EU scientific body reveals safety limits of aluminum and methylparaben in cosmetics

21 Dec 2023 --- The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) says aluminum compounds and methylparaben can safely be used in cosmetic products under limited concentrations. In its preliminary opinion, open for comments, the SCCS provides safe aluminum concentration limits for each category and product type.

Methylparaben and its salts are used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics and can also be used as a food preservative.

According to the SCCS, aluminum is mainly used in toothpaste, antiperspirants, lipstick, make-up products and face creams.

Safety limits
The SCCS finds aluminum compounds are safe when used in non-sprayable product categories at the maximum levels indicated in table one.

“In sprayable products, at the maximum levels indicated in table one, provided that the percentage of particles/droplets with a diameter of less than 10 μm does not exceed 20% of the total aerosolized particles/droplets. Since the Applicant’s data submission indicated that aluminum is not used in sunscreen aerosol sprays, this opinion does not cover sunscreen aerosol sprays,” details the committee.Table one (Image Credit: SCCS).

Further, aluminum is safe in talc as aluminum is not bioavailable from talc up to 2%.

“It needs to be noted that this opinion specifically covers the risk to consumers from exposure to aluminum from cosmetic products. As such, this opinion does not address the safety of the use of talc in cosmetic products beyond the safety of the aluminum content in talc,” it continues.

Moreover, since aluminum is not classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, only exposure from cosmetics was considered in the safety assessment based on maximum use levels for cosmetic ingredients.

Endocrine disruptor?
In its final opinion, the SCCS considers concerns related to the potential endocrine-disrupting properties of methylparaben.

“Based on the safety assessment considering all available data and the concerns related to endocrine activity, the SCCS is of the opinion that the use of Methylparaben as a preservative in cosmetic products at concentrations of up to 0.4% (expressed as acid) is safe,” concludes the committee.

“The SCCS mandates do not address environmental aspects. Therefore, this assessment did not cover the safety of Methylparaben for the environment.”

Previously, the SCCS assessed the safety of water-soluble zinc salts, benzyl salicylate, hydroxypropyl p-phenylenediamine, butylparaben and fullerenes in personal care and beauty products.

It also sparked a debate on titanium dioxide safety in oral care products and presented its final opinion on methyl salicylate use in children’s products.

In other opinions this year, the safety of HC Blue 18 use in hair dye, hydroxyapatite (nano) and skin brightening agent arbutin were publicized.

By Venya Patel

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