Poor Cosmetic Ingredient GHS Classified

Sodium Borohydride

INCI: SODIUM BOROHYDRIDE

CAS Number
16940-66-2
Function
Reducing agent (industrial/laboratory chemical; extremely limited cosmetic relevance)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Not approved for cosmetic use; classified as hazardous substance; no VCRP listings

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

GHS Hazard Classification

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

Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
flam;flame; corr; skull;toxic
Hazard Statements
In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously Toxic if swallowed 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.
Routes of Exposure
Serious local effects by all routes of exposure.

Expert Verdict

PROHIBITED. Flammable, corrosive, reacts violently with water, toxic by all routes. Absolutely not for cosmetic formulation

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sodium Borohydride safe in cosmetics?

PROHIBITED. Flammable, corrosive, reacts violently with water, toxic by all routes. Absolutely not for cosmetic formulation The EU classifies Sodium Borohydride as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Sodium Borohydride allowed in the EU?

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

What does Sodium Borohydride do in cosmetics?

Sodium Borohydride functions as: Reducing agent (industrial/laboratory chemical; extremely limited cosmetic relevance). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 16940-66-2.

What is the Margin of Safety for Sodium Borohydride?

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.

Is Sodium Borohydride classified as hazardous under GHS?

Sodium Borohydride carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously Toxic if swallowed 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 Sodium Borohydride compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

🔬
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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