Danger GHS08GHS05 NOAEL Data REACH Registered Cosmetic Ingredient

Benzoic acid

Also known as: Benzoesaeure GK, Benzoesaeure GV, Benzoic acid, tech., Caswell No. 081, EINECS 200-618-2 (+15 more)

CAS 65-85-0

Benzoic acid (CAS 65-85-0) is a chemical substance with GHS signal word Danger; key hazard signal: H372 (inhalation) (lungs); H315; H318. Key regulatory status: REACH registered, 60 regulatory/inventory lists, cosmetic ingredient cross-reference; source data from ECHA CLP, EPA ToxValDB, EPA CPDat, SCCS, ECHA REACH, ILO ICSC.

View cosmetic safety profile for Benzoic Acid →

Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence

Benzoic acid is classified GHS Danger (H372, H315, H318) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 0.5%.

SOURCE Cross-vertical comparison Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status/eu_max; Chemicals: eu_clp_annex_vi.signal_word/hazard_statement_code

SOURCE NOAEL studies

NOAEL studies

SOURCE Chemical inventory jurisdictions

Regulatory lists

SOURCE EU CLP Annex VI

GHS signal

Danger

Chemical Identity

CAS, identifiers, formula, and alternate names for the matched substance record.

SOURCE DSSTox identifiers 25 fields

Name

Benzoic acid

CAS Number

65-85-0

Molecular Formula

C7H6O2

InChI Key

WPYMKLBDIGXBTP-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Monoisotopic Mass

122.036779

Synonyms

Benzoesaeure GKBenzoesaeure GVBenzoic acid, tech.Caswell No. 081EINECS 200-618-2EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 009101FEMA No. 2131Flowers of benjaminFlowers of benzoinUnisept BZAKyselina benzoovaUNII-8SKN0B0MIM

GHS / CLP Classification

EU harmonized hazard classification, hazard statements, pictograms, and signal word.

SOURCE EU CLP Annex VI (ECHA) 1 classifications

Hazard Class	H-Statements	Pictograms	Signal
STOT RE 1; Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Dam. 1	H372 (inhalation) (lungs); H315; H318	GHS08; GHS05	Danger

ICSC Chemical Safety

International Chemical Safety Card hazard and exposure summary.

SOURCE WHO/JECFA 1 records

Field	Value
GHS Signal Word	WARNING
GHS Hazard Statements	Causes serious eye damage May cause damage to lungs if inhaled Harmful to aquatic life
Short-term Effects	The substance is severely irritating to the eyes. The substance is mildly irritating to the skin. Exposure could cause a non-allergic rash on contact.
Long-term Effects	Lungs may be affected by repeated or prolongated exposure to an aerosol of this substance.
Routes of Exposure	The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, by ingestion and through the skin.

Functional Uses

Industrial and product-use categories associated with this substance.

SOURCE EPA CPDat 60 records

FragrancePreservativeDeodorizerFillerpH regulating agentFlavouring and nutrientPlasticizerNo specific technical functionAntioxidantProcessing aids not otherwise specified

Regulatory Lists

Inventory, screening, and regulatory list matches from public chemical databases.

SOURCE EPA CPDat 60 records

List	Keyword	Source
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; Pesticides	Arizona Department of Environmental Quality	State of Arizona
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; Pesticides	Arizona Department of Environmental Quality	State of Arizona
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive	Belgaqua	CPCat
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; Pesticides	Arizona Department of Environmental Quality	State of Arizona
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; Pesticides	Arizona Department of Environmental Quality	State of Arizona
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	California Department of Pesticide Regulation	State of California
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides	European Commission	CPCat
inert_ingredient; Pesticides	EPA	CPCat
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides	EPA	CPCat
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - hand soap	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides	Commission of the European Communities	CPCat
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; fruits_and_vegetables; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; legumes; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

NOAEL Studies

Toxicology endpoints rendered from public NOAEL study rows.

