Sodium Silicate

The Basics On Sodium Silicate

What is Sodium Silicate?

Highly alkaline and potentially sensitizing mineral.

What are other names for Sodium Silicate?

SILICIC ACID (H4SIO4), SODIUM SALT, SILICIC ACID, SODIUM SALT, SILICON SODIUM OXIDE, SODIUM SALT SILICIC ACID, and SODIUM SILICATE

What is Sodium Silicate used for?

Sodium Silicate, Sodium Metasilicate and Potassium Silicate are an inorganic salts. In cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients are used in skin care, hair coloring, shaving, bath, eyemakeup and oral hygiene products. Sodium Silicate is used to control the pH of the finished product.

How Sodium Silicate is classified

Sensitizing

Recommendations for using Sodium Silicate during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Avoid

 

Sodium Silicate During Pregnancy

What we know about using Sodium Silicate while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

Groups of three adult albino rats were injected intratesticularly and subcutaneously with doses of 0.08 mM/kg Sodium Silicate. By the testicular route, the left testis was treated and the right testis served as the control. The rats were killed 2, 7, and 30 days after injection. The testis and the spermatozoa were prepared for microscopic examination. No morphological changes were seen in the testis at anytime after either of the Sodium Silicate injections. No effect on the residual spermatozoa in the ductus deferens was apparent either (Kamboj and Amiya 1964). As described earlier, Smith et al. (1973) added a Sodium Silicate solution to the drinking water containing 600 and 1200 ppm of added silica and given to groups of six weanling male and six female Sprague-Dawley rats. Control groups received no Sodium Silicate in their drinking water. At 4 months of age, the rats of treatment groups were mated. At 600 ppm and 1200 ppm, the treated water decreased the numbers of offspring born to 67% and 80% of controls, respectively. Also these treatments decreased the numbers of surviving offspring until weaning (3 weeks) to 46% and 24% of the control values.

General safety info about Sodium Silicate from CIR

Potassium Silicate, Sodium Metasilicate, and Sodium Silicate combine metal cations with silica to form inorganic salts used as corrosion inhibitors in cosmetics. Sodium Metasilicate also functions as a chelating agent and Sodium Silicate as a buffering and pH adjuster. Sodium Metasilicate is currently used in 168 formulations at concentrations ranging from 13% to 18%. Sodium Silicate is currently used in 24 formulations at concentrations ranging from 0.3% to 55%. Potassium Silicate and Sodium Silicate have been reported as being used in industrial cleaners and detergents. Sodium Metasilicate is a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) food ingredient. Aqueous solutions of Sodium Silicate species are a part of a chemical continuum of silicates based on an equilibrium of alkali, water, and silica. pH determines the solubility of silica and, together with concentration, determines the degree of polymerization. Sodium Silicate administered orally is readily absorbed from the alimentary canal and excreted in the urine. The toxicity of these silicates has been related to the molar ratio of SiO2/Na2O and the concentration being used. The Sodium Metasilicate acute oral LD50 ranged from 847 mg/kg in male rats to 1349.3 mg/kg in female rats and from 770 mg/kg in female mice to 820 mg/kg in male mice. Gross lesions of variable severity were found in the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, larynx, lungs, and kidneys of dogs receiving 0.25 g/kg or more of a commercial detergent containing Sodium Metasilicate; similar lesions were also seen in pigs administered the same detergent and dose. Male rats orally administered 464 mg/kg of a 20% solution containing either 2.0 or 2.4 to 1.0 ratio of sodium oxide showed no signs of toxicity, whereas doses of 1000 and 2150 mg/kg produced gasping, dypsnea, and acute depression. Dogs fed 2.4 g/kg/day of Sodium Silicate for 4 weeks had gross renal lesions but no impairment of renal function. Dermal irritation of Potassium Silicate, Sodium Metasilicate, and Sodium Silicate ranged from negligible to severe, depending on the species tested and the molar ratio and concentration tested. Sodium Metasilicate was negative in the local lymph node assay (LLNA), but a delayed-type hypersensitivity response was observed in mice. Potassium Silicate was nonirritating in two acute eye irritation studies in rabbits. Sodium Metasilicate (42.4% H2O) was corrosive to the rabbit eye. Sodium Silicate was a severe eye irritant in some eye irritation studies, but was irritating or nonirritating in others. A skin freshener containing Sodium Silicate was nonirritating. Sodium Metasilicate was nonmutagenic in bacterial cells. Rats given Sodium Silicate (600 and 1200 ppm of added silica) in the drinking water in reproductive studies produced a reduced number of offspring: to 67% of controls at 600 ppm and to 80% 1Reviewed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. This report was prepared by Amy R. Elmore, former CIR Scientific Analyst and Writer. Address correspondence to F. Alan Andersen, Director, CIR, 1101 17th Street, NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20036, USA. of controls at 1200 ppm. Three adult rats injected intratesticularly and subcutaneously with 0.8 mM/kg of Sodium Silicate showed no morphological changes in the testes and no effect on the residual spermatozoa in the ductus deferens. Sodium Metasilicate (37% in a detergent) mixed with water was a severe skin irritant when tested on intact and abraded human skin, but 6%, 7%, and 13% Sodium Silicate were negligible skin irritants to intact and abraded human skin. Sodium Silicate (10% of a 40% aqueous solution) was negative in a repeat-insult predictive patch test in humans. The same aqueous solution of Sodium Silicate was considered a mild irritant under normal use conditions in a study of cumulative irritant properties. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel recognized the irritation potential of these ingredients, especially in leave-on products. However, because these ingredients have limited dermal absorption and Sodium Metasilicate is a GRAS direct food substance, the Panel deemed the ingredients safe for use in cosmetic products in the practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment, when formulated to avoid irritation.

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Products where you might find Sodium Silicate

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum; Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer with Ceramides; bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Mineral Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15