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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Good

Sodium Hydroxide

  • Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in products that may not meet industry safety guidelines or U.S. and international government requirements. The score will be lower if used in products that meet these safety guidelines and requirements.
  • This ingredient's score is lower when used as a saponification agent (e.g., soaps and cleansers). The score is higher when not used as a saponification agent.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (high), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low_moderate), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)

SYNONYMS

● CHEMBL2105794
● SODIUM HYDROXIDE, 40% SOLUTION
● CTK0H4682
● SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLID [UN1823] [CORROSIVE]
● Q102769
● SODIUM HYDROXIDE, PELLETS, TRACE METALS GRADE 99.99%
● J-005935
● SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLUTION [UN1824] [CORROSIVE]
● SODIUM HYDROXIDE, TECHNICAL, 30% SOLUTION IN WATER
● SODIUM HYDROXIDE, 10.0N STANDARDIZED SOLUTION

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Sodium Hydroxide is a highly caustic and reactive inorganic base.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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after sun product51 products
moisturizer1170 products
styling gel/lotion106 products
conditioner538 products
shampoo1038 products
mascara128 products
skin fading/lightener19 products
shaving cream (men's)50 products
anti-aging115 products
hair styling aid149 products
bar soap774 products
toothpaste344 products
tooth whitening130 products
sunless tanning44 products
tanning oil5 products
body wash/cleanser747 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)21 products
facial cleanser631 products
styling mousse/foam43 products
bath oil/salts/soak44 products
hair color and bleaching208 products
makeup primer98 products
BB cream30 products
foundation310 products
facial moisturizer/treatment1020 products
toners/astringents173 products
after shave45 products
around-eye cream231 products
baby shampoo63 products
baby soap54 products
exfoliant/scrub391 products
serums & essences507 products
oil controller10 products
makeup remover93 products
hand cream270 products
nail treatment11 products
antiperspirant/deodorant52 products
mask458 products
shaving cream91 products
body firming lotion260 products
liquid hand soap319 products
hair spray26 products
concealer47 products
hair treatment/serum225 products
hair relaxer15 products
detangler22 products
depilatory39 products
cuticle treatment9 products
damaged skin treatment18 products
eye liner138 products
Oils & Serums32 products
Exfoliants21 products
bubble bath61 products
Denture Care3 products
foot moisturizer45 products
mouthwash27 products
Hair Styling Gel17 products
eye makeup remover6 products
brow liner116 products
hair removal waxes3 products
depilatory (men's)1 products
Preshave Preparations5 products
glitter7 products
daily use with SPF164 products
setting powder/spray29 products
Other Hair Care Preparations3 products
baby lotion114 products
baby bubble bath3 products
recreational sunscreen96 products
diaper cream5 products
baby wipes21 products
vapor rubs3 products
baby oil16 products
lip balm5 products
bronzer/highlighter43 products
nail polish3 products
other eye makeup18 products
blush17 products
lipstick17 products
Moisturizing Socks1 products
eye shadow127 products
beard care17 products
Fragrance Lotion or Cream2 products
hand sanitizer31 products
beard cleanser5 products
Wipes6 products
foot cleansing11 products
body spray31 products
fragrance for men1 products
fragrance for women7 products
muscle/joint soreness10 products
body art1 products
foot odor control5 products
baby sunscreen9 products
body oil6 products
lip gloss3 products
hair-loss treatment8 products
Eye Shadow Primers2 products
baby toothpaste2 products
Facial Sun Care8 products
Facial Cleansing Water5 products
pore strips3 products
acne treatment7 products
nail glue1 products
lip liner1 products
CC cream1 products
scar treatment1 products
Bath and Body Wipes2 products
Beard Soaps1 products
chemical peel1 products
Decollete and Neck Creams1 products
body powder2 products
other men's products1 products
lip plumper1 products
Under Eye Concealers4 products
baby powder1 products
Face Wipes2 products
dandruff/scalp treatment 1 products
exfoliant/scrub - large particle1 products
Lip Stain1 products

Miscellaneous

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Occupational hazards related to handlingEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Violation of government restrictions - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - anyEU Cosmetics Directive
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualificationsCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Determined safe for use when formulated to avoid irritation, in assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR)Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as medium human health priorityEnvironment Canada
Limited evidence of respiratory toxicityUS. National Library of Medicine,
One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of skin irritationUS. National Library of Medicine,
skin/eye/lung irritation - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • EU Cosmetics Directive
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environment Canada
  • US. National Library of Medicine,
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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