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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 | 554 products |
| shampoo | 331 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 296 products |
| moisturizer | 288 products |
| conditioner | 270 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 225 products |
| concealer | 221 products |
| facial cleanser | 199 products |
| serums & essences | 170 products |
| mask | 160 products |
| mascara | 153 products |
| liquid hand soap | 152 products |
| eye shadow | 139 products |
| daily use with SPF | 135 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 101 products |
| around-eye cream | 91 products |
| blush | 90 products |
| toners/astringents | 84 products |
| body firming lotion | 84 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 84 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 82 products |
| hair styling aide | 77 products |
| makeup primer | 64 products |
| lipstick | 59 products |
| makeup remover | 56 products |
| hand cream | 53 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 52 products |
| eye liner | 46 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 42 products |
| toothpaste | 40 products |
| facial powder | 39 products |
| lip gloss | 38 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 37 products |
| bubble bath | 36 products |
| anti-aging | 35 products |
| baby wipes | 33 products |
| setting powder/spray | 32 products |
| baby shampoo | 29 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 29 products |
| 29 products | |
| mouthwash | 27 products |
| baby soap | 24 products |
| detangler | 23 products |
| sunless tanning | 23 products |
| brow liner | 23 products |
| shaving cream | 21 products |
| CC cream | 18 products |
| hair spray | 16 products |
| baby lotion | 16 products |
| BB cream | 16 products |
| lip balm | 15 products |
| baby toothpaste | 14 products |
| beard care | 14 products |
| body spray | 13 products |
| after sun product | 13 products |
| hand sanitizer | 12 products |
| baby bubble bath | 11 products |
| after shave | 11 products |
| eye makeup remover | 10 products |
| foot moisturizer | 9 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 9 products |
| bar soap | 9 products |
| glitter | 9 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 8 products |
| baby sunscreen | 7 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 6 products |
| lip liner | 6 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 6 products |
| oil controller | 5 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 4 products |
| body oil | 3 products |
| other eye makeup | 3 products |
| beard cleanser | 3 products |
| diaper cream | 2 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| depilatory | 2 products |
| hair relaxer | 2 products |
| baby oil | 2 products |
| polish remover | 2 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 2 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 1 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 1 products |
| cuticle treatment | 1 products |
| nail treatment | 1 products |
| fragrance for women | 1 products |
| lip plumper | 1 products |
| foot cleansing | 1 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 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.
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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