Recently, The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has released its final opinion regarding the use of micron-sized silver in cosmetics. According to the SCCS, this form of silver is deemed safe when used in certain amounts in specific products.
The committee announced that the use of micron-sized silver particles in eye shadow and lip balm at a concentration of 0.2%, and in toothpaste and mouthwash at a concentration of 0.05%, is considered safe whether used alone or in combination.
However, the SCCS cautions that micron-sized silver is a category 2 reproductive toxicant. They state, “Micron-sized particulate silver is not safe at concentrations up to 0.2% in rinse-off and 0.3% in leave-on cosmetic products when used alone or in combination.” This assessment aligns with the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) classification of silver as a category 2 reproductive toxicant due to its potential adverse effects on sexual function and fertility. Additionally, silver metal powder is not found to be irritating to the skin or eyes, and the risk of sensitization from silver exposure is considered negligible.
The SCCS did not evaluate inhalation exposure from products such as “face refresh spray” and deodorant spray, citing unsafe margin of safety data for these categories. The committee’s evaluation focused on exposure to silver ions, excluding nano silver particles because of their different physicochemical characteristics and toxicological profiles. The particles assessed are not classified as nanomaterials.
Moreover, the SCCS concurs with ECHA that there is no need for a classification for mutagenicity. Studies on silver ion genotoxicity have been inconclusive, and the SCCS is not concerned about human risk due to the low concentrations of silver in cosmetics. No classification for carcinogenicity is proposed, as the data remains inconclusive.
