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BENZOIC ACID
Score
Data: Good
CAS65-85-0
moisturizer (44 products)
lipstick (41 products)
anti-aging (38 products)
mouthwash (35 products)
facial cleanser (32 products)
Show all 506 products that contain BENZOIC ACID.
Possible impurity in: see all ingredients | products
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BENZOIC ACID


image source: PubChem
Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Canceryes
Developmental & reproductive toxicity no information
Allergies & immunotoxicity no information
Use restrictionsyes
Contamination concerns: none
Other MODERATE concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
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): Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Preservative; BULKING; MASKING

About BENZOIC ACID: Benzoic acid is a naturally occurring and synthetically produced substance; it is used in food and cosmetics as a preservative.

Synonym(s): BENZENECARBOXYLIC ACID; BENZENEFORMIC ACID; BENZENEMETHANOIC ACID; CARBOXYBENZENE; DRACYCLIC ACID; PHENYLCARBOXYLIC ACID; PHENYLFORMIC ACID; BENZOIC ACID,; ACIDE BENZOIQUE (FRENCH) ; ACIDO BENZOICO (ITALIAN) ; BENZENECARBOXYLIC ACID

This ingredient may be derived from animals. From PETA's Caring Consumer: In almost all vertebrates and in berries. Used as a preservative in mouthwashes, deodorants, creams, aftershave lotions, etc. Alternatives: cranberries, gum benzoin (tincture) from the aromatic balsam ... read more

Use restrictions

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

Cancer

type of concern product conditions reference
Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen    EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
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Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

type of concern product conditions reference
Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity    Harvell, J, 1994
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Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

type of concern product conditions reference
One or more human occupational studies show possible skin irritation    Lahti, 1995

Data gaps

type of concern product conditions reference
Insufficient data to determine safety   EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
Safety unknown for products that may be inhaled products that may be aerosolized (airborne) Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
14,659 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results ->   PubMed

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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

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

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
FDA Food Additive StatusBENZOIC ACID• PRES
• GRAS
• 0.1%
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsBENZOIC ACID• o
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsBENZOIC ACIDQQQ02,QQQ36,QQQ14; D+, M+, C-
EPA Water Disinfection By-Products CarcinogenicityBENZOIC ACIDLow
FDA Everything Added to FoodBENZOIC ACID• ASP
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListBENZOIC ACID,,Low-Health Priority,,,,,,,
EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)BENZOIC ACIDD Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (1986)
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListBENZOIC ACIDreported as used in fragrance compounds in 2008
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsBENZOIC ACIDJapan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit)
Lahti, 1995BENZOIC ACIDSkin irritation in study of 12 human volunteers
Harvell, J, 1994BENZOIC ACIDSkin or Sense Organ Toxicity Hazards: suspected

Other RTECS® classifications [shown for informational purposes only]
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977BENZOIC ACID• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- "Handbook of Toxicology," 4 vols 1959BENZOIC ACID• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (frog LDLo)
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1984BENZOIC ACID• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1984BENZOIC ACID• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Acta Physiologica Polonica 1961BENZOIC ACID• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- BIOFAX Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories, Inc 1973BENZOIC ACID• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- Bollettino Chimico Farmaceutico 1973BENZOIC ACID• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de Ses Filiales 1966BENZOIC ACID• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Contact Dermatitis 1995BENZOIC ACID• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Contact Dermatitis 1995BENZOIC ACID• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2008BENZOIC ACID• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: other mutation test systems (Drosophila melanogaster orl)
RTECS®- International Polymer Science and Technology 1976BENZOIC ACID• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Iyakuhin Kenkyu 1984BENZOIC ACID• gastrointestinal - Other changes (mouse LD50)
• respiratory - Respiratory depression (mouse LD50)
• brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Journal of Allergy 1945BENZOIC ACID• skin - Dermatitis, allergic ( human TDLo)
• respiratory - Dyspnea ( human TDLo)
RTECS®- Muenchener Medicinische Wochenschrift 1930BENZOIC ACID• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (guinea pig LDLo)
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982BENZOIC ACID• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Inhibition ( human lym)
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982BENZOIC ACID• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Inhibition ( human lym)
RTECS®- Zentralblatt fuer Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II 1959BENZOIC ACID• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Escherichia coli )
RTECS®- Zentralblatt fuer Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II 1959BENZOIC ACID• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Escherichia coli )

