Moderate Preservative NOAEL Data GHS Classified Sensitization Data

Bronopol

INCI: BRONOPOL

CAS Number
52-51-7
Function
Preservative
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 0.1%
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status restricted
US Notes Washington State banned effective January 1, 2027 (August 2025 rule, WAC 246-930). No federal cosmetic concentration limit. CIR assessed safe at 0.01% or less in leave-on products and 0.1% or less in rinse-off products. Dual hazard: formaldehyde release and nitrosamine formation with secondary amines in formulation.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

9 study endpoints found for Bronopol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.

Endpoint Value Route Species Study Type Source
NOAEL 0.2 other dermal code:3484 dermal REACH
NOAEL 7 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL 0.2 other dermal code:3543 dermal REACH
NOAEL 20 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL 250 ppm oral rat oral REACH
LOAEL 0.15 other oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL 8 mg/kg bw/day oral dog oral REACH
NOEL 0.05 other oral dog oral REACH
NOEL 0.05 other oral dog oral REACH

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
flam;flame; corr; excl mark;warn; enviro;aqua
Hazard Statements
Flammable solid Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye damage May cause respiratory irritation Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the eyes. The substance is irritating to the skin and respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol, through the skin and by ingestion.

Sensitization Profile

Contact sensitization data for Bronopol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.

Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.8%
Cross-reactivity Group
formaldehyde-releaser-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis

Source: ESSCA 2019/20; IVDK; FDA

Expert Verdict

Restricted preservative with dual carcinogenic hazards: formaldehyde release and nitrosamine formation. EU limits to 0.1% with age restrictions; Washington State bans as of January 2027. Complex safety profile requires formulation-specific nitrosamine management and warrants consideration of safer alternatives.

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Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

formaldehyde-releaser nitrosamine-precursor iarc-group-1-related contact-allergen preservative washington-state-ban-2027 eu-restricted annex-v federal-ban-pending children-restricted-eu dual-hazard endocrine_disruptor eu_children_restricted eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bronopol safe in cosmetics?

Restricted preservative with dual carcinogenic hazards: formaldehyde release and nitrosamine formation. EU limits to 0.1% with age restrictions; Washington State bans as of January 2027. Complex safety profile requires formulation-specific nitrosamine management and warrants consideration of safer alternatives. The EU classifies Bronopol as "restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 9 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Bronopol allowed in the EU?

Bronopol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.1%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Bronopol do in cosmetics?

Bronopol functions as: Preservative. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 52-51-7.

What is the Margin of Safety for Bronopol?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

What is the NOAEL for Bronopol?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Bronopol is 0.2 other based on a dermal study via dermal route in code:3484. A total of 9 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

Is Bronopol classified as hazardous under GHS?

Bronopol carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Flammable solid Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin irritation Causes serious eye damage May cause respiratory irritation Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance โ€” at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

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