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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 | 535 products |
| moisturizer | 240 products |
| shampoo | 229 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 210 products |
| concealer | 208 products |
| conditioner | 170 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 169 products |
| facial cleanser | 145 products |
| serums & essences | 115 products |
| mascara | 114 products |
| mask | 108 products |
| eye shadow | 96 products |
| liquid hand soap | 92 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 80 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 69 products |
| around-eye cream | 67 products |
| blush | 65 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 60 products |
| toners/astringents | 54 products |
| makeup primer | 52 products |
| eye liner | 45 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 45 products |
| makeup remover | 44 products |
| hair styling aide | 44 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 44 products |
| lip gloss | 38 products |
| facial powder | 38 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 37 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 37 products |
| hand cream | 33 products |
| body firming lotion | 33 products |
| baby wipes | 32 products |
| baby shampoo | 30 products |
| lipstick | 27 products |
| toothpaste | 25 products |
| baby soap | 24 products |
| anti-aging | 20 products |
| bubble bath | 20 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 19 products |
| baby lotion | 18 products |
| shaving cream | 18 products |
| 18 products | |
| CC cream | 16 products |
| brow liner | 16 products |
| detangler | 15 products |
| sunless tanning | 15 products |
| hair spray | 13 products |
| baby bubble bath | 13 products |
| lip balm | 12 products |
| mouthwash | 11 products |
| hand sanitizer | 11 products |
| after shave | 9 products |
| beard care | 9 products |
| glitter | 9 products |
| after sun product | 8 products |
| BB cream | 8 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 7 products |
| eye makeup remover | 7 products |
| foot moisturizer | 7 products |
| bar soap | 7 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 6 products |
| nail treatment | 6 products |
| lip liner | 6 products |
| body spray | 5 products |
| baby toothpaste | 5 products |
| oil controller | 5 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 5 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 4 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| other eye makeup | 2 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 2 products |
| diaper cream | 2 products |
| beard cleanser | 2 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 2 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 1 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 1 products |
| cuticle treatment | 1 products |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| lip plumper | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| baby sunscreen | 1 products |
| polish remover | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| body oil | 1 products |
| hair relaxer | 1 products |
| foot cleansing | 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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