Benzoic acid
- CAS
- 65-85-0
- PubChem CID
- 243
- Molecular Formula
- C7H6O2
- Molecular Weight
- 122.1200 g/mol
Acid used as a preservative, causing a slight taste. Also used as a preservative in foods. No known harm.
What does it do?
A preservative used to prevent products from spoiling.
Details
An acid found naturally in many fruits, used as a preservative in cosmetics and foods. It prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi. Generally considered safe, but can be irritating at high concentrations. The EU limits it to 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care products, and 0.5% in leave-on products.
Hazards
Benefits
Functions
Restrictions
Where is it found?
Also known as
Function & Use
Masking
Preservative
Bulking
Regulatory note
- EU 1223/2009 Annex VAllowed
Industry GHS notices (PubChem)
These are industry self-reports to ECHA, not our regulatory assessment.
- H302(29.7%)- Harmful if swallowed
- H315(82.8%)- Causes skin irritation
- H318(81.3%)- Causes serious eye damage
- H319(16.4%)- Causes serious eye irritation
- H335- May cause respiratory irritation
- H361- Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child
- H372(20.5%)- Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
- H402- Harmful to aquatic life
What The Sources Say
SCCS (EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety)3
EU 1223/2009 Annex V — SCCS opinion: Opinion on Benzoic Acid and Sodium Benzoate
EU 1223/2009 Annex V — SCCS opinion: Opinion concerning Restrictions on Materials listed in annex VI of Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic Products
+1 more records.
ToxValDB (EPA Toxicity Value Database)14
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: Eye Irritation, classification: Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: Eye Irritation, classification: Category 1. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: Skin Irritation, classification: Classification not possible. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: Skin Sensitization, classification: Classification not possible. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data — endpoint: Eye Irritation, classification: Category 6.4A (Category 2A). Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.
+9 more records.
EPA ToxCast (high-throughput in vitro screening)1
EPA ToxCast ER model: NO estrogen receptor activity found (AUC agonist=0, antagonist=0). Tested in 18 in vitro assays. Caveat: this is an in vitro screening model with no dose or exposure context; it does NOT mean an effect occurs in humans at cosmetic use levels.
Scientific References
- EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DSSTox identifiers mapped to CAS (2021r1)US EPA, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure
- EU CosIng — Cosmetic Ingredient Database full exportEuropean Commission, DG GROW
- OpenFDA Cosmetic Adverse Events (api.fda.gov/cosmetic/event)US FDA — unvalidated adverse event reports
- Opinion concerning Restrictions on Materials listed in annex VI of Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic ProductsSCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- Opinion on Benzoic Acid and Sodium BenzoateSCCS — Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- PubChem — CID-Synonym-filtered bulk + PUG REST propertiesNCBI / National Library of Medicine
- ToxCast ER model — Benzoic acid (DTXSID6020143)US EPA — ToxCast / CompTox
- ToxValDB — cancerUS EPA — ToxValDB v97
- ToxValDB — genotoxicityUS EPA — ToxValDB v97
- ToxValDB — skin/eyeUS EPA — ToxValDB v97