ZINC
Also listed as
ZINC, DISSOLVED; ZINC, TOTAL; ZN; BLUE POWDER; GRANULAR ZINC; LS 2; LS 6; MERRILLITE; RHEINZINK; ZINC DUST; ZINC POWDER
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 strong concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Enhanced skin absorption |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps, Occupational hazards |
|
See products containing ZINC | |
About ZINC: Any compound that contains zinc in its chemical structure.
ZINC has reported used in the following product types: facial moisturizer/treatment (17); anti-aging (17); around-eye cream (6); sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (6); foundation (6); eye shadow (4); moisturizer (4); bronzer/highlighter (4); mask (3); hand cream (3)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence | Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | |
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment | |
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human skin toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | products that may be aerosolized (airborne) | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Possible human cardiovascular toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | |
| Possible human respiratory toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at low doses | RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1999 | |
| show more | ||
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | US EPA, 9204 | |
| show more | ||
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | |
| show more | ||
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 |
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | products that may be aerosolized (airborne) | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Enhanced skin absorption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Suspected nano-scale ingredients with potential to absorb into the skin | Nanomaterial Database |
Miscellaneous
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| Insufficient data to determine safety | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | |
| 23,536 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | ZINC POWDER - ZINC DUST (PYROPHORIC) | •Highly flammable •Contact with water liberates extremely flammable gases •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | ZINC POWDER - ZINC DUST (STABILIZED) | •Dangerous for the environment •Very toxic to aquatic organisms |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | ZINC | • R |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | ZINC | • R |
| CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | ZINC | •Strong evidence in humans: skin toxicity; Condition: contact dermatitis - irritant; Organs/tissues affected: skin |
| CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | ZINC | •Moderate evidence in humans: respiratory system toxicity; Condition: pneumonia; Organs/tissues affected: lungs |
| CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | ZINC | •Strong evidence in humans: respiratory system toxicity; Condition: pneumonitis (hypersensitivity); Organs/tissues affected: lungs |
| CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | ZINC | •Moderate evidence in humans: respiratory system toxicity, cardiovascular system toxicity; Condition: pulmonary edema; Organs/tissues affected: lungs |
| CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | ZINC | •Strong evidence in humans: skin toxicity; Condition: skin ulceration; Organs/tissues affected: skin |
| CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | ZINC | •Limited evidence in humans: reproductive system toxicity; Condition: testicular cancer; Organs/tissues affected: testes |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | ZINC | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | ZINC AND COMPOUNDS | •Group D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (EPA classification) |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | ZINC AND COMPOUNDS | •Inadequate data to assess carcinogenic potential (EPA classification) |
| Nanomaterial Database | ZINC | •potential nano-scale ingredient |
| Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | ZINC COMPOUNDS | •Persistent toxicant under Canada's Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics program - targeted for elimination or reduction |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | LEAD REFINERY VACUUM ZINC; ZINC; ZINC DUST; ZINC DUST | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | ZINC COMPOUNDS | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | ZINC | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, 9204 | ZINC | •Developmental toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, 9204 | ZINC | •Reproductive toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Nemery, B, 1990 | ZINC | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 | ZINC | •Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment | ZINC COMPOUNDS | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment | ZINC COMPOUNDS | •Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | ZINC | • R |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | ZINC | •This chemical was deemed a low human health priority and was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| Borgå K, Campbell L, Gabrielsen GW, Norstrom RJ, Muir DC, Fisk AT, 2006 | ZINC | Zinc found to be bioaccumulative in Arctic seabirds |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | ZINC | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | ZINC | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1999 | ZINC | • cancer - Facilitates action of known carcinogen (mouse TDLo) • cancer - gastrointestinal tumors (mouse TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex I of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| CHE Toxicant and Disease Database | CHE (The Collaborative on Health and the Environment). 2006. Toxicant and Disease Database. |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2008. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Evidence for human carcinogenicity based on 1986-2005 guidelines. |
| Nanomaterial Database | NanoWerk. 2007. Nanomaterial Database. Available online: http://www.nanowerk.com/phpscripts/n_dbsearch.php |
| Canada PBTs - Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET) | EC (Environment Canada). 1994. Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET). ARET substance list of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA. Roadmaps to Sources of Information on Chemicals Listed in the Emergency Planning Community and Community Right-to-Know Act (Also Known as SARA Title 3), Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory (for Microcomputers). (Report Number EPADFDK92040). 1991. Data file distributed in 2 diskettes by Office of Pollution, Prevention, and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. NOTE: Datasource no longer being maintained by EPA; not currently available online. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA. Roadmaps to Sources of Information on Chemicals Listed in the Emergency Planning Community and Community Right-to-Know Act (Also Known as SARA Title 3), Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory (for Microcomputers). (Report Number EPADFDK92040). 1991. Data file distributed in 2 diskettes by Office of Pollution, Prevention, and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. NOTE: Datasource no longer being maintained by EPA; not currently available online. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Nemery, B. Metal Toxicity and the Respiratory Tract. European Respiratory Journal. 3(2): 202-219. 1990.(Table 1: Summary of pulmonary toxicity of metals).; California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document 'Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels'. Includes all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) adopted by OEHHA as of August 2003 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/AllChrels.html, plus draft CRELS proposed through March 2004 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/index.html. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document 'Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels'. Includes all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) adopted by OEHHA as of August 2003 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/AllChrels.html, plus draft CRELS proposed through March 2004 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/index.html. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| Open scientific literature | Borgå K, Campbell L, Gabrielsen GW, Norstrom RJ, Muir DC, Fisk AT. 2006. Regional and species specific bioaccumulation of major and trace elements in Arctic seabirds. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2006 Nov;25(11):2927-36. |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V.A., and P. Lazar, eds., New York, Academic Press, Inc. 1977 -,127,1977 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1999 | RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland). (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1975- 143,63,1999 |
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