Good Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Montmorillonite

INCI: MONTMORILLONITE

CAS Number
1302-78-9
Function
Rheology modifier, thickener, suspending agent, absorbent
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Not GRAS as cosmetic ingredient; CIR (March 2023) concludes safe in current practices of use and concentration except in products that may be incidentally inhaled. Related bentonite is GRAS as food additive (21 CFR 184.1155). Not approved as colorant in US cosmetics. No OTC drug status; kaolin (related clay) approved as skin protectant under 21 CFR 347.10.

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

6 study endpoints found for Montmorillonite. 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 400 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 75000 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 400 mg/kg bw/day oral swine Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 400 mg/kg bw/day oral swine Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 1000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB

GHS Hazard Classification

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

Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
cancer;health haz
Hazard Statements
Causes damage to the lungs through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes and skin.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance may have effects on the lungs. This may result in fibrosis (see ICSC 0808).
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.

Expert Verdict

Montmorillonite is permitted in EU cosmetics without concentration limits for dermal applications. CIR affirms safety at current use concentrations (up to 3% leave-on) with negative sensitization and negligible dermal absorption; however, insufficient data exists for products that may be incidentally inhaled due to crystalline silica content.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

eu-unrestricted cir-approved sccs-opinion colorant epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Montmorillonite safe in cosmetics?

Montmorillonite is permitted in EU cosmetics without concentration limits for dermal applications. CIR affirms safety at current use concentrations (up to 3% leave-on) with negative sensitization and negligible dermal absorption; however, insufficient data exists for products that may be incidentally inhaled due to crystalline silica content. The EU classifies Montmorillonite as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 6 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Montmorillonite allowed in the EU?

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

What does Montmorillonite do in cosmetics?

Montmorillonite functions as: Rheology modifier, thickener, suspending agent, absorbent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1302-78-9.

What is the Margin of Safety for Montmorillonite?

adequate 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 Montmorillonite?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Montmorillonite is 400 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 6 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Is Montmorillonite classified as hazardous under GHS?

Montmorillonite carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Causes damage to the lungs through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled. 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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