Good Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Sodium Carbonate

INCI: SODIUM CARBONATE

CAS Number

497-19-8

Function

pH adjuster, buffering agent; washing soda/soda ash

Safety Rating

GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted

🇺🇸 US Status permitted

US Notes CIR (2016) safe. FDA GRAS (21 CFR 184.1742).

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)

adequate

Dermal Absorption

negligible

Sensitization

low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

5 study endpoints found for Sodium Carbonate. 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	179 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rabbit	Developmental	COSMOS_DB
dose_tested	179 mg/kg bw/day	oral	rabbit	Developmental	COSMOS_DB
NOAEL	>10 2104	inhalation	code:3544	inhalation	REACH
LOAEL	70 mg/L air	1992	rat	inhalation	REACH
LOAEL	70 2104	1991	rat	inhalation	REACH

GHS Hazard Classification

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

Signal Word

WARNING

Pictograms

excl mark;warn

Hazard Statements

Causes serious eye irritation

Short-term Exposure Effects

The substance is severely irritating to the eyes. The substance is mildly irritating to the skin and respiratory tract.

Long-term Exposure Effects

The substance may have effects on the respiratory tract. This may result in perforation of the nasal septum. Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis.

Routes of Exposure

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of dust.

Expert Verdict

Safe as pH adjuster at low concentrations. Endogenous substance with very long safe-use history.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

epa_safer_alternative fda_food_additive jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sodium Carbonate safe in cosmetics?

Safe as pH adjuster at low concentrations. Endogenous substance with very long safe-use history. The EU classifies Sodium Carbonate as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 5 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Sodium Carbonate allowed in the EU?

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

What does Sodium Carbonate do in cosmetics?

Sodium Carbonate functions as: pH adjuster, buffering agent; washing soda/soda ash. It is classified as a Cosmetic Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 497-19-8.

What is the Margin of Safety for Sodium Carbonate?

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 Sodium Carbonate?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Sodium Carbonate is 179 mg/kg bw/day based on a Developmental study via oral route in rabbit. A total of 5 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Is Sodium Carbonate classified as hazardous under GHS?

Sodium Carbonate carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Causes serious eye irritation. 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 Carbonate 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

Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology

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Heavy Metal Limits

Compare limits across jurisdictions

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