UREA
Buffering Agent; Humectant; Skin-Conditioning Agent - Humectant; ANTISTATIC; SKIN CONDITIONING
Also listed as
CARBAMIDE; UREA PERHYDRATE; B-I-K; CARBAMIDE; CARBAMIDE RESIN; CARBAMIMIDIC ACID; CARBONYL DIAMIDE; CARBONYLDIAMINE; HARNSTOFF (GERMAN) ; ISOUREA; MOCOVINA (CZECH)
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: Enhanced skin absorption |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Data gaps |
|
See products containing UREA | |
About UREA: Urea is the organic compound.
This ingredient may be derived from animals. From PETA's Caring Consumer: Excreted from urine and other bodily fluids. In deodorants, ammoniated dentifrices, mouthwashes, hair colorings, hand creams, lotions, shampoos, etc. Used to "brown" baked goods, such as pretzels. Derivatives: Imidazolidinyl Urea, Uric Acid. Alternatives: synthetics.
UREA has reported used in the following product types: facial moisturizer/treatment (88); moisturizer (59); anti-aging (46); foot moisturizer (24); hair color and bleaching (23); sunscreen: moisturizer (22); facial cleanser (14); exfoliant/scrub (13); depilatory (13); hand cream (13)
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 |
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Gann Monograph on Cancer Research 1981 | |
| show more | ||
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses | RTECS®- American Journal of Physiology 1948 | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show respiratory effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | products that may be aerosolized (airborne) | RTECS®- American Journal of Physiology 1948 |
| show more | ||
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses | RTECS®- Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 1974 | |
| show more | ||
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses | RTECS®- Journal of Occupational Medicine 1992 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 12,750 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
Enhanced skin absorption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Penetration enhancer | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
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 | |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | UREA | • 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 • As formulation/fermentation aid in yeast -raised bakery prods • alc bevs • and gelatin prods -184.1923 |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | UREA | •Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | UREA | •Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product •Penetration enhancer - alters skin structure, allows other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin • |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | UREA | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | UREA | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | UREA | •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 | UREA | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (frog LDLo) |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | UREA | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- "Ueber die Wirkung Verschiedener Gifte Auf Vogel, Dissertation," Forchheimer, L 1931 | UREA | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (pigeon LDLo) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Physiology 1948 | UREA | • gastrointestinal - Changes in structure or function of salivary glands (domestic LDLo) • respiratory - Dyspnea (domestic LDLo) • brain and nervous system - Tetany (domestic LDLo) |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Clinical Practice 1972 | UREA | • reproductive - Abortion (woman TDLo) |
| RTECS®- British Medical Journal 1971 | UREA | • reproductive - Abortion (woman TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1965 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human leu) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1965 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human leu) |
| RTECS®- Collection of Papers Presented at the Annual Symposium on Fundamental Cancer Research 1970 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Cytologia 1987 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) |
| RTECS®- Cytologia 1987 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (mouse orl) |
| RTECS®- Gann Monograph on Cancer Research 1981 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Gann Monograph on Cancer Research 1981 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lng) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1986 | UREA | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1986 | UREA | • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (rat LD50) • respiratory - Dyspnea (rat LD50) • blood - Methemoglobinemia-Carboxylhemoglobin (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1987 | UREA | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 1974 | UREA | • reproductive - Abortion (monkey TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Japanese Journal of Veterinary Science 1953 | UREA | • blood - Hemorrhage (rabbit LDLo) • brain and nervous system - Other degenerative changes (rabbit LDLo) • respiratory - Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi (rabbit LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980 | UREA | • cancer - blood neoplasms (rat TDLo) • cancer - blood tumors (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Occupational Medicine 1992 | UREA | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Occupational Medicine 1992 | UREA | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1936 | UREA | • brain and nervous system - Coma (mouse LDLo) • brain and nervous system - Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold (mouse LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1988 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1988 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Mammalian Somatic Cells (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse lym) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1977 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster fbr) |
