Menu
SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE (FORMALDEHYDE RELEASER)
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (low) and Contamination concerns (high)
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 | 12 products |
| hair styling aide | 7 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 4 products |
| serums & essences | 4 products |
| conditioner | 3 products |
| foot moisturizer | 2 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 2 products |
| shampoo | 1 products |
| anti-aging | 1 products |
| moisturizer | 1 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 1 products |
| facial cleanser | 1 products |
| toners/astringents | 1 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
| hair spray | 1 products |
Contamination concerns
| Chemical |
|---|
| FORMALDEHYDE |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Known human any toxicant or allergen | Formaldehyde - Global Harmonized System (GHS) |
| Human any toxicant or allergen - strong evidence | De Groot AC 2010. Formaldehyde-releasers in cosmetics: relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy. Contact Dermatitis, 62: 2–17. |
| Human and animal evidence suggests that topical use can cause sensitization and dermatitis. | Russell K, Jacob SE 2010. Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Dermatitis. Apr;21(2):109-10. |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Cancer - limited evidence | IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99. |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The total content of formaldehyde in the finished cosmetic product must not exceed 0.2% | Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products (SCCPNP) 2002. OPINION CONCERNING A CLARIFICATION ON THE FORMALDEHYDE AND PARA-FORMALDEHYDE ENTRY IN DIRECTIVE 76/768/EEC ON COSMETIC PRODUCTS. SCCNFP/587/02.http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/sccp/out187_en.pdf |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| 2 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Data Sources
- Formaldehyde - Global Harmonized System (GHS)
- De Groot AC 2010. Formaldehyde-releasers in cosmetics: relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy. Contact Dermatitis, 62: 2–17.
- Russell K, Jacob SE 2010. Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Dermatitis. Apr;21(2):109-10.
- IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99.
- Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products (SCCPNP) 2002. OPINION CONCERNING A CLARIFICATION ON THE FORMALDEHYDE AND PARA-FORMALDEHYDE ENTRY IN DIRECTIVE 76/768/EEC ON COSMETIC PRODUCTS. SCCNFP/587/02.http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/sccp/out187_en.pdf
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
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
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
