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Data: Good

Zinc Oxide (Sunscreen Grade)

  • This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns.
  • Products with the EWG VERIFIED mark have met use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), Ecotoxicology (low), Occupational hazards (moderate), and Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)

SYNONYMS

● A&D MEDICATED OINTMENT
● ACTOX 14
● ACTOX 16
● ACTOX 216
● AI3-00277
● AKRO-ZINC BAR 85
● AKRO-ZINC BAR 90
● AMALOX
● AZO 22
● AZO-33
● AZO-55
● AZO-55TT
● AZO-66
● AZO-66TT
● AZO-77
● AZO-77TT
● AZODOX
● AZODOX-55
● AZODOX-55TT
● BLANC DE ZINC
● C-WEISS 8
● C.I. 77947
● C.I. PIGMENT WHITE 4
● CADOX XX 78
● CASWELL NO. 920
● CCRIS 1309
● CHINESE WHITE
● CI PIGMENT WHITE 4
● CYNKU TLENEK
● DOME PASTE BANDAGE
● EINECS 215-222-5
● ELECTOX 2500
● ELECTROX 2500
● EMANAY ZINC OXIDE
● EMAR
● EPA PESTICIDE CHEMICAL CODE 088502
● FELLING ZINC OXIDE
● FLORES DE ZINCI
● GIAP 10
● GREEN SEAL-8
● HSDB 5024
● HUBBUCK'S WHITE
● K-ZINC
● KADOX 15
● KADOX 72
● KADOX-25
● MICRONIZED ZINC OXIDE
● NO-GENOL
● NOGENOL
● OUTMINE
● OZIDE
● OZLO
● PERMANENT WHITE
● POWDER BASE 900
● PROTOX 166
● PROTOX 168
● PROTOX 169
● PROTOX TYPE 166
● PROTOX TYPE 167
● PROTOX TYPE 168
● PROTOX TYPE 169
● PROTOX TYPE 267
● PROTOX TYPE 268
● RED SEAL 9
● RVPAQUE
● SNOW WHITE
● SUPERTAH
● UNICHEM ZO
● VANDEM VAC
● VANDEM VOC
● VANDEM VPC
● WHITE SEAL-7
● XX 203
● XX 601
● XX 78
● ZINC GELATIN
● ZINC MONOXIDE
● ZINC OXIDE (SUNSCREEN GRADE > 100NM)
● ZINC OXIDE (SUNSCREEN GRADE > 100NM)
● ZINC OXIDE (Z-COTE)
● ZINC OXIDE (Z-COTE, 60NM)
● ZINC OXIDE (ZNO)
● ZINC OXIDE; ZINC OXIDE
● ZINCA 20
● ZINCI OXICUM
● ZINCI OXYDUM
● ZINCITE
● ZINCOID
● ZINCUM OXYDATUM
● ZIRADRYL
● ZN 0701T
● ZN-0401 E 3/16''
● ZNO

Restricted - Unaccpetable

The score of this ingredient can vary from Restricted to Unacceptable based on the method of product consumption. For instance, when used in aerosol-based products, this ingredient may pose a risk to respiratory health, leading to a higher score

Click here for more information about ingredient scores


Sunscreens with zinc oxide usually contain nanoparticles. Zinc oxide in sunscreen offers UVA protection. Nanoparticle zinc oxide in sunscreen does not penetrate healthy skin, and thus appear to pose a low health risk in lotions. Inhalation of powders and sprays is a concern, however.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • MODERATE
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • MODERATE
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
recreational sunscreen565 products
daily use with SPF451 products
foundation140 products
baby sunscreen116 products
CC cream63 products
lip balm with SPF38 products
diaper cream31 products
BB cream27 products
26 products
facial moisturizer/treatment23 products
lip gloss10 products
lip balm3 products
tanning oil2 products
baby lotion2 products
makeup primer2 products
serums & essences1 products
damaged skin treatment1 products
mask1 products
body powder1 products
eye shadow1 products
blush1 products
moisturizer1 products
lipstick1 products
baby powder1 products
around-eye cream1 products
facial powder1 products

Enhanced skin absorption

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skinOpen scientific literature
Nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skinNanomaterial Database
Suspected nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skinOpen scientific literature

Biochemical or cellular level changes

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Produces excess reactive oxygen species that can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease.Open scientific literature

Occupational hazards

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Strong evidence of occupational hazardsOpen scientific literature
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate dosesNational Library of Medicine HazMap
Moderate evidence of occupational hazardsOpen scientific literature

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Human any toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceOpen scientific literature
Limited evidence of any toxicity or allergiesOpen scientific literature

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - anyOpen scientific literature

Decreased skin absorption

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited potential to absorb into the skin.Open scientific literature

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs
Associated with cardiovascular toxicityOpen scientific literature
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulOpen scientific literature
Classified as a low human health priorityOpen scientific literature

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation resultsOpen scientific literature
One or more in vitro tests on microorganisms show positive mutation resultsOpen scientific literature

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Found to be persistent and bioaccumulative in wildlifeOpen scientific literature
Not suspected to be persistentOpen scientific literature
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeOpen scientific literature

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Wildlife and environmental toxicityCPS&Q - Classification & Labelling
Wildlife and environmental toxicityOpen scientific literature
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinOpen scientific literature

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Color Additives - Exempt from Batch Certification by the U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Color additive approved by FDA for use in cosmeticsFDA Color Additive Status

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
14377 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemicalNLM PubMed

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be a reproductive toxicant in humansOpen scientific literature

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodFDA Everything Added to Food
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodFDA Food Additive Status
  • Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
  • NanoWerk. 2007. Nanomaterial Database. Available online: http://www.nanowerk.com/phpscripts/n_dbsearch.php
  • NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
  • EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule.
  • CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP.
  • CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association). 2006. International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 11th Edition. Color Additive Information. Washington, DC.
  • FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Color Additive Status List. September 2006.
  • NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
  • 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.
  • FDA (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.

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, 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

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability

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