Health Concerns of the Ingredient:
Overall Hazard
Developmental &
reproductive toxicity
Allergies & immunotoxicity
About IRON OXIDES: Iron oxides are inorganic chemicals used as colorants.
Function(s): Colorant; COSMETIC COLORANT
Synoym(s): BLACK OXIDE OF IRON; BROWN IRON OXIDE; CI 77489; IRON BLACK OXIDE; IRON OXIDE; IRON OXIDE (FEO) ; IRON OXIDE RED 10-34-PC-2045; IRON YELLOW OXIDE; IRON (II) OXIDE; RED IRON OXIDE; SYNTHETIC IRON OXIDE
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity | Klaassen, C |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data gaps
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| 5,879 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | NLM PubMed |
Enhanced skin absorption
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Suspected nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skin | Nanomaterial Database |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Cancer
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens |
Data Sources
| CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association). 2006. International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 11th Edition. Color Additive Information. Washington, DC. |
| EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Color Additive Status List. September 2006. |
| FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99 (a total of 935 agents, mixtures and exposures). |
| Klaassen, C., M. Amdur and J. Doull (eds.). Casarett and Doull |
| NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov. |
| NanoWerk. 2007. Nanomaterial Database. Available online: http://www.nanowerk.com/phpscripts/n_dbsearch.php |
Products Containing the Ingredient
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.
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