Is Potassium Chloride safe in cosmetics?
Potassium Chloride has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Potassium Chloride
Also known as: KCl, [KCl], Potassium chloride (KCl), EC No.: 231-211-8, Caswell No. 686 (+15 more)
INCI: POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
Potassium Chloride (CAS 7447-40-7) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Viscosity controlling. NOAEL 1820 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. 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 7447-40-7 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Viscosity controlling
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
GRAS for food (21 CFR §184.1622); no cosmetic restriction; extremely well-characterized
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Potassium Chloride.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for Potassium Chloride. 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 | 195 mg/kg bw/day | oral | dog | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 235 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 310 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | =310 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Ingestion of large amounts could cause effects on the cardiovascular system. This may result in cardiac dysrhythmia.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Potassium Chloride across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
6 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEL | =40 mg/kg-day | Human | oral | short-term | EFSA |
| NOAEL | =310 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =310 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | >141.96 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | ECHA IUCLID |
| LD50 | =1500 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =2600 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU | restricted | - | specific uses |
Additional Ingredient Properties
1 property record from structured ingredient metadata.
anti_aging
{"anti_aging_claim": "hydration-plumping", "mechanism_of_action": "Cofactor for enzymatic reactions, ionic balance", "target_skin_layer": "epidermis", "collagen_stimulation": "No", "elastin_protection": "No", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "4-8", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "8", "sample_size": "20", "double_blind": "No", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", "published_journal": "Trace element research", "i…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Chemical reaction regulator
Filler
Flavouring and nutrient
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Thickening agent
Viscosity modifier
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 Potassium Chloride.
Regulatory Flags
endocrine_disruptor
epa_safer_alternative
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Potassium Chloride by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
4
Lowest NOAEL
195 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
310 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS_DB
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
KCl
[KCl]
Potassium chloride (KCl)
EC No.: 231-211-8
Caswell No. 686
Chloride of potash
Dipotassium dichloride
EINECS 231-211-8
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 013904
Kalcorid
Kaon-Cl TABS
Kay Ciel
KCl-retard Zyma
Klor-Lyte
Natural sylvite
Potassium muriate
K-Predne-dome
Slow-K tablets
Tripotassium trichloride
Kaon Cl
Chemical Function
Viscosity modifier
Filler
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
Europe; supplements
Europe; food_additive; supplements
animal_products
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
fracking; water
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 CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1200731
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
8747
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potassium Chloride allowed in the EU?
Potassium Chloride EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Potassium Chloride do in cosmetics?
Potassium Chloride functions as: Viscosity controlling. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 7447-40-7.
What is the NOAEL for Potassium Chloride?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Potassium Chloride is 195 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in dog. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is Potassium Chloride used outside cosmetics?
Potassium Chloride 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.
Compliance Tools
Check Potassium Chloride 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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