Is Alginate (Sodium Alginate) safe in cosmetics?
Alginate (Sodium Alginate) has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Alginate (Sodium Alginate)
Also known as: Algiline, L'-Algiline, Algin (Laminaria spp. and other kelps), Algipon L-1168, Cohasal-IH (+8 more)
INCI: SODIUM ALGINATE
Alginate (Sodium Alginate) (CAS 9005-38-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Thickener. Reported NOAEL =1.8 mg/kg bw/day in Rat (EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 9005-38-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Thickener
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
No warnings or adverse event alerts exist for sodium alginate in cosmetic formulations.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Alginate (Sodium Alginate).
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Alginate (Sodium Alginate). 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 | =1.8 mg/kg bw/day | oral: feed | Rat | subchronic | EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx |
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
1 toxicity value from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD50 | >5000 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
Additional Ingredient Properties
3 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
biopolymer
{"cas_number": "9005-38-3", "polymer_class": "seaweed_polysaccharide", "botanical_source": "Brown seaweed (sodium salt)", "molecular_weight_range_kDa": "32-400", "monosaccharide_composition": "sodium mannuronate/guluronate", "degree_of_branching": "linear", "charge_type": "anionic", "viscosity_1pct_solution_mPas": "20-400", "pseudoplastic_behavior": "moderate", "thixotropy": "weak", "yield_stress_…
cost_pricing
{"cost_tier": "mid-range", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_low": "20", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_high": "38", "natural_premium_markup_pct": "28", "organic_certified_premium_pct": "50", "supply_chain_volatility": "medium", "primary_source_region": "China/Norway", "synthetic_vs_natural_cost_ratio": "2.0", "bulk_discount_threshold_kg": "100", "seasonal_price_variation": "medium", "commodity_or_specialty"…
polymer
{"cas_number": "9005-38-3", "ingredient_class": "thickener/gelling_agent", "polymer_type": "natural_polysaccharide", "chemical_backbone": "other", "molecular_weight_Da_range": "32000-400000", "ionic_character": "anionic", "gel_strength_Pa": "moderate_high", "pH_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "salt_tolerance": "moderate", "electrolyte_effect_on_viscosity": "moderate", "temperature_viscosity_se…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Binder
Emulsifier
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Stabilizing agent
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Thickening agent
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (4)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Alginate (Sodium Alginate).
Regulatory Flags
eu_children_restricted
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Alginate (Sodium Alginate) by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
1.8 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1.8 mg/kg bw/day
EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx
Known Synonyms
Algiline
L'-Algiline
Algin (Laminaria spp. and other kelps)
Algipon L-1168
Cohasal-IH
Duckalgin
FEMA No. 2014
Manucol SS/LD2
Manutex
Manutex RS-5
Manutex rS1
Sodium polymannuronate
UNII-C269C4G2ZQ
Chemical Function
Viscosity modifier
Binder
Fragrance
Flavouring and nutrient
Thickening agent
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Emulsifier
Regulatory Lists
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - dental care - toothpaste
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
IFRA Transparency
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Canada; consumer_product; Substances in Products - Canada (4/2014)
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA count match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Adverse Event Associations
188
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alginate (Sodium Alginate) allowed in the EU?
Alginate (Sodium Alginate) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Alginate (Sodium Alginate) do in cosmetics?
Alginate (Sodium Alginate) functions as: Thickener. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9005-38-3.
What is the NOAEL for Alginate (Sodium Alginate)?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Alginate (Sodium Alginate) is =1.8 mg/kg bw/day based on a subchronic study via oral: feed route in Rat. Source: EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx.
Is Alginate (Sodium Alginate) used outside cosmetics?
Alginate (Sodium Alginate) also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Alginate (Sodium Alginate) compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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