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POTASSIUM SORBATE
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
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
| foundation | 398 products |
| moisturizer | 209 products |
| shampoo | 199 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 170 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 153 products |
| conditioner | 140 products |
| concealer | 138 products |
| facial cleanser | 125 products |
| liquid hand soap | 107 products |
| serums & essences | 95 products |
| mask | 95 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 84 products |
| mascara | 67 products |
| blush | 61 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 60 products |
| eye shadow | 56 products |
| around-eye cream | 52 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 49 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 45 products |
| toners/astringents | 37 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 35 products |
| makeup remover | 35 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 34 products |
| hand cream | 30 products |
| baby shampoo | 28 products |
| facial powder | 26 products |
| makeup primer | 26 products |
| baby soap | 22 products |
| body firming lotion | 22 products |
| toothpaste | 21 products |
| eye liner | 21 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 21 products |
| CC cream | 19 products |
| anti-aging | 18 products |
| hair styling aide | 17 products |
| baby wipes | 17 products |
| bubble bath | 17 products |
| brow liner | 16 products |
| shaving cream | 15 products |
| baby lotion | 14 products |
| sunless tanning | 14 products |
| lipstick | 13 products |
| baby bubble bath | 13 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 13 products |
| lip balm | 12 products |
| BB cream | 11 products |
| baby toothpaste | 11 products |
| mouthwash | 10 products |
| hair spray | 10 products |
| detangler | 10 products |
| hand sanitizer | 10 products |
| after sun product | 7 products |
| foot moisturizer | 7 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 6 products |
| lip liner | 6 products |
| after shave | 6 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 6 products |
| bar soap | 6 products |
| eye makeup remover | 5 products |
| nail treatment | 5 products |
| body spray | 4 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 4 products |
| oil controller | 4 products |
| Facial Sun Care | 3 products |
| beard care | 3 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 2 products |
| other eye makeup | 2 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 2 products |
| diaper cream | 2 products |
| baby sunscreen | 2 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| body oil | 1 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 1 products |
| cuticle treatment | 1 products |
| lip plumper | 1 products |
| makeup with SPF | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| polish remover | 1 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 1 products |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | Harvell, J, M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria). |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
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 |
| 356 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 |
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 - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
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
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- Harvell, J, M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria).
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- 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.
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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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