EWG Skin Deep® | What is Carbon black (Uncertified D&C Black No. 2)

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Data: Robust

Carbon Black (Uncertified D&C Black No. 2)

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (high), Neurotoxicity (low), Endocrine disruption (low), Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), and Contamination concerns (high)

SYNONYMS

ACETYLENE BLACK; ANIMAL BONE CHARCOAL; CARBON BLACK; CHAR, FROM REFUSE BURNER; LAMPBLACK, CARBON BLACK, CARBON BLACK (UNCERTIFIED D&C BLACK NO. 2), CHANNEL BLACK, PIGMENT BLACK 6, and PIGMENT BLACK 7

Carbon Black is a color composed of finely divided particles of elemental carbon obtained bythe incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons (channel or impingement process).

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

MODERATE

Cancer
MODERATE

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
MODERATE

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
HIGH

Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

CONCERNS
DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

eye liner	10 products
mask	3 products
mascara	2 products
eye shadow	2 products
other eye makeup	2 products
lip liner	2 products
eyelash glue	1 products
hair removal waxes	1 products

Contamination concerns

Chemical
MERCURY
SULFUR
ARSENIC
LEAD
PAHS
BENZO[A]PYRENE
CADMIUM (pyrophoric)

Use restrictions

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics	CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook
Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics	FDA Color Additive Status
Violation of government restrictions - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Color additive not approved by FDA for cosmetics used around eyes	FDA Color Additive Status

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Possible human respiratory toxicant	Open scientific literature
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
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful	Open scientific literature

Allergies/immunotoxicity

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Possible human immune and respiratory toxicant or allergen	Open scientific literature

Persistence and bioaccumulation

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans	Open scientific literature
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative	Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Cancer

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Possible human carcinogen	California EPA Proposition 65
Limited evidence of carcinogenicity	NIOSH Occupational Carcinogens
Limited evidence of carcinogenicity	Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens
Possible mutagen	Open scientific literature

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Limited evidence of developmental/reproductive toxicity	Open scientific literature

Neurotoxicity

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

Endocrine disruption

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Associated with endocrine disruption	Open scientific literature

Data gaps

CONCERN	REFERENCE
994358 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

Informational

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Color additive not approved by FDA for use in food	FDA Color Additive Status

CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association). 2006. International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 11th Edition. Color Additive Information. Washington, DC.
FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Color Additive Status List. September 2006.
Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
California EPA (California Environmental Protection Agency). 9/2008. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. Chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). 2006. NIOSH Carcinogens List (Potential occupational carcinogens). http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npotocca.html.
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).
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