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DMDM HYDANTOIN (FORMALDEHYDE RELEASER)
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate), and Contamination concerns (high)
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
| shampoo | 112 products |
| conditioner | 105 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 85 products |
| moisturizer | 50 products |
| hair styling aide | 44 products |
| liquid hand soap | 31 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 23 products |
| facial cleanser | 23 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 17 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 16 products |
| body firming lotion | 16 products |
| makeup remover | 14 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 10 products |
| after sun product | 9 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 8 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 7 products |
| hair spray | 7 products |
| hand cream | 5 products |
| detangler | 5 products |
| sunless tanning | 5 products |
| foot moisturizer | 4 products |
| concealer | 4 products |
| anti-aging | 3 products |
| eye liner | 3 products |
| serums & essences | 3 products |
| baby lotion | 2 products |
| bar soap | 2 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 2 products |
| around-eye cream | 2 products |
| eye makeup remover | 2 products |
| foot cleansing | 2 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 2 products |
| 2 products | |
| beard care | 2 products |
| mask | 1 products |
| body spray | 1 products |
| hand sanitizer | 1 products |
| bubble bath | 1 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 1 products |
| glitter | 1 products |
| makeup primer | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| baby bubble bath | 1 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 1 products |
Contamination concerns
| Chemical |
|---|
| FORMALDEHYDE |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Known human immune toxicant or allergen | Formaldehyde - Global Harmonized System (GHS) Hazard Codes |
| Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergies | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Human any irritant - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Use restrictions
| Concern | 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 |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| DMDM Hydantoin - forms formaldehyde a carcinogen. | IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99. |
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 | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 24 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 |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | 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
- Formaldehyde - Global Harmonized System (GHS) Hazard Codes
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99.
- 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.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® 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
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