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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Good

Silica, Crystalline (Quartz)

  • This ingredient is unacceptable for use in EWG VERIFIED products
  • This ingredient is unacceptable for use in EWG VERIFIED products
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
  • This ingredient is unacceptable for use in EWG VERIFIED products

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Enhanced skin absorption, Persistence and bioaccumulation (high), and Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)

SYNONYMS

● SILICA GEL, EMD MILLIPORE, TLC GRADE (11695), 15 MUM, PORE SIZE 60 ??, WITH SILICA/ALUMINA BINDER
● SILICA GEL - TECHNICAL GRADE, 230-400 MESH PARTICLE SIZE, 40-63 |M PARTICLE SIZE, PORE SIZE 60+
● 98253-25-9
● SILICA GEL, HIGH-PURITY GRADE (DAVISIL GRADE 633), PORE SIZE 60 ??, 200-425 MESH PARTICLE SIZE
● SILICA GEL, HIGH-PURITY GRADE (7749), WITH GYPSUM BINDER AND FLUORESCENT INDICATOR, FOR THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY
● SILICA GEL 60, WITH FLUORESCENT INDICATOR, 0.060-0.2MM (70-230 MESH), -70+230 MESH POWDER, S.A. 500-600M2/G
● DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, FLUX-CALCINED, FILTER AID, ACID WASHED, TREATED WITH SODIUM CARBONATE, FLUX CALCINED
● SILICA GEL, 30 MUM PARTICLE SIZE (AVERAGE), AVERAGE PORE DIAMETER 60 ??, SUITABLE FOR NORMAL-PHASE ADSORPTION-PARTITION CHROMATOGRAPHY
● SILICA GEL, HIGH-PURITY GRADE (DAVISIL GRADE 636), PORE SIZE 60 ??, 35-60 MESH PARTICLE SIZE
● SILICON(IV) OXIDE, 40% IN WATER, COLLOIDAL DISPERSION, 0.02 MICRON PARTICLES, S.A. 200M 2/G

Unacceptable

Unacceptable: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient

Quartz is a mineral and the most common form of silicon dioxide or crystalline silica. Respiratory exposure to large quantities of crystalline silica in the work-place setting has been associated with pulmonary silicosis, a severe lung disease. Long-term, high-volume occupational exposure has been also linked to other disorders such as progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, glomerulonephritis (renal disease) and vasculitis. Research is ongoing on the relevance of these systemic effects to silica exposure in non-occupational settings via consumer products (Steenland 2005; Stratta 2001).

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • MODERATE
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
conditioner3 products
concealer27 products
brow liner10 products
body firming lotion1 products
moisturizer7 products
styling gel/lotion4 products
hair styling aid3 products
baby sunscreen1 products
bronzer/highlighter37 products
mask39 products
facial cleanser20 products
exfoliant/scrub17 products
serums & essences11 products
toners/astringents7 products
facial moisturizer/treatment39 products
setting powder/spray7 products
makeup primer7 products
foundation14 products
lip gloss8 products
lip balm3 products
eye shadow79 products
lipstick67 products
bar soap1 products
body wash/cleanser3 products
shampoo5 products
around-eye cream5 products
blush13 products
nail treatment2 products
mascara1 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders1 products
body spray1 products
hair treatment/serum3 products
hair spray3 products
nail polish8 products
lip liner1 products
anti-aging1 products
body oil1 products
eye liner10 products
exfoliant/scrub - large particle1 products
hair color and bleaching3 products
antiperspirant/deodorant1 products

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Possible human carcinogenAmerican Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
Limited evidence of carcinogenicityCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Known human carcinogenNational Toxicology Program (NTP)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a high human health priorityEnvironment Canada
Limited evidence of respiratory toxicityUS National Library of Medicine,

Persistence and bioaccumulation

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humansUS National Library of Medicine,
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlifeUS National Library of Medicine,

Ecotoxicology

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
  • American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • National Toxicology Program (NTP)
  • Environment Canada
  • US National Library of Medicine,

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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