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.
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsAOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
EPA Water Disinfection By-Products CarcinogenicityEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2006. EPA Water Disinfection By-Products with Carcinogenicity Estimates. Last updated: 10 April 2006.
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.
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListEC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2008. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Evidence for human carcinogenicity based on 1986-2005 guidelines.
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
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsJapan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
Open scientific literatureLahti. 1995. Immediate irritant reactions to benzoic acid are enhanced in washed skin areas. Contact Dermatitis 33(3):177-82
Scorecard.org Toxicity InformationHarvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria)., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation.
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®- "Handbook of Toxicology," 4 vols 1959 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Handbook of Toxicology," 4 vols., Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co., 1956-59 5,23,1959
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1984 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica. (Almqvist & Wiksell, POB 45150, S-10430 Stockholm, Sweden) V.1- 1920- 26,734,1984
RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1984 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Acta Dermato-Venereologica. (Almqvist & Wiksell, POB 45150, S-10430 Stockholm, Sweden) V.1- -1920 26,734,1984
RTECS®- Acta Physiologica Polonica 1961 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Acta Physiologica Polonica. (Karger-Libri, POB CH-4009, Warszawa, Switzerland) V.1-41, 1950-90. 12,173,1961
RTECS®- BIOFAX Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories, Inc 1973 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- BIOFAX Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories, Inc., Data Sheets. (1810 Frontage Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062) 28-4/1973
RTECS®- Bollettino Chimico Farmaceutico 1973 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Bollettino Chimico Farmaceutico. (Societa Editoriale Farmaceutica, Via Ausonio 12, 20123 Milan, Italy) V.33- 1894- 112,53,1973
RTECS®- Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de Ses Filiales 1966 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de Ses Filiales. (SPPIF, B.P.22, F-41353 Vineuil, France) V.1- 1849- 160,1097,1966
RTECS®- Contact Dermatitis 1995 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Contact Dermatitis. Environmental and Occupational Dermatitis. (Munksgaard International Pub., c/o Publications Expediting Inc., 200 Meacham Ave., Elmont, NY 11003) V.1- 1975- 33,177,1995
RTECS®- Contact Dermatitis 1995 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Contact Dermatitis. Environmental and Occupational Dermatitis. (Munksgaard International Pub., c/o Publications Expediting Inc., 200 Meacham Ave., Elmont, NY 11003) V.1- 33,177,1995
RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2008 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 46,1034,2008
RTECS®- International Polymer Science and Technology 1976 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- International Polymer Science and Technology. (Rapra Technology Ltd., Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4NR, UK) 3,93,1976
RTECS®- Iyakuhin Kenkyu 1984 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Iyakuhin Kenkyu. Study of Medical Supplies. (Nippon Koteisho Kyokai, 12-15, 2-chome, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, Japan) V.1- 1970- 15,359,1984
RTECS®- Journal of Allergy 1945 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of Allergy. (St. Louis, MO) V.1-47, 1929-71. For publisher information, see JACIBY. 16,195,1945
RTECS®- Muenchener Medicinische Wochenschrift 1930 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Muenchener Medicinische Wochenschrift. (Munich, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.33-115, 1886-1973. 77,13,1930
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 1915- 79,1171,1982
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 79,1171,1982
RTECS®- Zentralblatt fuer Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II 1959 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Zentralblatt fuer Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II. Naturwissenschaftliche: Allgemeine, Landwirtschaftliche und Technische Mikrobiologie. (Jena, Ger. Dem. Rep.) V.107-132, 1952-77. 112,226,1959
RTECS®- Zentralblatt fuer Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II 1959 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Zentralblatt fuer Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene, Abteilung II. Naturwissenschaftliche: Allgemeine, Landwirtschaftliche und Technische Mikrobiologie. (Jena, Ger. Dem. Rep.) V.107-132, 1952-77. 112,226,1959

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