| RTECS®- Obstetrics and Gynecology 1974 | UREA | • reproductive - Abortion (woman TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Oyo Yakuri 1977 | UREA | • brain and nervous system - Altered sleep time (including change in righting reflex) (mouse LD50) • brain and nervous system - Antipsychotic (mouse LD50) • brain and nervous system - Changes in motor activity (specific assay) (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Inhibition ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982 | UREA | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Inhibition ( human lym) |
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. |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| 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. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| 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.) 4,1353,1935 |
| 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®- "Ueber die Wirkung Verschiedener Gifte Auf Vogel, Dissertation," Forchheimer, L 1931 | RTECS®- "Ueber die Wirkung Verschiedener Gifte Auf Vogel, Dissertation," Forchheimer, L., Pharmakologischen Institut der Universitat Wurzburg, Fed. Rep. Ger., 1931 -,-,1931 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Physiology 1948 | RTECS®- American Journal of Physiology. (American Physiological Soc., 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814) V.1- 1898- 153,41,1948 |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Clinical Practice 1972 | RTECS®- British Journal of Clinical Practice. (Medical News Group, 1 Bedford St., London WC2E 9HD, UK) V.10(10)- 1956- 26,24,1972 |
| RTECS®- British Medical Journal 1971 | RTECS®- British Medical Journal. (British Medical Assoc., BMA House, Tavistock Sq., London WC1H 9JR, UK) V.1- 1857- 1,28,1971 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1965 | RTECS®- Cancer Research. (Public Ledger Building, Suit 816, 6th & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19106) V.1- 1941- 25,980,1965 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1965 | RTECS®- Cancer Research. (Public Ledger Building, Suit 816, 6th & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19106) V.1- 25,980,1965 |
| RTECS®- Collection of Papers Presented at the Annual Symposium on Fundamental Cancer Research 1970 | RTECS®- Collection of Papers Presented at the Annual Symposium on Fundamental Cancer Research. (Baltimore, MD) V.1-29, 1946-76. For publisher information, see AFCPDR. 23,346,1970 |
| RTECS®- Cytologia 1987 | RTECS®- Cytologia. (Japan Pub. Trading Co. (USA), 1255 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103) V.1- -1929 52,877,1987 |
| RTECS®- Cytologia 1987 | RTECS®- Cytologia. (Japan Pub. Trading Co. (USA), 1255 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103) V.1- 1929- 52,877,1987 |
| RTECS®- Gann Monograph on Cancer Research 1981 | RTECS®- Gann Monograph on Cancer Research. (Plenum Pub. Corp., 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013) No. 11- 1971- 27,95,1981 |
| RTECS®- Gann Monograph on Cancer Research 1981 | RTECS®- Gann Monograph on Cancer Research. (Plenum Pub. Corp., 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013) No. 11- 27,95,1981 |
| 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(6),8,1986 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1986 | RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya. Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1-36, 1957-1992. For publisher information, see MTPEEI 30(3),43,1986 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1987 | RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya. Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1-36, 1957-1992. For publisher information, see MTPEEI 31(12),53,1987 |
| RTECS®- Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 1974 | RTECS®- Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. (Publications & Information Directorate, CSIR, Hillside Rd., New Delhi 110 012, India) V.1- 1963- 12,372,1974 |
| RTECS®- Japanese Journal of Veterinary Science 1953 | RTECS®- Japanese Journal of Veterinary Science. (Nippon Jui Gakkai, 1-37-20 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151, Japan) V.1- 1939- 15,125,1953 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980 | RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology. (Park Forest South, IL) V.1-5(3), 1977-81(?). For publisher information, see JEPOEC. 3(5-6),149,1980 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Occupational Medicine 1992 | RTECS®- Journal of Occupational Medicine. (Chicago, IL) V.1-9, 1957-67. For publisher information, see:JJOMDZ 177,44,1992 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Occupational Medicine 1992 | RTECS®- Journal of Occupational Medicine. (Chicago, IL) V.1-9, information, see:JJOMDZ 177,44,1992 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1936 | RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1909/10- 57,19,1936 |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1988 | RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 1986- 3,193,1988 |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 1988 | RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 3,193,1988 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1988 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 203,155,1988 |
| 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 1988 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 203,155,1988 |
| 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®- Obstetrics and Gynecology 1974 | RTECS®- Obstetrics and Gynecology. (Elsevier Science Pub. Co., Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, NY 10017) V.1- 1953- 43,765,1974 |
| RTECS®- Oyo Yakuri 1977 | RTECS®- Oyo Yakuri. Pharmacometrics. (Oyo Yakuri Kenkyukai, CPO Box 180, Sendai 980-91, Japan) V.1- -1967 13,749,1977 |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982 | RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 1915- 79,1171,1982 |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1982 | RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 79,1171,1982 |
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