SODIUM BENZOATE
Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative; ANTICORROSIVE; MASKING
Also listed as
BENZOIC ACID, SODIUM SALT; SODIUM SALT BENZOIC ACID; ANTIMOL; BENZOAN SODNY (CZECH) ; BENZOATE OF SODA; BENZOATE SODIUM; BENZOESAEURE (NA-SALZ) (GERMAN) ; SOBENATE; SODIUM BENZOIC ACID
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: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
|
See products containing SODIUM BENZOATE | |
About SODIUM BENZOATE: Sodium Benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid.
SODIUM BENZOATE has reported used in the following product types: shampoo (359); body wash/cleanser (185); conditioner (177); facial moisturizer/treatment (152); moisturizer (121); facial cleanser (112); mouthwash (99); anti-aging (90); toothpaste (79); hair spray (69)
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1986 | |
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Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | RTECS®- "Abdernalden's Handbuch der Biologischen Arbeitsmethoden 1935 | |
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Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology, Supplement 1980 | |
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Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses | RTECS®- Kenkyu Nenpo--Tokyo-toritsu Eisei Kenkyusho 1991 | |
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Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | |
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Biochemical or cellular level changes
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 1993 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at high doses | RTECS®- Dermatologica 1984 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Safety unknown for products that may be inhaled | products that may be aerosolized (airborne) | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 251 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
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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 | |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | SODIUM BENZOATE | • Substances generally recognized as safe in foods but limited in standardized foods where the standard provides for its use • less than 0.1% • Fruit Pres and Art Sw Fruit Jelly and Pres - CFR150.141; 150.161 • less than 0.1% • Margarine -166.110 • Conc. Orange Juice - CFR146.152; 146.154 • GRAS (generally recognized as safe) - use in food presumed safe based either on a history of use before 1958 or on published scientific evidence; need not be approved by the FDA prior to use in food; most have not limit for use but must conform to good manufacturing practices; some GRAS substances have quantitative limit for use in foods; by definition under Sec 201(s) of FD&C Act, not food additives • Food additive: must be in accordance with good manufacturing practices, or sufficient for purpose; or in quantity not greater than required - CFR184.1733 |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | SODIUM BENZOATE | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit •Insufficient data to determine safety of products where ingredients are likely to be inhaled • |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | SODIUM BENZOATE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Harvell, J, 1994 | SODIUM BENZOATE | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZOIC ACID, SODIUM SALT | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | SODIUM BENZOATE | • o |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | SODIUM BENZOATE | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| RTECS®- "Abdernalden's Handbuch der Biologischen Arbeitsmethoden 1935 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (frog LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie 1963 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • endocrine system - Death in the "U" data type field (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology, Supplement 1980 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology, Supplement 1980 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Dermatologica 1984 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Dermatologica 1984 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1978 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • reproductive - Homeostasis (rat TDLo) • developmental - Musculoskeletal system (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Viability index (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 1974 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LD50) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1963 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (guinea pig LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1986 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • brain and nervous system - Changes in motor activity (specific assay) (mouse LD50) • respiratory - Dyspnea (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 1948 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1956 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1984 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1942 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (rat LD50) • brain and nervous system - Tremor (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Kenkyu Nenpo--Tokyo-toritsu Eisei Kenkyusho 1991 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • endocrine system - Death in the "U" data type field (rat TDLo) • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Medicinal Chemistry, A Series of Reviews 1963 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • reproductive - Fetal death (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Fetotoxicity (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 1993 | SODIUM BENZOATE | • kidney or renal system - Changes in bladder weight (mouse TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (rat TDLo) • blood - Changes in serum composition (eg., TP, bilirubin, cholesterol) (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Other proteins (rat TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| 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. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Harvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria). |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| RTECS®- "Abdernalden's Handbuch der Biologischen Arbeitsmethoden 1935 | RTECS®- "Abdernalden's Handbuch der Biologischen Arbeitsmethoden." (Leipzig, Ger. Dem. Rep.) 4,1313,1935 |
| RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie 1963 | RTECS®- Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie. (Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium) V.4- 1898- 144,120,1963 |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology, Supplement 1980 | RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology, Supplement. (Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., Service Center, 44 Hartz Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094) No.1- 1978- 4,41,1980 |
| RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology, Supplement 1980 | RTECS®- Archives of Toxicology, Supplement. (Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., Service Center, 44 Hartz Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094) No.1- 4,41,1980 |
| RTECS®- Dermatologica 1984 | RTECS®- Dermatologica. (S. Karger Pub., Inc., 79 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10003) V.79- 1939- 26,734,1984 |
| RTECS®- Dermatologica 1984 | RTECS®- Dermatologica. (S. Karger Pub., Inc., 79 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10003) V.79- 26,734,1984 |
| RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku 1978 | RTECS®- Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku. Bulletin of the Institute of Hygienic Sciences. (Kokuritsu Eisei Shikenjo Kagaku, 18-1 Bushitsu Johobu, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan) V.1- 1886- (96),47,1978 |
| RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 1974 | RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series. (Rome, Italy) No.?-57, 1948-77. Discontinued. 53A,34,1974 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1963 | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936- 28(1),45,1963 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1986 | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936- 51(1),75,1986 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 1948 | RTECS®- Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. (Cambridge, MA) V.18-31, 1936-49. For publisher information, see AEHLAU. 30,63,1948 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1956 | RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1909/10- 117,307,1956 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1984 | RTECS®- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. (C.V. Mosby Co., 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141) 1979- 26,734,1984 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1942 | RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 31,253,1942 |
| RTECS®- Kenkyu Nenpo--Tokyo-toritsu Eisei Kenkyusho 1991 | RTECS®- Kenkyu Nenpo--Tokyo-toritsu Eisei Kenkyusho. Annual Report of Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health. (Tokyo-toritsu Eisei Kenkyusho, 24-1, 3-chome, Hyakunin-cho, Shin-juku-ku, Tokyo 160, Japan) V.1- 1949/50- 42,285,1991 |
| RTECS®- Medicinal Chemistry, A Series of Reviews 1963 | RTECS®- Medicinal Chemistry, A Series of Reviews. (New York, NY) V.1-6, 1951-63. Discontinued. 6,290,1963 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 241,109,1990 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 48,337,1977 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 241,109,1990 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 48,337,1977 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 19,373,1971 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology Letters 1993 | RTECS®- Toxicology Letters. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 1977- 69,171,1993 |
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