Poor Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Chlorine Dioxide

INCI: CHLORINE DIOXIDE

CAS Number
10049-04-4
Function
Antimicrobial, oxidizing agent (primarily industrial water treatment; niche cosmetic use in oral care)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status restricted
US Notes FDA approved as water disinfectant but not specifically approved as cosmetic ingredient. FDA has warned against consumer products marketed with ClO2 claims.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

10 study endpoints found for Chlorine Dioxide. 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 25 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 25 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 12 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 14 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 10 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Reproductive COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 720 mg/kg bw/day oral rabbit Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 963 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 3522 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 6.8 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 10 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Special Toxicology Study COSMOS_DB

GHS Hazard Classification

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

Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is severely irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Inhalation of this gas may cause lung oedema. See Notes. Exposure far above the OEL could cause death. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance may have effects on the lungs. This may result in chronic bronchitis.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.

Expert Verdict

Potent oxidizer with mucosal and skin irritant potential; no SCCS safety assessment for cosmetic use; FDA warnings against oral and topical ClO2 products limit cosmetic applicability.

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

endocrine_disruptor fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chlorine Dioxide safe in cosmetics?

Potent oxidizer with mucosal and skin irritant potential; no SCCS safety assessment for cosmetic use; FDA warnings against oral and topical ClO2 products limit cosmetic applicability. The EU classifies Chlorine Dioxide as "permitted". Safety rating: POOR. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Chlorine Dioxide allowed in the EU?

Chlorine Dioxide EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Chlorine Dioxide do in cosmetics?

Chlorine Dioxide functions as: Antimicrobial, oxidizing agent (primarily industrial water treatment; niche cosmetic use in oral care). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 10049-04-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Chlorine Dioxide?

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 Chlorine Dioxide?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Chlorine Dioxide is 25 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in mouse. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Compliance Tools

Check Chlorine Dioxide compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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