Benzophenone

Learn about benzophenone, its health risks and how to reduce your exposure.

On this page

• About benzophenone
• Safety of benzophenone
• What we're doing to reduce your exposure
• What you can do to reduce your exposure

About benzophenone

Benzophenone is an industrial chemical. It also occurs in the environment, in some fruits and plants.

You may be exposed to benzophenone from products like:

• inks
• toners
• cosmetics
• paints, stains and coatings
• e-cigarettes and vaping products
• colourants, such as inks used in food packaging

It may also be used to flavour food.

Chemicals make their way into our environments from many sources, including from industrial processes and from the products we use, like cosmetics, furniture and electronics. As a result, we're exposed to small amounts of many chemicals, including benzophenone, in:

• dust
• food
• indoor air

Safety of benzophenone

Under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan, we review and manage the potential risks that chemical substances can pose to people in Canada and the environment. We've completed our chemical risk assessment for benzophenone.

Our assessment has found that benzophenone is a health concern from the use of the following products:

• nail polish
• exterior and interior paints and stains

The health effects from the use of these products include:

• effects on the kidneys
• effects on development

Benzophenone:

• poses a risk from the use of these products when:
  • there is skin contact
  • the fumes are breathed in

The assessment has also found that benzophenone:

• is not harmful to the environment
• does not pose a health risk from the following sources:
  • dust
  • food
  • indoor air
  • baby bottles

What we're doing to reduce your exposure

To reduce exposures to benzophenone in these products of concern, we've:

• added benzophenone to the list of toxic substances in Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
  • this allows Canada to implement preventive or control actions to reduce exposures at any point of the life cycle of the substance, including:
    • research and development
    • manufacture and import
    • sale
    • use
    • storage
    • transport
    • disposal or recycling
• listed benzophenone as a restricted ingredient on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, with a maximum permitted concentration of 3%.
  • this provides information to manufacturers on the restricted use of benzophenone in cosmetics
• developed a proposed code of practice with industry to encourage manufacturers to reduce the concentration of benzophenone in exterior and interior paint and/or coating products to a maximum of:
  • 2,000 mg/kg, or
  • 0.2 % (w/w or weight for weight)

You may provide any comments on our proposed Code of Practice during the 60-day public comment period.

What you can do to reduce your exposure

You can take steps to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.

• read product labels and follow all safety warnings and directions
  • labels on cosmetics must list all ingredients
• use personal protective equipment, when listed, to minimize skin exposure or inhalation
• open windows or doors, or run exhaust fans, during and after using a product with benzophenone
• avoid using nail polish, paints and stains containing benzophenone if you are pregnant
• dispose of the product safely, following the manufacturer's directions
• limit direct skin contact with products that may contain benzophenone, such as nail polish or paints and stains

If you're unsure if your product contains benzophenone, contact the manufacturer.

If you're exposed to benzophenone at work, talk to your employer and occupational health and safety (OHS) official about:

• relevant laws
• safe handling and storage practices
• requirements under OHS legislation and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

For more information

• Use household chemicals safely
• Measuring your exposure to chemicals
• Canada's systems for addressing chemicals
• Overview of the Chemicals Management Plan

For industry and professionals

• Benzophenone - information sheet
• Risk assessment of chemical substances