EWG Skin Deep® | What is QUATERNIUM-15 (FORMALDEHYDE RELEASER)

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Data: Fair

Quaternium 15 (Formaldehyde Releaser)

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate), and Contamination concerns (high)

SYNONYMS

1-(3-CHLORO-2-PROPENYL)- 3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.1]DECANE, 1-(3-CHLORO-2-PROPENYL)-3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.1]DECANE CHLORIDE, 1-(3-CHLOROALLYL)-3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIAADAMANTANE CHLORIDE, 3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.1]DECANE, 1-(3-CHLORO-2-PROPENYL)-, 3,5,7TRIAZA1AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.13,7]DECANE, 1(3CHLORO2PROPENYL), CHLORIDE, CHLOROALLYL METHENAMINE CHLORIDE, METHENAMINE 3-CHLOROALLY LCHLORIDE, METHENAMINE 3-CHLOROALLYLOCHLORIDE, N-(3-CHLOROALLYL)HEXAMINIUM CHLORIDE, QUATERNIUM-15, and QUATERNIUM-15 (FORMALDEHYDE RELEASER)

This ingredient is a quaternary ammonium salt used as a preservative; it acts as a formaldehyde releaser. The European Union has determined that this ingredient 'may not be safe' in cosmetics.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

LOW

Cancer
HIGH

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
LOW

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
MODERATE

Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

CONCERNS
DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

body wash/cleanser	8 products
eye makeup remover	2 products
conditioner	2 products
facial cleanser	2 products
makeup remover	1 products
mascara	1 products
detangler	1 products
styling gel/lotion	1 products
baby soap	1 products
baby shampoo	1 products

Contamination concerns

Chemical
FORMALDEHYDE

Allergies/immunotoxicity

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Known human skin sensitizer toxicant or allergen	Open scientific literature
Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidence	Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergies	National Library of Medicine HazMap

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Possible human eye, skin irritant	Open scientific literature

Use restrictions

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - any	Open scientific literature
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications	Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
Classified as medium human health priority	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)	EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs

Cancer

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Cancer - limited evidence	Open scientific literature

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

CONCERN	REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show any effects at moderate doses	Open scientific literature

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
94 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

Persistence and bioaccumulation

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Informational

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit	Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments

Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
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.
EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule.
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