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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Behentrimonium Chloride

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (high), Neurotoxicity (low), Endocrine disruption (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low_moderate), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)

SYNONYMS

● DOCOSYL(TRIMETHYL)AZANIUM;CHLORIDE
● UNII-X7GNG3S47T
● N,N,N-TRIMETHYLDOCOSAN-1-AMINIUM CHLORIDE
● 17301-53-0
● DOCOSYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE
● 1-DOCOSANAMINIUM,N,N,N-TRIMETHYL-, CHLORIDE (1:1)
● EINECS 241-327-0
● N,N,N-TRIMETHYL-1-DOCOSANAMINIUM CHLORIDE
● 1-DOCOSANAMINIUM, N,N,N-TRIMETHYL-, CHLORIDE
● BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE

Unacceptable

Unacceptable: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient

Behentrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt used as a preservative.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

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

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
conditioner2343 products
styling gel/lotion58 products
moisturizer33 products
shaving cream (men's)2 products
hair styling aid193 products
mask206 products
hair spray21 products
hair treatment/serum525 products
hair-loss treatment5 products
shampoo132 products
detangler73 products
hair relaxer2 products
hair color and bleaching207 products
body firming lotion7 products
exfoliant/scrub12 products
facial cleanser2 products
body wash/cleanser12 products
blush1 products
styling mousse/foam13 products
Other Hair Care Preparations2 products
Baby Hair Conditioner2 products
hand sanitizer5 products
beard care10 products
baby lotion5 products
beard cleanser4 products
hand cream2 products
brow liner1 products
CC cream1 products
around-eye cream2 products
facial moisturizer/treatment9 products
mascara1 products
toners/astringents2 products
serums & essences7 products
daily use with SPF1 products
after sun product1 products
shaving cream3 products
damaged skin treatment1 products
concealer2 products
after shave3 products
sunless tanning1 products
Hair Styling Gel2 products
bath oil/salts/soak1 products
bubble bath1 products
lip balm1 products
bar soap4 products
cuticle treatment1 products
Beard Conditioners2 products
setting powder/spray1 products

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Human toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceAsthmagen compilation - AEOC exposures codes(2012-01-01)
Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity or allergiesEnvironmental Working Group 2020. Quaternary ammonium compounds structural similarities.(2020-12-01)

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualificationsCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Violation of government restrictions - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - anyEU Cosmetics Directive

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
skin/eye/lung irritation - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Possible human toxicantAltered toxicological endpoints in humans from common quaternary ammonium compound disinfectant exposure(2021-01-01)

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate dosesQuaternary Ammonium Disinfectants Cause Subfertility in Mice by Targeting both Male and Female Reproductive Processes(2015-11-03)
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate dosesExposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice(2014-12-01)

Endocrine disruption

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Associated with endocrine disruptionIdentification of Environmental Quaternary Ammonium Compounds as Direct Inhibitors of Cholesterol Biosynthesis(2016-06-01)

Neurotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells demonstrate neurotoxicityBenzalkonium Chloride Disinfectants Induce Apoptosis, Inhibit Proliferation, and Activate the Integrated Stress Response in a 3-D in Vitro Model of Neurodevelopment(2021-05-01)
  • Asthmagen compilation - AEOC exposures codes(2012-01-01)
  • Environmental Working Group 2020. Quaternary ammonium compounds structural similarities.(2020-12-01)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • EU Cosmetics Directive
  • Environment Canada
  • Altered toxicological endpoints in humans from common quaternary ammonium compound disinfectant exposure(2021-01-01)
  • Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants Cause Subfertility in Mice by Targeting both Male and Female Reproductive Processes(2015-11-03)
  • Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice(2014-12-01)
  • Identification of Environmental Quaternary Ammonium Compounds as Direct Inhibitors of Cholesterol Biosynthesis(2016-06-01)
  • Benzalkonium Chloride Disinfectants Induce Apoptosis, Inhibit Proliferation, and Activate the Integrated Stress Response in a 3-D in Vitro Model of Neurodevelopment(2021-05-01)

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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