex Chromosome Loss and Nondisjunction (Saccharomyces cerevisiae )
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Gene Conversion and Mitotic Recombination (Saccharomyces cerevisiae )
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA repair (Saccharomyces cerevisiae )
RTECS®- Science 1987ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (hamster ovr)
RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1989ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse ipr)
• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (mouse ipr)
RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2007ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human oth)

references
government/industry list/academic study reference
FDA Food Additive StatusFDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
FDA Everything Added to FoodFDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Open scientific literature{Roelandts, 1998}
Open scientific literature{Darr, 1992}
Open scientific literature{Bissett, 1990}
Open scientific literature{Darr, 1996}
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListEC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListIFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25
RTECS®- Agricultural and Biological Chemistry 1981 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Agricultural and Biological Chemistry. (Maruzen Co. Ltd., POB 5050, Tokyo International, Tokyo 100-31, Japan) V.25- 45,327,1981
RTECS®- Cancer Research 1982 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Cancer Research. (Public Ledger Building, Suit 816, 6th & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19106) V.1- 42,3783,1982
RTECS®- Eiyo to Shokuryo 1981 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Eiyo to Shokuryo. Food and Nutrition. (Tokyo, Japan) V.10-35, 1957-82. 34,367,1981
RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1993 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 21,160,1993
RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1995 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 26,240,1995
RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1980 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. (London, UK) V.1-19, 1963-81. For publisher information, see FCTOD7. 18,497,1980
RTECS®- Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 1978 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. (Business Center for Academic Soc. Japan, 2-4-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan) V.19- 24,263,1978
RTECS®- Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 1979 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 10,249,1979
RTECS®- Mutation Research 2005 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 577S,1,2005
RTECS®- Mutation Research 1982 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 92,427,1982
RTECS®- Oncology 1978 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Oncology. (S. Karger AG, Postfach CH-4009 Basel, Switzerland) V.21- 35,160,1978
RTECS®- Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 1953 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science. (Oklahoma Academy of Science, c/o Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Southwestern Oklahoma State Univ., Weatherford, OK 73096) V.1- 1910/1920- 34,114,1953
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,175,1981
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,468,1981
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,491,1981
RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research 1981 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Progress in Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1,502,1981
RTECS®- Science 1987 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Science. (American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science, 1333 H St., NW, Washington, DC 20005) V.1- 236,933,1987
RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1989 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 9,51,1989
RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 2007 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Toxicology Letters. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 170,57,2007

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