Is Hydrochloric Acid safe in cosmetics?
Hydrochloric Acid has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted.
Moderate
Cosmetic Ingredient
Hydrochloric Acid
Also known as: HCl, 4-D Bowl Sanitizer, Aqueous hydrogen chloride, Bowl Cleaner, Caswell No. 486 (+15 more)
INCI: HYDROCHLORIC ACID
Hydrochloric Acid (CAS 7647-01-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Buffering / pH adjuster. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 7647-01-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Hydrochloric Acid is classified GHS Danger (H280, H290, H314, H318, H331, H335, H301, H330) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Buffering / pH adjuster
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
chlorane
InChIKey
VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — GRAS (21 CFR 184.1021); common cosmetic pH adjuster
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Hydrochloric Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOAEL | =14.9121 mg/m3 | Rat | inhalation | chronic | TX TCEQ |
| NOAEL | =2.68419 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | TX TCEQ |
| NOAEL | =2.68419 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| LOEL | =350 mM | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =500 mM | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =150 mM | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =350 mM | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOAEL | =14.9121 mg/m3 | Rat | inhalation | chronic | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| LOEL | =100 mM | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =50 mM | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
3
Volume
54
Evaluation Year
1991
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
Compressed GasAcute ToxicityCorrosive
Hazard Class and Category
Press. Gas; Acute Tox. 3 *; Skin Corr. 1A
Hazard Statements
- H331 Toxic if inhaled
- H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
1 human repeat insult patch test aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRIPT | - | 0 | - | - | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000,000 - 10,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (5)
Carcinogen Classification
3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. (L135)
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Hydrochloric acid | Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | Volume 54: (1992) Occupational Exposures to Mists and Vapours from Strong Inorganic Acids; and Other Industrial Chemicals
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity in humans of hydrochloric acid. There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity in experimental animals of hydrochloric acid. Overall evaluation: Hydrochloric acid is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3). | A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
ICSC Safety Card
0163
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
An aqueous solution (4%) of hydrogen chloride was slightly irritating, and a 10% solution was determined to be 'Irritating to skin' ... in human volunteer experiments.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (2)
JECFA Evaluation
HYDROCHLORIC ACID | 1965 | NOT LIMITED | NMRS 40/TRS 339-JECFA 9/16 | FAS 67.29/NMRS 40A,B,C-JECFA 9/141
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
EU Food Improvement
Food additives
Source: EU Food Improvement Agents
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-scaling agent
Biocide
Chelating agent
Cleaning agent
Other
Processing aids not otherwise specified
pH regulating agent
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Hydrochloric Acid.
Regulatory Flags
epa_safer_alternative
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
Known Synonyms
HCl
4-D Bowl Sanitizer
Aqueous hydrogen chloride
Bowl Cleaner
Caswell No. 486
EINECS 231-595-7
Emulsion Bowl Cleaner
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 045901
Hygeia Creme Magic Bowl Cleaner
Now South Safti-Sol Brand Concentrated Bowl Cleanse with Magic Actio
Percleen Bowl and Urinal Cleaner
Varley's Ocean Blue Scented Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Varley Poly-Pak Bowl Creme
White Emulsion Bowl Cleaner
Wuest Bowl Cleaner Super Concentrated
Acide chlorhydrique
Acido clorhidrico
Acido cloridrico
Chloorwaterstof
Chlorowodor
Chemical Function
pH regulating agent
Cleaning agent
Anti-scaling agent
Regulatory Lists
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
active_ingredient; animal_products; Europe; pharmaceutical; residue
Europe; Personal care - hair styling and care - shampoo-dandruff
animal_products
Europe; Specialty occupational products
fracking
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
SCIL (9/2019)
fracking; water
pharmaceutical
Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1231821
Max Phase
-1
Adverse Event Associations
23
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hydrochloric Acid allowed in the EU?
Hydrochloric Acid EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Hydrochloric Acid do in cosmetics?
Hydrochloric Acid functions as: Buffering / pH adjuster. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 7647-01-0.
Is Hydrochloric Acid used outside cosmetics?
Hydrochloric Acid also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Hydrochloric Acid have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Hydrochloric Acid is classified GHS Danger (H280, H290, H314, H318, H331, H335, H301, H330) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Hydrochloric Acid 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
Related Ingredients
Acrylates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Crosspolymer
Excellent
Same category
Emulsion stabilising, film forming
Adipic Acid
Excellent
Same category
Buffering
Aluminum Magnesium Oxide
Excellent
Same category
Absorbent, bulking agent, opacifying ...
Ammonium VA/Acrylates Copolymer
Excellent
Same category
Antistatic, binding, film forming, ha...
Ammonium VA/Crotonic Acid Copolymer
Excellent
Same category
Antistatic, film forming, hair fixing...
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
Excellent
Same category
Absorbent, emulsion stabilising, film...
(20S)-Protopanaxadiol
Moderate
Similar safety
(Cnidium Officinale/Coptis Chinensis/Glycyrrhiza Uralensis) Root Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Cryptomeria Japonica/Chamaecyparis Obtusa) Stem Ferment Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, humectant
(Eclipta Prostrata/Houttuynia Cordata) Leaf Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Lepidium Meyenii/Sarcodon Aspratus) Root Water
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Licorice/Reynoutria Japonica) Root/Stem Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning, antioxidant
Maris Sal
Moderate
Chemical family
Skin Conditioning
Sea Salt
Excellent
Chemical family
Abrasive, humectant, skin conditionin...
Sodium Chloride
Excellent
Chemical family
Viscosity modifier, thickening agent,...
Is Hydrochloric Acid in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Hydrochloric Acid in your formulation.