Ammonium Cumenesulfonate

What Is It?

Ammonium Cumenesulfonate, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate, Calcium Xylenesulfonate, Potassium Cumenesulfonate, Potassium Toluenesulfonate, Potassium Xylenesulfonate, Sodium Cumenesulfonate, Sodium Toluenesulfonate, and Sodium Xylenesulfonate are cleansing agents. The Xylenesulfonates and Toluenesulfonates are made from Xylenesulfonic Acid and Toluenesulfonic Acid.

Among these ingredients, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate and Sodium Xylenesulfonate are most likely to be found cosmetics and personal care products including shampoos, hair conditioners, soaps and detergents, and bath products.

Why Is It Used?

These ingredients all function as surfactants – hydrotropes.

Scientific Facts

Sodium Xylenesulfonate and the related ingredients increase the ability of water to dissolve other molecules. This helps remove dirt from the skin and hair.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits Sodium Xylenesulfonate and Sodium Toluenesulfonate to be used in sanitizing solutions for food processing equipment and other articles that come into contact with food. Sodium Xylenesulfonate is also permitted for use as an indirect food additiveIndirect food additives are additives that may become part of the food in trace amounts due to its packaging, storage or other handling. For example, minute amounts of packaging substances may find their way into foods during storage. in adhesives and paper and paperboard.

The safety of Xylene Sulfonic Acid, Ammonium Cumenesulfonate, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate, Calcium Xylenesulfonate, Potassium Cumenesulfonate, Potassium Toluenesulfonate, Potassium Xylenesulfonate, Sodium Cumenesulfonate, Sodium Toluenesulfonate, Sodium Xylenesulfonate and Toluene Sulfonic Acid has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel.

The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating.

CIR Safety Review:

Based on the physical and chemical properties of Xylene Sulfonic Acid, Ammonium Cumenesulfonate, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate, Calcium Xylenesulfonate, Potassium Cumenesulfonate, Potassium Toluenesulfonate, Potassium Xylenesulfonate, Sodium Cumenesulfonate, Sodium Toluenesulfonate, Sodium Xylenesulfonate and Toluene Sulfonic Acid the CIR Expert Panel considered that absorption of these ingredients following dermal exposure would be limited.

The CIR Expert Panel also reviewed data indicating that these ingredients were not genotoxic, carcinogenic or developmental toxicants. At concentrations greater than those used in cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients can cause irritation to the skin. Therefore, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that these ingredients were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating.

FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for Sodium Xylenesulfonate and Sodium Toluenesulfonate

These ingredients may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

Resources

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.simple