Is Coal Tar safe in cosmetics?
Coal Tar has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: prohibited. US status: permitted. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
Coal Tar
Also known as: OILS, COAL TAR LIGHT, Carbo-cort, Caswell No. 223, Crude coal tar, EINECS 232-361-7 (+6 more)
INCI: COAL TAR
Coal Tar (CAS 8007-45-2) is a cosmetic active ingredient functioning as Anti-dandruff active; antipruritic; antiproliferative. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: prohibited, max 0%; 1 safety opinion reviewed (cir). Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 8007-45-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Anti-dandruff active; antipruritic; antiproliferative
Safety Rating
POOR
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
prohibited
EU Max Conc.
0%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
FDA OTC Monograph M032: 0.5–5% for dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis; mandatory warning labels required; 1.8% solution may combine with 1.5% menthol
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Coal Tar.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
cir
Verdict: unknown
NOAEL: 0.1 % (LOAEL-oral)
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
1
Volume
92, 100F
Evaluation Year
2009
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
Health Hazard
Hazard Class and Category
Carc. 1A
Hazard Statements
- H350 May cause cancer
Inserted via ATP: ATP02
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: other
Receptor targets: AhR, ERα (via metabolites)
LOEC: 0.1 µg/mL
EU status: restricted (max 0.5% for hair products; Annex III)
agonist (AhR); indirect ERα modulation
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex II — Prohibited
Ref: 420
(EC) 2009/1223
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (II - Prohibited)
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Prohibited
India: Prohibited (GNRAS)
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (5)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | restricted | 5 | Anti-dandruff shampoos only |
| AU | restricted | - | hair dyes, anti-dandruff |
| CA | banned | - | - |
| ASEAN | banned | - | All cosmetic products prohibited |
| KR | prohibited | - | - |
Additional Ingredient Properties
7 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "2.0", "max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "3.0", "product_type": "Scalp Treatment", "function_at_concentration": "Psoriasis treatment", "source": "FDA OTC Monograph"}
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "no", "biodegradation_days": "365+", "bioaccumulative": "yes", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "very-high", "coral_reef_safe": "no", "marine_toxicity": "extremely toxic", "freshwater_toxicity": "carcinogenic PAHs", "soil_toxicity": "severe contamination", "endocrine_disruptor": "yes", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "yes", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "…
exfoliant
{"cas_number": "8007-45-2", "ingredient_class": "keratolytic", "chemical_subclass": "other", "penetration_depth": "stratum_corneum", "mechanism_of_action": "desquamation_enhancer", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory", "photosensitizing": "yes", "photosensitivity_duration_days": "14", "mandatory_SPF_warning": "yes", "concentration_OTC_max_pct": "5%", "EU_cosmetics_max_con…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "anti-dandruff", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "neutral", "moisture_protein_balance": "no", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "no", "color_safe": "neutral", "kerat…
pediatric_safety
{"safe_for_newborn_0_6m": "avoid", "safe_for_infant_6_12m": "avoid", "safe_for_toddler_1_3y": "avoid", "safe_for_child_3_12y": "avoid", "safe_for_teen_12_18y": "avoid", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "0.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "high", "immature_skin_barrier_risk": "high", "oral_ingestion_risk": "moderate", "eye_irritation_risk": "moderate…
pregnancy_detail
{"pregnancy_safe": "avoid", "breastfeeding_safe": "avoid", "trimester_restriction": "all", "risk_category": "not-rated", "reason": "Carcinogen; avoid in pregnancy", "alternative_ingredient": "Zinc Pyrithione (limited use)", "source": "FDA; dermatology literature"}
regulatory
{"eu_status": "restricted", "us_status": "restricted", "eu_max_concentration": "various", "restricted_in": "hair products only, max concentrations apply", "regulation_reference": "Annex III/140"}
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-dandruff
Biocide
Catalyst
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Banned in Cosmetics
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Coal Tar.
Regulatory Flags
eu-banned
iarc-group-1
known-carcinogen
otc-drug-us
mandatory-warning
eu_banned_cosmetics
eu_cosing_listed
Known Synonyms
OILS, COAL TAR LIGHT
Carbo-cort
Caswell No. 223
Crude coal tar
EINECS 232-361-7
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 022003
Impervotar
Picis carbonis
Polytar bath
Coal tars
UNII-R533ESO2EC
Chemical Function
Biocide
Anti-dandruff
Catalyst
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; Europe
Canada; pharmaceutical
banned; Europe; Personal care
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA count match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Adverse Event Associations
404
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coal Tar allowed in the EU?
Coal Tar EU regulatory status: prohibited. Maximum allowed concentration: 0%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Coal Tar do in cosmetics?
Coal Tar functions as: Anti-dandruff active; antipruritic; antiproliferative. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 8007-45-2.
Is Coal Tar used outside cosmetics?
Coal Tar also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Coal Tar compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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