Potassium permanganate

Potassium permanganate in plain language

What it is

Also known as Permanganic acid (HMNO4), potassium salt (1:1) · Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) · Potassium tetraoxidomanganate(1-) · Algae-K · Allways Fresh · Argucide

Show all 28 names

Cairox · Caswell No. 699 · Chameleon mineral · Condy's crystals · Diversey Diversol CX with Arodyne · Diversey Diversol CXU · Insta-perm · Kaliumpermanganat · Manganese potassium oxide (KMnO4) · Permanganate de potassium · Permanganate of potash · Permanganato potasico · Permanganic acid, (HMnO4), potassium salt · Pure Light E 2 · Solo San Soo · Walko Tablets · permanganato de potasio · potassium permanganate (sara iii) · potassium permanganate (sara 313) (cercla) · potassium permanganate (sara 313) (cercla)/potassium salt · potassium permanganate 94-3 · Kali permanganicum

What it does

Used in consumer products as an emulsifier, an antimicrobial and an anti-caking agent.

• Emulsifier
• Antimicrobial
• Anti-caking agent

Is it a concern?

Critical concern: classified for carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicity (CMR). It is banned in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

• Cmr

Potassium permanganate is prohibited in cosmetic products under Annex II of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

RestrictedEU EC — banned

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.

• In marketed US drugs
• EU Annex II — prohibited
• EU prohibited in cosmetics

• EU·EC

  Annex II of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: substances prohibited in cosmetic products. CMR: Reprotoxic Cat. 2()

  banned
  View source →

• EU·CosIng·ActiveCosmetics Regulation annex II / ref 1613.

  • Cosmetics Regulation annex II / ref 1613.Source →
• US·EPA·commercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 197 composition records across product categories including Specialty occupational products, Laboratory supplies, Raw materials. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Biocide, Emulsifier, Processing aids not otherwise specified.

  • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 197 composition records across product categories including Specialty occupational products, Laboratory supplies, Raw materials. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Biocide, Emulsifier, Processing aids not otherwise specified.Source →
• US·FDA·marketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 2 active drug products and 2 total products.

  • FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 2 active drug products and 2 total products.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 Potassium permanganate. 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.

• JECFA

  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

  No JECFA evaluation on file.

• EFSA

  European Food Safety Authority

  No EFSA opinion on file.