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D&C Black No. 2 (CI 77266)
Score:
Data: Robust
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (high), Neurotoxicity (low), Endocrine disruption (low), Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), 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
| eye liner | 86 products |
| eye shadow | 55 products |
| mascara | 31 products |
| nail polish | 13 products |
| lip liner | 12 products |
| brow liner | 6 products |
| glitter | 4 products |
| nail treatment | 4 products |
| blush | 3 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 3 products |
| eyelash glue | 2 products |
| facial powder | 1 products |
| lip gloss | 1 products |
| mask | 1 products |
| BB cream | 1 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 1 products |
Contamination concerns
| Chemical |
|---|
| CADMIUM (pyrophoric) |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Restricted in European cosmetics | EU Cosmetics Directive 2019. CosIng. Appears as: listid: COSING-91006; Chemical_Name: carbon black (nano); Synonyms: 77266; CAS: 1333-86-4 |
| Color additive approved by FDA for limited uses in cosmetics | US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2020. Color Additive Status. Appears as: ; Chemical_Name: D&C Black No. 2; ; |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Possible human carcinogen | California EPA Proposition 65 |
| Cancer - strong evidence | Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens (July 2004) can be obtained from http://wwwoehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html. |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monographs Programme on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lists of Group 1, 2a, and 2b substances can be obtained. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php; Vol 65, 93 ;in prep. |
| SCCS concludes this substance may be genotoxic based on in vivo and in vitro evidence. | European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2015. Opinion on Carbon Black (nano-form). |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| SCCS concludes this substance impacts the immune system when inhaled. | European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2015. Opinion on Carbon Black (nano-form). |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| SCCS reports that inhalation of this substance impacted lung function in healthy humans. | European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2015. Opinion on Carbon Black (nano-form). |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Possible human respiratory toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| SCCS concludes this substance accumulates in the lungs of humans. | European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2015. Opinion on Carbon Black (nano-form). |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| SCCS reports that this substance may be toxic to reproduction/development when inhaled. | European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2015. Opinion on Carbon Black (nano-form). |
Neurotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| A peer-reviewed study reports that maternal inhalation of this substance led to neurodevelopmental effects in offspring. | Masakazu Umezawa, Atsuto Onoda, Irina Korshunova, Alexander C Ø Jensen, Ismo K. Koponen, Keld A. Jensen, Konstantin Khodosevich, Ulla Vogel & Karin S. Hougaard. 2018. Maternal inhalation of carbon black nanoparticles induces neurodevelopmental changes in mouse offspring. Particle and fibre toxicology 15(1), 36. |
Endocrine disruption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| A peer-reviewed article repors this substance impacted hormone production in vitro. | Violaine Simon, Charlotte Avet, Valérie Grange-Messent, Richard Wargnier, Chantal Denoyelle, Alice Pierre, Julien Dairou, Jean-Marie Dupret & Joëlle Cohen-Tannoudji 2017. Carbon Black Nanoparticles Inhibit Aromatase Expression and Estradiol Secretion in Human Granulosa Cells Through the ERK1/2 Pathway. Endocrinology 158(10), 3200-3211. |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| 471 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 |
|---|---|
| Color additive not approved by FDA for cosmetics used around eyes | US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2015. Color Additive Status. Appears as: listid: COLOR-022; Chemical_Name: Carbon black; ; CAS: 1333-86-4 |
Data Sources
- EU Cosmetics Directive 2019. CosIng. Appears as: listid: COSING-91006; Chemical_Name: carbon black (nano); Synonyms: 77266; CAS: 1333-86-4
- US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2020. Color Additive Status. Appears as: ; Chemical_Name: D&C Black No. 2; ;
- 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.
- Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens (July 2004) can be obtained from http://wwwoehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html.
- World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monographs Programme on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lists of Group 1, 2a, and 2b substances can be obtained. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php; Vol 65, 93 ;in prep.
- European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) 2015. Opinion on Carbon Black (nano-form).
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- CHE (The Collaborative on Health and the Environment). 2006. Toxicant and Disease Database.
- Masakazu Umezawa, Atsuto Onoda, Irina Korshunova, Alexander C Ø Jensen, Ismo K. Koponen, Keld A. Jensen, Konstantin Khodosevich, Ulla Vogel & Karin S. Hougaard. 2018. Maternal inhalation of carbon black nanoparticles induces neurodevelopmental changes in mouse offspring. Particle and fibre toxicology 15(1), 36.
- Violaine Simon, Charlotte Avet, Valérie Grange-Messent, Richard Wargnier, Chantal Denoyelle, Alice Pierre, Julien Dairou, Jean-Marie Dupret & Joëlle Cohen-Tannoudji 2017. Carbon Black Nanoparticles Inhibit Aromatase Expression and Estradiol Secretion in Human Granulosa Cells Through the ERK1/2 Pathway. Endocrinology 158(10), 3200-3211.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2015. Color Additive Status. Appears as: listid: COLOR-022; Chemical_Name: Carbon black; ; CAS: 1333-86-4
- This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns.
- Products with the EWG VERIFIED mark have met the program’s impurity restrictions based on EWG review of company data.
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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
