Is Sodium Carbonate safe in cosmetics?
Sodium Carbonate has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Sodium Carbonate
Also known as: Carbonic acid disodium salt, Bisodium carbonate, Disodium carbonate (Na2CO3), Soda, Soda ash (+14 more)
INCI: SODIUM CARBONATE
Sodium Carbonate (CAS 497-19-8) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as pH adjuster, buffering agent; washing soda/soda ash. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; GHS signal word WARNING. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
pH adjuster, buffering agent; washing soda/soda ash
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR (2016) safe. FDA GRAS (21 CFR 184.1742).
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Sodium Carbonate.
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
WARNING
Pictograms
Excl markWarn
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.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
6 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD50 | =2210 mg/kg | Mouse | dermal | - | ECHA |
| LC50 | =0.4 mg/L | Guinea Pig | inhalation | - | ChemIDplus |
| LC50 | =0.6 mg/L | Mouse | inhalation | - | ChemIDplus |
| LC50 | =1.15 mg/L | Rat | inhalation | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =6600 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =4090 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Eye Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000,000 - 100,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Chelating agent
Chemical reaction regulator
Cleaning agent
Corrosion inhibitor
Filler
Flavouring and nutrient
Flow promoter
Foamant
Food preservative
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Sodium Carbonate — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
epa_safer_alternative
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
Known Synonyms
Carbonic acid disodium salt
Bisodium carbonate
Disodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
Soda
Soda ash
Sodium carbonate (Na2(CO3))
Sodium carbonate, anhydrous
Calcined soda
Dense Ash
Dynamar 5251Q
Light Ash
Lime ash
Soda Ash Dense
Na-X
Soda Ash Light
Snowlite 1
Soda Light
Soda, calcined
Caswell N0 752
Chemical Function
pH regulating agent
Chelating agent
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Europe; Specialty occupational products
Journal of Chemical Engineering & Process Technology
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
SODIUM CARBONATE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL186314
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
7
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Sodium carbonate
E Number
E500
ADI
NOT LIMITED mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Is Sodium Carbonate used outside cosmetics?
Sodium Carbonate also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Sodium Carbonate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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