SOURCE NOAEL studies Showing 50 of 72 studies

Value	Unit	Endpoint	Route	Species	Source
4	%	-	oral	rat	Regulatory source
4	%	-	oral	rat	Regulatory source
175	mg/kg bw	-	-	rat	Regulatory source
175	mg/kg bw	-	oral	rat	Regulatory source
175	mg/kg bw	-	-	rat	Regulatory source
250	mg/kg bw	-	-	rat	Regulatory source
250	mg/kg bw	-	-	rabbit	Regulatory source
250	mg/kg bw	-	-	rat	Regulatory source
300	mg/kg bw	-	-	rat	Regulatory source
300	mg/kg bw	-	-	-	Regulatory source
300	mg/kg bw	-	-	rat	Regulatory source
500	mg/kg bw	-	oral	rat	Regulatory source
500	mg/kg bw/d	-	-	human	Regulatory source
1000	mg/kg bw/d	-	intravenous	rat	Regulatory source
=5	mg/kg bw/day	ADI	-	Consumers	EFSA
<=20	mg/kg	ADI	oral	Human	WHO/JECFA
=300	mg/person/day	ADI	-	Consumers	EFSA
=5	mg/kg bw/day	ADI (group)	-	Consumers	EFSA
>854.9	ug/mL	CD86, EC150	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
1000	ug/mL	CV75	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
0.78	uL/min/10^6 cells	Clint	-	Rat	NTP ICE adme parameters
=0.1	mg/m3	DNEL local	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB GESTIS DNEL
=3	mg/m3	DNEL systemic	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB GESTIS DNEL
16.2	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
22.6	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
23.4	%	Depletion Lys	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
68.1	%	Depletion Lys	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
23	%	Depletion Lys + Cys	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
42.2	%	Depletion Lys + Cys	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
>2000	uM	EC1.5	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
8SKN0B0MIM	UNII	FDA UNII substance identifier	-	-	openFDA substances
0.422	fraction	Fu	-	Rat	NTP ICE adme parameters
1.1	ratio	Imax	Dermal	-	NTP ICE skin sensitization
0	%	Incidence of positive responses	Dermal	Human	NTP ICE skin sensitization
1350	ug/cm2	Induction dose per skin area	Dermal	Human	NTP ICE skin sensitization
3750	ug/cm2	Induction dose per skin area	Dermal	Human	NTP ICE skin sensitization
>0.026	mg/L	LC50	Inhalation	-	NTP ICE acute inhalation
=1700	mg/kg bw	LD50	oral	Rat	NTP ICE acute oral
=2360	mg/kg bw	LD50	oral	Rat	NTP ICE acute oral
=2565	mg/kg bw	LD50	oral	Rat	NTP ICE acute oral
=2742	mg/kg bw	LD50	oral	Rat	NTP ICE acute oral
=1	ug/100 g	LEL	injection	Mouse	ToxValDB Uterotrophic Hershberger DB
=10	ug/100 g BW	LEL	injection	Mouse	ToxValDB Uterotrophic Hershberger DB
=1500	mg/kg bw/day	LEL	oral	Chicken	EFSA
=5000	mg/kg bw/day	LEL	oral	Pig	EFSA
=1.000e+4	mg/kg bw/day	LEL	oral	Pig	EFSA
=2.000e+4	mg/kg bw/day	LEL	oral	Pig	EFSA
25	mg/kg bw/day	LOAEL	oral	rat	COSMOS DB
=340	mg/kg bw/day	LOAEL	oral	Cat	ECHA
=2500	mg/kg bw/day	LOAEL	oral	Rat	ECHA

Showing 50 of 72 studies

REACH Registration

Registration status from the ECHA REACH registered substances database.

SOURCE ECHA 1 records

Status	Name	EC Number	Link
Registered	Benzoic acid	200-618-2	ECHA overview →

SCCS Opinions

EU Scientific Committee opinions tied to the matched substance.

SOURCE SCCS Opinion 1 opinions

Opinion	Date	Conclusion	Max Conc.	Concerns
SCCP/0891/05	21 June 2005	On the basis of provided data, the SCCP is of the opinion that benzoic acid and sodium benzoate are safe for use for preservative and non-preservative purposes in cosmetic rinse-off products at a maximum concentration of 2.5 % and in cosmetic oral-care products at a maximum concentration of 1.7 %, and in leave-on products up to 0.5%.	Rinse-off 2.5%; oral-care 1.7%; leave-on 0.5%	Adequate data only for benzoic acid and sodium benzoate (not other salts/esters); generation of irritation and sensitisation data on other salts/esters required if they are to be used. Possible non-preservative functions not stated.

Cosmetic Safety Profile

Same-CAS cosmetic ingredient record for cross-vertical context.

SOURCE CosIng / Ingredients DB

EU Status

restricted

Max

0.5%

Pharmaceutical Data

Same-CAS pharmaceutical records from drug and bioactivity sources.

SOURCE ChEMBL / DailyMed BENZOIC ACID

ChEMBL Phase

-1

Adverse Events

Bioactivity

View full pharmaceutical profile →

Food Safety Data

Same-CAS food additive, ADI, and GRAS records where available.

SOURCE EFSA 1 records

E210 — ADI: 5 mg/kg bw

View full food safety profile →

Cannabis Data

Same-CAS cannabis compliance and lab records where available.

SOURCE Cannabis regulatory / lab data efsa substances

1 cannabis record found in efsa substances.

View full cannabis profile →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GHS hazard classification for Benzoic acid?

Benzoic acid (CAS 65-85-0) is classified under EU CLP Annex VI as STOT RE 1; Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Dam. 1 with signal word Danger. Hazard statements: H372 (inhalation) (lungs); H315; H318. Source: EU CLP Annex VI (ECHA).

What is the NOAEL for Benzoic acid?

Benzoic acid has 72 NOAEL studies in the database. The lowest reported value is 0 % via Dermal in Human. Source: NTP ICE skin sensitization.

What regulatory lists include Benzoic acid?

Benzoic acid appears on 22 regulatory/inventory lists including active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; Pesticides, drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive, active_ingredient; Pesticides, and 19 more. Source: EPA CPDat.

Is Benzoic acid used in cosmetics?

Yes, Benzoic acid is also indexed as a cosmetic ingredient under the name Benzoic Acid. View the full cosmetic safety profile on the ingredient page for detailed safety data, SCCS opinions, and regulatory status.

Where does the safety data for Benzoic acid come from?

Safety data is sourced from ECHA CLP Annex VI, EPA ToxValDB, EPA CPDat, EPA DSSTox, ECHA REACH, ILO/WHO ICSC, CosIng / Ingredients DB, ChEMBL / DailyMed, EFSA / FDA GRAS, cannabis regulatory/lab databases. All data traces to primary regulatory sources and is updated from official government databases.

Does Benzoic acid have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?

Benzoic acid is classified GHS Danger (H372, H315, H318) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 0.5%.

Is Benzoic acid used outside industrial chemicals?

Benzoic acid also appears in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food safety, cannabis databases.