Benzophenone – information sheet

Methanone, diphenyl-,
CAS Registry Number 119-61-9

Publications summarized:

• Final Screening Assessment for Benzophenone (published on January 30, 2021). Public comments received on the draft assessment and risk management scope were considered and a summary of the comments with Government responses was published.
• Associated notice: Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 155, No. 5 – January 30, 2021

On this page

• Overview
• About this substance
• Human and ecological exposures
• Key health and ecological effects (hazard)
• Risk assessment outcomes
  • Assessment conclusions
• Preventive actions and risk reduction
  • Where to find updates on risk management actions
• Related resources

Overview

• The Government of Canada conducts risk assessments of substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to determine whether they present or may present a risk to human health or to the environment.
  • The risks posed by a substance are determined by both its hazardous properties (potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount or extent to which people or the environment are exposed.
  • When needed, the Government applies risk management instruments under CEPA and other federal acts to help prevent or reduce potential harm.
• The ecological hazard and exposure potentials of benzophenone were classified using the Ecological Risk Classification of Organic Substances (ERC) Approach.
• The Government concluded that benzophenone poses a risk to human health, but not the environment, at levels of exposure considered in the assessment. Risk management actions were taken to address the exposures of concern.

About this substance

• The assessment focused on the substance methanone, diphenyl-, also referred to as benzophenone, which was assessed under the third phase of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP).
• Benzophenone occurs naturally in the environment (for example, in some fruits and plants), and is also human-made.
• According to information gathered by the Government, benzophenone is used in a range of products available to consumers, including cosmetics, paints and coatings, stains, adhesives, sealants and pest control products. It may also be used in inks, toners and colourants, including inks used in some food packaging, and as a flavouring agent in foods.

Human and ecological exposures

• People in Canada may be exposed to benzophenone from indoor air, dust, food, and from the use of baby bottles. Exposure may also occur from the use of certain cosmetics (for example, nail polishes, fragrances and body cleansers), as well as from exterior and interior paints, and stains.
• According to the information considered under the ERC Approach, benzophenone was identified as having low ecological exposure potential.

Key health and ecological effects (hazard)

• To help inform the health effects characterization in the assessment, international reports on benzophenone were considered, among other sources. This included reviews by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the European Food Safety Authority.
  • IARC classified benzophenone as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".
  • Non-cancer effects on the kidney and maternal effects were identified as critical effects for characterizing the risk to human health.
• According to information considered under the ERC Approach, benzophenone was identified as having low ecological hazard potential.

Risk assessment outcomes

• Based upon a comparison of levels to which people in Canada may be exposed to benzophenone from the use of certain products available to consumers (nail polish, exterior and interior paints and stains) and the levels associated with critical health effects, it was determined that benzophenone may pose a risk to human health. Other sources of exposure (such as food, indoor air, dust and baby bottles) were not considered to pose a risk to human health.
• Based upon the outcome of the ERC Approach, benzophenone is considered unlikely to be causing ecological harm.

Assessment conclusions

• As a result of the screening assessment, the Government concluded that benzophenone is harmful to human health at levels of exposure considered in the assessment.
• The Government also concluded that benzophenone is not entering the environment at levels that are harmful to the environment.
• Also, it was determined that benzophenone meets the persistence criteria but not the bioaccumulation criteria as set out in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations of CEPA.

Preventive actions and risk reduction

• The proposed order to add benzophenone to Schedule 1 to CEPA was published on April 2, 2022 for a 60-day public comment period. Adding a substance to Schedule 1 does not, in itself, restrict its use, manufacture or import. Rather, it enables the Government to take enforceable risk management actions under CEPA.
• The Risk Management Approach for Benzophenone was published on January 30, 2021 for a 60 day public comment period.
• The following risk management actions were taken to address human health concerns:
  • Benzophenone has been listed as a restricted ingredient on Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. The Hotlist is used to communicate that certain substances may not be compliant with the Food and Drugs Act or the Cosmetic Regulations. Under Canadian legislation, cosmetics that contain substances that are harmful to the user cannot be sold.
  • On February 14, 2026, a draft outline of a proposed Code of Practice for benzophenone in paint, stain and/or coating products available to consumers was published for a 60-day public comment period ending on April 15, 2026. The Code of Practice aims to help reduce dermal and inhalation exposures of people in Canada to benzophenone contained in certain exterior and interior paint, stain and/or coating products. The recommended practice outlined in the Code is as follows:
    • The concentration of benzophenone present in a paint, stain and/or coating product available to a consumer in Canada should not be more than 2,000 mg/kg (also expressed as 0.2% w/w).

Where to find updates on risk management actions

• Updates on actions can be found on the timeline for benzophenone.
• Up-to-date information on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, environmental codes of practice and consultations are available.
• Additional information on the risk management of substances as well as a table of risk management actions for substances addressed under the CMP is available.
• Use the Substances Search tool to find substances that are referenced in certain legislative or regulatory instruments or on Government of Canada websites.

Related resources

• Benzophenone is found in products available to consumers. People in Canada should follow any safety warnings and directions related to the product and dispose of products responsibly.
• Visit Healthy home for information on chemical safety in and around the home, including on benzophenone (for consumers).
• Vaping products (also known as electronic cigarettes) may be an additional source of exposure to benzophenone. The risk to people in Canada from this use, and possible options to mitigate risk associated with these products, would be addressed through a separate legislative and regulatory framework.
• Assessments conducted under CEPA focus on risks of exposure of the general population, including populations who may be disproportionately impacted. Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The Government of Canada recognizes that it is the responsibility of the federal, provincial and territorial occupational health and safety organizations to coordinate legislation for the safe use of chemicals in the workplace. We are working to support this role by integrating the information, tools, and technical expertise of the CMP and Health Canada's Workplace Hazardous Products Program.