CAMPHOR
Denaturant; External Analgesic; Fragrance Ingredient; Plasticizer; MASKING; PLASTICISER
Also listed as
2-BORNANONE; D-CAMPHOR; DL-CAMPHOR; GUM CAMPHOR; DL-BORNAN-2-ONE; 2-BORNANONE; 2-CAMPHANONE; 2-KAMFANON (CZECH) ; 2-KETO-1,7,7-TRIMETHYLNORCAMPHANE; BORNANE, 2-OXO-; CAMPHOR, NATURAL
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 |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Data gaps |
|
See products containing CAMPHOR | |
About CAMPHOR: Camphor is a ketone derived from the wood of the camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphoraorprepared synthetically to conform to the formula: In the United States, Camphor may be used as an active ingredient in OTC drug products. When used as an active drug ingredient, the established name is Camphor. See "Regulatory and Ingredient Use Information," regarding the labeling names for U.S. OTC Dr ug Ingredients in Volume 1, Introduction, Part A.
CAMPHOR has reported used in the following product types: nail polish (331); pain relief (77); lip balm (57); facial cleanser (50); nail treatment (49); acne treatment (47); anti-itch/rash cream (41); foundation (40); facial powder (32); sunscreen: lip balm (32)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients |
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at low doses | RTECS®- American Journal of Pathology 1954 | |
| show more | ||
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,37,1971 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- American Journal of Pathology 1954 |
| show more | ||
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 561 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 |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | CAMPHOR | •Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | D-CAMPHOR | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | BICYCLO[2.2.1]HEPTAN-2-ONE, 1,7,7-TRIMETHYL-, (±)- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | CAMPHOR | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | CAMPHOR | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Ueber die Pharmakologische Wirkung eines dem Pentamethylentetrazol (Cardiazol) nahestehenden stickstoffhaltigen Kampherab-Kommlings, Dissertation," Czygan, H 1934 | CAMPHOR | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Emergency Medicine 1989 | CAMPHOR | • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (child TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (child TDLo) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Pathology 1954 | CAMPHOR | • gastrointestinal - Changes in structure or function of salivary glands (infant LDLo) • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (infant LDLo) • sense organ - Mydriasis (pupillary dilation) (infant LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1939 | CAMPHOR | • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (rat LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal 1982 | CAMPHOR | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,37,1971 | CAMPHOR | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 | CAMPHOR | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 | CAMPHOR | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange (mouse ipr) |
| RTECS®- Shika Gakuho 1975 | CAMPHOR | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Yakkyoku 1980 | CAMPHOR | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (child LDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- "Ueber die Pharmakologische Wirkung eines dem Pentamethylentetrazol (Cardiazol) nahestehenden stickstoffhaltigen Kampherab-Kommlings, Dissertation," Czygan, H 1934 | RTECS®- "Ueber die Pharmakologische Wirkung eines dem Pentamethylentetrazol (Cardiazol) nahestehenden stickstoffhaltigen Kampherab-Kommlings, Dissertation," Czygan, H.H., Hessischen Ludwigs- Universitat zu Giessen, Fed. Rep. Ger., 1934 -,-,1934 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Emergency Medicine 1989 | RTECS®- American Journal of Emergency Medicine. (WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA) V.1- 1983- 7,41,1989 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Pathology 1954 | RTECS®- American Journal of Pathology. (Lippincott/Harper, Journal Fulfillment Dept., 2350 Virginia Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21740) V.1- 1925- 30,857,1954 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1939 | RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1909/10- 65,275,1939 |
| RTECS®- Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal 1982 | RTECS®- Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal. Chemical Pharmaceutical Journal. For English translation, see PCJOAU. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1967- 16(7),108,1982 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,37,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,37,1971 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 224,157,1989 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1989 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 224,157,1989 |
| RTECS®- Shika Gakuho 1975 | RTECS®- Shika Gakuho. Journal of Dentistry. (Tokyo Shika Daigaku Gakkai, 1-2-2 Masago, Chiba 260, Japan) V.1- 1895- 75,934,1975 |
| RTECS®- Yakkyoku 1980 | RTECS®- Yakkyoku. Pharmacy. (Nanzando, 4-1-11, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan) V.1- 1950- 31,1499,1980 |
"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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