Poor Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Potassium Oxide

INCI: POTASSIUM OXIDE

CAS Number
12136-45-7
Function
Not a standard cosmetic functional ingredient; K2O is a strongly alkaline inorganic compound that reacts with water to form KOH
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes KOH (the hydration product) is GRAS and permitted in cosmetics as pH adjuster; potassium oxide itself is not commonly formulated directly

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

2 study endpoints found for Potassium Oxide. 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 ca.1820 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL >=1500 mg/kg bw/day oral rat 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
corr
Hazard Statements
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion. Inhalation of the aerosol may cause lung oedema. See Notes. Medical observation is indicated.
Routes of Exposure
Serious local effects by all routes of exposure.

Expert Verdict

Strongly alkaline inorganic compound that converts to KOH immediately in water; corrosive with high risk of eye damage. EU prohibited; US permitted only as KOH derivative. Not formulated directly in cosmetics due to reactivity and safety hazards.

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Concern Level: High

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Potassium Oxide safe in cosmetics?

Strongly alkaline inorganic compound that converts to KOH immediately in water; corrosive with high risk of eye damage. EU prohibited; US permitted only as KOH derivative. Not formulated directly in cosmetics due to reactivity and safety hazards. The EU classifies Potassium Oxide as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR. 2 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Potassium Oxide allowed in the EU?

Potassium Oxide EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Potassium Oxide do in cosmetics?

Potassium Oxide functions as: Not a standard cosmetic functional ingredient; K2O is a strongly alkaline inorganic compound that reacts with water to form KOH. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 12136-45-7.

What is the Margin of Safety for Potassium Oxide?

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 Potassium Oxide?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Potassium Oxide is ca.1820 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 2 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

Is Potassium Oxide classified as hazardous under GHS?

Potassium Oxide carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. 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 — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

Compliance Tools

Check Potassium Oxide compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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