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BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE
Score:
Data: Fair
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (moderate)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| liquid hand soap | 42 products |
| hand sanitizer | 13 products |
| moisturizer | 10 products |
| facial cleanser | 9 products |
| makeup remover | 7 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 7 products |
| bar soap | 6 products |
| eye makeup remover | 6 products |
| toners/astringents | 5 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 5 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 4 products |
| sunless tanning | 3 products |
| baby lotion | 3 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 2 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 2 products |
| baby wipes | 2 products |
| body firming lotion | 1 products |
| brow liner | 1 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
| around-eye cream | 1 products |
| lip balm | 1 products |
| BB cream | 1 products |
| foundation | 1 products |
| mask | 1 products |
| hair spray | 1 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 1 products |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| A similar compound is a known human toxicant or allergen | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics) 2012. Asthmagen compilation - AEOC exposures codes. |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant or allergen - strong evidence | Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics |
| Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidence | JACT 8(4):589-625, 1989 confirmed 06/06 |
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergies | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients |
| 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 |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | JACT 8(4):589-625, 1989 confirmed 06/06 |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| A peer-reviewed publication reports quaternary ammonium compounds cause reproductive toxicity in animals. | Vanessa E Melin, Haritha Potineni, Patricia Hunt, Jodi Griswold, Bill Siems, Stephen R. Werre & Terry C. Hrubec. 2014. Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) 50, 163-70 |
Data gaps
| Concern | 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 | JACT 8(4):589-625, 1989 confirmed 06/06 |
| 2541 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data Sources
- AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics) 2012. Asthmagen compilation - AEOC exposures codes.
- AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation.
- JACT 8(4):589-625, 1989 confirmed 06/06
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
- Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007.
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- Vanessa E Melin, Haritha Potineni, Patricia Hunt, Jodi Griswold, Bill Siems, Stephen R. Werre & Terry C. Hrubec. 2014. Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) 50, 163-70
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
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