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BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE
Score
Data: Good
CAS61789-71-7
eye drops/ artificial tears (54 products)
acne treatment (17 products)
sunscreen: moisturizer (14 products)
wound treatment (10 products)
oral pain relief (9 products)
Show all 156 products that contain BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE.
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BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE


image source: PubChem
Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Cancer no information
Developmental & reproductive toxicity no information
Allergies & immunotoxicityyes
Use restrictionsyes
Contamination concerns: none
Other LOW concerns: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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): Antimicrobial Agent; Antistatic Agent; Cosmetic Biocide; Deodorant Agent; Surfactant -Suspending Agent; PRESERVATIVE

About BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE: Biocide, preservative and surfactant associated with severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and allergies, benzalkonium chloride is a sensitizer especially dangerous for people with asthma or sk ... read more

Synonym(s): ALKYL DIMETHYL BENZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE; BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION; QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, BENZYLCOCO ALKYLDIMETHYL, CHLORIDES; ALKYL DIMETHYLBENZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE; ALKYLDIMETHYL (PHENYLMETHYL) QUATERNARY AMMONIUM CHLORIDES; AMMONYX; ARQUAD DMMCB-75; BARQUAT MB-50; BAYCLEAN; BENIROL; BENZALKONIUM A

Allergies/immunotoxicity

type of concern product conditions reference
Known human immune system toxicant    National Library of Medicine HazMap
Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence products that may be aerosolized (airborne)  Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics
Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence    Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics
Human skin toxicant - strong evidence    Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
Human immune system toxicant - moderate evidence    National Library of Medicine HazMap

Use restrictions

type of concern product conditions reference
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit)   Japan's Standards for Cosmetics
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics   Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications   Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments

Data gaps

type of concern product conditions reference
2,158 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results ->   PubMed

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsQUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, NOS• ARs
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• ARs
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• ARs
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• ARs
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• ARs
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDERestricted
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDERestricted
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDERestricted
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDERestricted
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDERestricted
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDEQQQ02,QQQ36; M-, S
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListQUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, BENZYLCOCO ALKYLDIMETHYL, CHLORIDESLow-Health Priority
National Library of Medicine HazMapBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDEAS: Yes;SS: Yes;
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDEJapan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit)
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsBENZALKONIUM CHLORIDEJapan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit)
RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology 2003BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )

Other RTECS® classifications [shown for informational purposes only]
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1988BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1990BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1944BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• sense organ - Primary eye irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago) 1945BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA repair (Bacillus subtilis )
RTECS®- Shigaku 1987BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (hamster emb)
RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1964BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (monkey )

references
government/industry list/academic study reference
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsAOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation.
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsHealth Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListEC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
National Library of Medicine HazMapNLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsJapan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology 2003RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology. (Blackwell Scientific Pub. Ltd., POB 88, Oxford, UK) V.63- 1951- 148,171,2003
RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H 1975 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Animal Models in Dermatology: Relevance to Human Dermatopharmacology and Dermatotoxicology," Maibach, H., ed., New York, Churchill Livingston, 1975 -,2,1975
RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V.A., and P. Lazar, eds., New York, Academic Press, Inc. 1977 -,127,1977
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1988 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica. (Almqvist & Wiksell, POB 45150, S-10430 Stockholm, Sweden) V.1- 1920- 68,192,1988
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1990 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica. (Almqvist & Wiksell, POB 45150, S-10430 Stockholm, Sweden) V.1- 1920- 95,711,1990
RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1944 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 27,1118,1944
RTECS®- Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago) 1945 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago). (AMA, 535 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610) New series: V.1-44(3), 1929-50; V.64- 34,99,1945
RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 193,21,1988
RTECS®- Shigaku 1987 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Shigaku. Ondotology. (Nippon Shika Daigaku Shigakkai, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyodaku, Tokyo 102, Japan) V.38- 74,1365,1987
RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 55,501,1980
RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1964 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 6,701,1964

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