EWG Skin Deep® | What is ZINC OXIDE (sunscreen grade)

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED™

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 &GT; 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

recreational sunscreen	585 products
daily use with SPF	424 products
foundation	134 products
baby sunscreen	125 products
CC cream	56 products
lip balm with SPF	39 products
diaper cream	33 products
BB cream	29 products
	26 products
lip gloss	10 products
facial moisturizer/treatment	7 products
lip balm	3 products
facial powder	3 products
lipstick	2 products
blush	2 products
makeup primer	2 products
toners/astringents	1 products
tanning oil	1 products
setting powder/spray	1 products
serums & essences	1 products
baby lotion	1 products
damaged skin treatment	1 products
body powder	1 products
eye shadow	1 products
baby powder	1 products
around-eye cream	1 products

Enhanced skin absorption

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skin	Nanomaterial Database
Nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skin	Open scientific literature
Suspected nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skin	Open scientific literature

Biochemical or cellular level changes

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

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Strong evidence of occupational hazards	Open scientific literature
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses	National Library of Medicine HazMap
Moderate evidence of occupational hazards	Open scientific literature

Allergies/immunotoxicity

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Human any toxicant or allergen - strong evidence	Open scientific literature
Limited evidence of any toxicity or allergies	Open scientific literature

Use restrictions

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

Decreased skin absorption

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

Cancer

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

Persistence and bioaccumulation

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Found to be persistent and bioaccumulative in wildlife	Open scientific literature
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative	Open scientific literature
Not suspected to be persistent	Open scientific literature

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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 toxicity	Open scientific literature
Classified as a low human health priority	Open scientific literature
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful	Open scientific literature

Ecotoxicology

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Wildlife and environmental toxicity	CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling
Wildlife and environmental toxicity	Open scientific literature
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin	Open scientific literature

Data gaps

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

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

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

Multiple, additive exposure sources

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food	FDA Food Additive Status
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food	FDA Everything Added to Food

Informational

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 Administration	CTFA 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 cosmetics	FDA Color Additive Status

NanoWerk. 2007. Nanomaterial Database. Available online: http://www.nanowerk.com/phpscripts/n_dbsearch.php
Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
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.
NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
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.
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.
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.

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.

Data availability

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

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Low Availability

Moderate Availability

High Availability