EWG Skin Deep® | What is SILICA, CRYSTALLINE (QUARTZ)

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED™

Data: Robust

Silica, Crystalline (Quartz)

This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

SEARCH PRODUCTS

FIND PRODUCTS WITH THIS INGREDIENT

Other Concerns

Persistence and bioaccumulation (high) and Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)

SYNONYMS

● MICRONIZED ROSE QUARTZ

● QUARTZ

● QUARTZ (SIO2)

● QUARTZ PARTICLES

● ROSE QUARTZ POWDER

● SILICA, CRYSTALLINE (QUARTZ)

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Quartz is a mineral and the most common form of silicon dioxide or crystalline silica. Respiratory exposure to large quantities of crystalline silica in the work-place setting has been associated with pulmonary silicosis, a severe lung disease. Long-term, high-volume occupational exposure has been also linked to other disorders such as progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, glomerulonephritis (renal disease) and vasculitis. Research is ongoing on the relevance of these systemic effects to silica exposure in non-occupational settings via consumer products (Steenland 2005; Stratta 2001).

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

HIGH

Cancer
LOW

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
LOW

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
LOW

Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

CONCERNS
DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

mask	21 products
facial moisturizer/treatment	21 products
concealer	15 products
bronzer/highlighter	15 products
eye shadow	11 products
facial cleanser	9 products
exfoliant/scrub	7 products
lipstick	7 products
serums & essences	7 products
around-eye cream	4 products
blush	4 products
moisturizer	3 products
brow liner	3 products
shampoo	3 products
setting powder/spray	2 products
styling gel/lotion	2 products
toners/astringents	2 products
hair styling aide	1 products
makeup primer	1 products
	1 products
hair treatment/serum	1 products
lip balm	1 products
nail treatment	1 products
body spray	1 products
mascara	1 products
anti-aging	1 products
conditioner	1 products

Persistence and bioaccumulation

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans	National Library of Medicine HazMap
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife	National Library of Medicine HazMap
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Cancer

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Known human carcinogen	Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens
Cancer - strong evidence	Scorecard.org Toxicity Information
Possible human carcinogen	Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens
Cancer - limited evidence	Scorecard.org Toxicity Information

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Classified as a high human health priority	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity	National Library of Medicine HazMap
Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity	Scorecard.org Toxicity Information

Data gaps

CONCERN	REFERENCE
65127 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

NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99 (a total of 935 agents, mixtures and exposures).
ED (Environmental Defense). 2006. Scorecard _ The Pollution Information Site. http://www.scorecard.org.
ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) 2008. ACGIH cancer classification system. www.acgih.org.
NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.

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.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST

Low Availability

Moderate Availability

High Availability