Perfuming substances, suspected to be endocrine disruptors, musk xylene and musk ketone have just been evaluated by the French ANSM. Its conclusion: despite safety margins considered as enough, the Agency recommends lowering the limit and/or to ban these two ingredients.
In the frame of its 2009 referral by the Ministry of Health on the risk attributable to toxic for the reproduction and/or endocrine disruptors ingredients, the ANSM (previously known as the Afssaps) continues its work by regularly publishing its evaluations of the substances it has identified as such.
The current evaluation deals with two nitromusks, musk xylene and musk ketone.
Musk xylene (INCI: Musk xylene – CAS: 201-329-4) is listed in the Annex III of the Directive on cosmetics (entry 96). It may be used in any cosmetic (except for oral hygiene products), at the maximum rate of:
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1% in fine fragrances,
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0.4% in eau de toilette,
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0.03% in all the other products.
As per the LCP Regulation (EC/1272/2008, dealing with labelling, classification and packaging of substances), the musk xylene is classified as Category 2 carcinogenic, i.e. as a substance suspected to be carcinogenic to the human species.
Further, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) recommends not using it in perfumes, due to its toxicity and to its persistence in the environment.
Musk ketone (INCI: Musk ketone – CAS: 81-14-1) is listed in the Annex III of the Directive on cosmetics (entry 97). It may be used in …
