Poor Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Silver Nitrate

INCI: SILVER NITRATE

CAS Number

7761-88-8

Function

Antimicrobial, hair/skin dyeing agent (historically used to dye hair/eyebrows black)

Safety Rating

POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted

EU Max Conc. 4%

🇺🇸 US Status permitted

US Notes Recognized as an OTC drug ingredient (antiseptic); as a cosmetic colorant/dye, subject to general safety provisions; FDA has issued warnings about colloidal silver products

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)

adequate

Dermal Absorption

moderate

Sensitization

moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

8 study endpoints found for Silver Nitrate. 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	>=320 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	oral	REACH
NOAEL	>=326 mg/kg bw/day	oral	-	oral	REACH
LOAEL	100 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	oral	REACH
LOEL	14 other	oral	rat	oral	REACH
NOAEL	100 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rat	oral	REACH
NOAEL	150 mg/kg bw/day	other	rat	oral	REACH
LOAEL	102 mg/kg bw/day	oral	-	oral	REACH
LOEL	14.2 other	oral	-	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 circle; corr; enviro;aqua

Hazard Statements

May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer Harmful if swallowed Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Short-term Exposure Effects

The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion. The substance may cause effects on the blood. This may result in the formation of methaemoglobin. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.

Long-term Exposure Effects

The substance may have effects on the blood. This may result in the formation of methaemoglobin. The substance may cause a grey-blue discolouration of the eyes and skin (argyria/argyrosis). Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes toxicity to human reproduction or development.

Routes of Exposure

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Corrosive; causes irreversible argyria (permanent blue-grey skin discoloration); strong oxidizer; restricted to professional application in EU; silver CMR Cat 2 classification applies

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Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

endocrine_disruptor fda_food_additive eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Silver Nitrate safe in cosmetics?

Corrosive; causes irreversible argyria (permanent blue-grey skin discoloration); strong oxidizer; restricted to professional application in EU; silver CMR Cat 2 classification applies The EU classifies Silver Nitrate as "restricted". Safety rating: POOR. 8 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Silver Nitrate allowed in the EU?

Silver Nitrate EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 4%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Silver Nitrate do in cosmetics?

Silver Nitrate functions as: Antimicrobial, hair/skin dyeing agent (historically used to dye hair/eyebrows black). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 7761-88-8.

What is the Margin of Safety for Silver Nitrate?

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 Silver Nitrate?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Silver Nitrate is >=320 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 8 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

Is Silver Nitrate classified as hazardous under GHS?

Silver Nitrate carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer Harmful if swallowed Causes severe skin burns and eye damage 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 — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

Compliance Tools

Check Silver Nitrate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder

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Substance Compliance

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MoS Calculator

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Heavy Metal Limits

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