Good Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Zinc Chloride

INCI: ZINC CHLORIDE

CAS Number
7646-85-7
Function
Oral care agent, cosmetic biocide, skin conditioning agent, deodorant agent
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 1%
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR Panel concluded safe when formulated to be non-irritating; also recognized as OTC oral care ingredient by FDA

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

7 study endpoints found for Zinc Chloride. 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 125 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Multigeneration Reproductive COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 28 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 150 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 25 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 125 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Multigeneration Reproductive COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 28 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Subchronic COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 150 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Developmental COSMOS_DB

GHS Hazard Classification

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

Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
corr; excl mark;warn; enviro;aqua
Hazard Statements
Harmful if swallowed Causes severe skin burns and eye damage May cause respiratory irritation Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the eyes and skin. The aerosol is severely irritating to the respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion. Inhalation may cause lung oedema. Inhalation of high concentrations of respirable particles (such as fumes) may cause Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary fibrosis and death. See Notes.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Severely irritating at 1% in aqueous solution alone; must be formulated to be non-irritating; CIR Panel specifically flagged irritation potential; ingestion concern in oral/lip products; acidic in solution

⚠️
Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

endocrine_disruptor fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zinc Chloride safe in cosmetics?

Severely irritating at 1% in aqueous solution alone; must be formulated to be non-irritating; CIR Panel specifically flagged irritation potential; ingestion concern in oral/lip products; acidic in solution The EU classifies Zinc Chloride as "restricted". Safety rating: GOOD. 7 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Zinc Chloride allowed in the EU?

Zinc Chloride EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 1%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Zinc Chloride do in cosmetics?

Zinc Chloride functions as: Oral care agent, cosmetic biocide, skin conditioning agent, deodorant agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 7646-85-7.

What is the Margin of Safety for Zinc Chloride?

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 Zinc Chloride?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Zinc Chloride is 125 mg/kg bw/day based on a Multigeneration Reproductive study via oral route in rat. A total of 7 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Is Zinc Chloride classified as hazardous under GHS?

Zinc Chloride carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed Causes severe skin burns and eye damage May cause respiratory irritation 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 Zinc Chloride 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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