BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE
Colorant; COSMETIC COLORANT
Also listed as
BASIC BISMUTH CHLORIDE; BISMUTH CHLORIDE OXIDE; BISMUTHINE, CHLOROOXO-; BISMUTH SUBCHLORIDE; BISMUTHYL CHLORIDE; CHLORBISMOL; CHLOROOXOBISMUTHINE; CI 77163; PEARL SUPER SUPREME; PEARL SUPREME; PEARL WHITE
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
| Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
|
See products containing BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE | |
About BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE: Bismuth Oxychloride is an inorganic pigment. See "Regulatory and Ingredient Use Information," for Colorants in Volume 1, Introduction, Part A. To identify the colorant meeting the requirements for labeling purposes in the US, the INCI Name Bismuth Oxychloride must be used. To identify the colorant allowed for use in the European Union (EU), the INCI Name CI 77163 must be used, except for hair dye products.
This ingredient may be derived from animals. From PETA's Caring Consumer: Pigments from animal, plant, and synthetic sources used to color foods, cosmetics, and other products. Cochineal is from insects. Widely used FD&C and D&C colors are coaltar (bituminous coal) derivatives that are continously tested on animals due to their carcinogenic properties. Alternatives: grapes, beets, turmeric, saffron, carrots, chlorophyll, annatto, alkanet.
BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE has reported used in the following product types: lipstick (877); eye shadow (860); nail polish (531); lip gloss (326); blush (282); foundation (272); facial powder (214); lip liner (204); sunscreen: makeup (203); eye liner (154)
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1975 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 2 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Color Additive Status | BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE | •Color additive approved by FDA for use in cosmetics •Color additive approved by FDA for cosmetics used around eyes |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | BISMUTHINE, CHLOROOXO- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook | BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE | •Color Additives - Exempt from Batch Certification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1975 | BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Color Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Color Additive Status List. September 2006. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook | CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association). 2006. International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 11th Edition. Color Additive Information. Washington, DC. |
| RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1975 | RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. (London, UK) V.1-19, 1963-81. For publisher information, see FCTOD7. 13,543,1975 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
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