Red flag
Evidence key Strong Moderate Weak How we grade
Banned in EU cosmetics Possible carcinogen Suspected reproductive toxicant
- What it can be used for
- Dissolves other ingredients (the functions the EU ingredient database, CosIng, lists for it; a product may use it for any of them)
- CAS number
- 67-66-3
Why it’s flagged
Prohibited in cosmetics in the EU.
- Annex II entry 366. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II (prohibited)
Annex II of the EU Cosmetics Regulation lists substances that must not be used in cosmetics sold in the EU.
Classified as a possible or suspected human carcinogen.
- EU classification Carc. 2. Source: EU CLP Regulation, Annex VI harmonized classification
- IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans). Source: IARC Monographs list of classifications
IARC Group 2B means possibly carcinogenic to humans. EU Carc. 2 means suspected human carcinogen. These describe a hazard, not the risk at the amount in one product.
Classified as suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
- EU classification Repr. 2. Source: EU CLP Regulation, Annex VI harmonized classification
EU Repr. 2: suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
What the research says
- Nearly all (93%) of the DC childcare facilities studied used chlorine bleach to sanitize surfaces, and chloroform (a bleach byproduct classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans, Group 2B) was detected in 100% of air samples; the authors attribute it mainly to bleach use. Moderate evidence. Quirós-Alcalá 2016
- In a small pilot study of 14 Washington DC childcare facilities, chloroform – a byproduct of the chlorine bleach used to clean – was found in every single air sample, at levels averaging 1.4-1.8 times higher than in a comparable California childcare study. Moderate evidence. Quirós-Alcalá 2016
About ingredients flagged like this one:
- The EU bans more than 1,400 substances from cosmetics, while US rules restrict only a handful. Moderate evidence. Alblooshi 2025
Each finding shows its evidence grade. See every graded fact or how we grade.
What this page can’t tell you
These lists describe what a substance can do, its hazard. The risk from one product depends on how much is in it and how you use it, and the label doesn’t say how much.
Not being on a list doesn’t make an ingredient safe. It may never have been assessed.
Check your products
Check a whole labelProducts that list itEWG Skin DeepShop fragrance-free
“Products that list it” opens Open Beauty Facts, a free database anyone can edit.
Flagged the same way
Official lists checked September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.