Iron Oxides

Synonyms: CI 77491/77492/77499, E 172

CAS Numbers: 1309-37-1, 51274-00-1, 1345-25-1

SERIOUS
health hazard

MODERATE
health hazard

FEW OR NO
health hazards

0 79
80 89
90 100
85

Sources of exposure:

Personal care

Description:

Iron oxides are inorganic mineral pigments used as colorants in cosmetics and personal care products. They are available in red, yellow, and black forms.

Health concerns:

Cancer

Known or suspected to increase cancer risk in humans.

Banned/restricted lists:

  • European Commission Annex IV colorants allowed in cosmetic products.

HOW MILLION MARKER SCORES CHEMICALS

Million Marker's Ingredient Hazard Scoring uses multiple chemical databases and a science-backed scoring system to compute hazard scores for thousands of chemicals found in consumer products and listed on ingredient labels.

We identified key chemicals based on a database compiling dozens of authoritative sources, screening tools, and QSAR models.

Hazard scores within 11 different health categories (carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, reproductive toxicants, developmental toxicants, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, organ system toxicity, immunotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, skin/eye/respiratory irritants, and ecotoxicity).

They are weighted based on several factors, including strength of evidence for adverse impacts in humans, severity, and potential contamination.