Phenylmercuric acetate

Phenylmercuric acetate in plain language

What it is

On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Phenyl mercuric acetate”.

Also known as Phenyl mercuric acetate · Phenyl mercuric benzoate · Phenyl mercuric borate · Phenyl mercuric bromide · Phenyl mercuric chloride · Phenylmercury acetate

Show all 22 names

Acetoxy phenylmercury · Phenylmercuric salts (including borate) · (Acetato)phenylmercury · (Acetato-kappaO)(phenyl)mercury · Mercury, (acetato-o)phenyl- · Phenyl mercuric acetate / phenyl mercuric benzoate · phenylmercury(1+) acetate · (Acetato-O)phenylmercury · Acetate de phenylmercure · Acetatophenylmercury · Acetic acid, phenylmercury deriv. · Acetoxyphenylmercury · Mercury, (acetato-κO)phenyl- · P0192 · acetato de fenilmercurio · phenylmercuric acetate (sara iii)

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a preservative. Phenyl Mercuric Acetate is the metallo-organic compound.

• Preservative

Is it a concern?

Minor concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

What the listings say

Permitted, with conditions — Phenylmercuric acetate appears on published "allowed" regulatory lists rather than on a restriction list.

Phenylmercuric salts (including borate) is listed in Annex V of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 (preservatives allowed in cosmetic products).

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

• EU Annex V — permitted preservative
• EU permitted preservative
• Inactive ingredient in US drugs

• US·FDA·inactive ingredient database5 entries — 3 administration routes

  • Route: NASAL; Dosage form: DROPS; Potency: 20 mgSource →
  • Route: NASAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 0.02 mg/1mlSource →
  • Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: NASource →
  • Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
  • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SHAMPOO; Potency: 0.02 %w/wSource →
• EU·CosIng·Active2 entries

  • Phenyl Mercuric Acetate is the metallo-organic compound that conforms to the formula: Restriction: V/17Source →
  • Cosmetics Regulation annex V / ref 17.Source →
• EU·EC·allowed_listedAnnex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Product types: Eye products Maximum concentration: 0.007% (of Hg) If mixed with other mercurial compounds authorized by this Directive, the maximum concentration of Hg remains fixed at 0.007% Conditions of use and warnings: Contains Phenylmercuric compounds

  • Annex V of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. Product types: Eye products Maximum concentration: 0.007% (of Hg) If mixed with other mercurial compounds authorized by this Directive, the maximum concentration of Hg remains fixed at 0.007% Conditions of use and warnings: Contains Phenylmercuric compoundsSource →
• US·EPA·commercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 219 composition records across product categories including Home maintenance, Construction, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative.

  • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 219 composition records across product categories including Home maintenance, Construction, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative.Source →
• US·FDA·listed in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.

  • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

No expert opinion on file for Phenylmercuric acetate. These are the independent scientific bodies that assess ingredients like this one; we show an opinion only when a record we hold cites it.

• SCCS

  EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

  No SCCS opinion on file.

• CIR

  Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

  No CIR safety assessment on file.