Quaternium-15

The Basics On Quaternium-15

What is Quaternium-15?

Formaldehyde-releasing preservative.

What are other names for Quaternium-15?

1-(3-CHLORO-2-PROPENYL)- 3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.1]DECANE, 1-(3-CHLORO-2-PROPENYL)-3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.1]DECANE CHLORIDE, 1-(3-CHLOROALLYL)-3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIAADAMANTANE CHLORIDE, 3,5,7-TRIAZA-1-AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.1]DECANE, 1-(3-CHLORO-2-PROPENYL)-, 3,5,7TRIAZA1AZONIATRICYCLO[3.3.1.13,7]DECANE, 1(3CHLORO2PROPENYL), CHLORIDE, CHLOROALLYL METHENAMINE CHLORIDE, METHENAMINE 3-CHLOROALLY LCHLORIDE, METHENAMINE 3-CHLOROALLYLOCHLORIDE, N-(3-CHLOROALLYL)HEXAMINIUM CHLORIDE, QUATERNIUM-15, and QUATERNIUM-15 (FORMALDEHYDE RELEASER)

What is Quaternium-15 used for?

In cosmetics and personal care products, Quaternium-15 is used in the formulation of a variety of products, including skin care lotions, eye makeup, facial makeup, shampoos and baby products. Quaternium-15 is used to kill microorganisms, or to prevent or inhibit their growth and reproduction.

How Quaternium-15 is classified

Preservatives

Recommendations for using Quaternium-15 during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Quaternium-15 During Pregnancy

What we know about using Quaternium-15 while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

The Dow Chemical Co 48 conducted a study on the teratogenicity of orally administered Quaternium-15 using Fischer 344 rats. Initially, a probe study was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose of Quaternium-15 in pregnant rats. Maternal toxicity (decreases in body weight, body weight gain, and water consumption; increased liver weight relative to body weight) and embryo lethality (increased resorption incidence) were observed in rats administered Quatemium-15 (100* 200, or 400 mg/kg/d). Based on these results, groups of 33 or 34 pregnant rats were administered Quaternium-15 (O, 5, 25, or 75 mg/kg/d aqueous) via gavage on days 6 to 15 (period of major organogenesis) of gestation. Control animals were administered an equivalent volume of distilled water. Dams were killed on day .21 of gestation and the fetuses were examined, A dose of 75 mg/kg/d of Quatemium-15 not only caused maternal and fetal toxicity but also caused embzyonic malformations compared with confrol animals, Dams consumed less food and water than confrols, with the subsequent decreases in body weight and body weight gain, The relative maternal liver weights (grams of liver per 100 g of body weight) were increased over controls. Fetal resorption was increased over concurrent control resorptions, and the fetuses weighed less than controls. Eleven fetuses in 7 litters had major malformations, primarily of the eye (microphthalmia). An increase in minor malformations was indicative of delayed development. A dose of 25 mg/kg/d Quaternium- 15 did not cause maternal toxicity; however, pregnant rats had a transient decrease in feed consumption. This dose did result in fetal malformations; major malforrnations were found in 10 fetuses in 9 litters. The predominant malformations were eye anomalies. The administration of 5 mg/kg/d Quaternium-15 did not produce any evidence of maternal or fetal toxicity or malformations. The authors concluded that Quaternium-15 orally administered at 25 and 75 mg/kg/d on days 6 to 15 of gestation was teratogenic in Fischer 344 rats. However, 5 mg/kg/d Quaternium-15 was below this teratogenic threshold. 48

General safety info about Quaternium-15 from CIR

Quaternium-15 is an antimicrobial agent used in cosmetics as a cosmetic preservative and antistatic agent. Little systemic toxicity was reported in most single-dose or repeated-dose animal studies. Quaternium-15 was an oral teratogen, but not a dermal teratogen, in rats at doses that exceeded the expected cumulative exposure from cosmetics. The frequency of sensitization increased in North America but not in Europe, where Quaternium-15 is used tess often. In almost all animal and human studies, Quaternium- 15 at 0.2% was not a sensitizer, The weight of evidence suggested that a 0.2% concentration is not a sensitizer and that cosmetic products containing Quaternium- 15 up to that level are safe.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Quaternium-15

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