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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Fair

P Phenylenediamine

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (high), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Occupational hazards (moderate)

SYNONYMS

● UNII-TJX894Z2PK COMPONENT CBCKQZAAMUWICA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
● 1,4-PHENYLENEDIAMINE 2000 MICROG/ML IN ACETONITRILE
● P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE [UN1673] [KEEP AWAY FROM FOOD]
● P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE, TECHNICAL, >=97.0% (GC/NT)
● Q415024
● C19499
● EN300-19064
● P0170
● FT-0673749
● P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE, ZONE-REFINED, PURIFIED BY SUBLIMATION, >=99%

Unacceptable

Unacceptable: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient

p-Phenylenediamine is an ingredient widely used in hair dyes; associated with allergic reactions.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

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

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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hair color and bleaching278 products
exfoliant/scrub1 products
brow liner2 products
conditioner3 products
hair treatment/serum2 products
hair spray1 products
detangler1 products
beard care1 products

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Known human immune system toxicant or allergenOpinion on p-Phenylenediamine, COLIPA n° A7(2012-06-01)
Possible human dermal toxicant or allergenEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergiesEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergiesUS National Library of Medicine,
Limited evidence of dermal toxicity or allergiesEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Opinion on p-Phenylenediamine, COLIPA n° A7(2012-06-01)
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmeticsHealth Canada
Violation of government restrictions - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - anyEU Cosmetics Directive
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - anyPersonal Care Products Council

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humansInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Cancer - limited evidencePersonal Care Products Council
Limited evidence of carcinogenicityInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Wildlife and environmental toxicityEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as any irritantEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Classified as eye irritantEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as toxic or harmfulEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Known human respiratory toxicantEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Limited evidence of cardiovascular or blood toxicityUS National Library of Medicine,
Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicityUS National Library of Medicine,
One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Occupational hazards

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low dosesEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Data gaps

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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 productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Color Additives - Hair DyePersonal Care Products Council

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada
  • Opinion on p-Phenylenediamine, COLIPA n° A7(2012-06-01)
  • EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • US National Library of Medicine,
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Health Canada
  • EU Cosmetics Directive
  • Personal Care Products Council
  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
  • Environment Canada
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

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
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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