THIS CHEMICAL IS PROHIBITED TO USE IN PERSONAL CARE IN MOST COUNTRY. PLEASE CHECK YOUR LOCAL REGULATION FIRST BEFORE PURCHASING
1 | What it is & how it works
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Sodium perborate tetrahydrate (NaBO₃·4 H₂O) is a white, free-flowing crystalline solid that stores the reactive pair H₂O₂ + borate in a dry, stable form.
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On contact with water (or at elevated humidity) it dissociates, releasing hydrogen-peroxide-derived active oxygen and a mildly alkaline borate buffer. This makes it a low-temperature oxidising/bleaching agent and a mild antimicrobial.
2 | Current personal-care uses (where still permitted)
| Segment |
Typical role & dose |
Formulation notes |
| Oral-rinse powders & denture cleansers |
3 – 4 % w/w in denture tablets; 1.2 g dissolved in 30 mL warm water for OTC oral-rinse directions in the US |
Sold anhydrous; activated only at point-of-use. Provides effervescence, stain lift and short-contact antimicrobial effect.(dps-admin.fda.gov, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) |
| Tooth-whitening gels/pastes |
Historically 5 – 15 % as mild bleach; now largely replaced by carbamide or calcium peroxide due to EU ban (see §3) |
Needs pH 8-9 for sustained O₂ release; often combined with stabilisers (silicates, polyphosphates) and sequestering agents to control metal-catalysed decomposition. |
| Powder hair dyes & lighteners |
Up to ≈30 % in the dry booster sachet, giving ≤ 3 % w/w “on-head” after mixture with developer.(ec.europa.eu) |
Provides slow oxygen release to support oxidative dyeing or bleaching; supplied as very dry micronised powder—dust-inhalation is the main safety concern. |
| Denture soak, foot-soak and textile-bleach powders |
1–3 % active oxygen (A.O.). Personal-care cross-over mainly in spa/foot-care soaks. |
Same oxygen-release chemistry; regulatory status follows cosmetics rules if intended for skin contact. |
3 | Regulatory landscape (large influence on market trend)
| Region / regime |
Status (cosmetics & oral care) |
Key driver |
| European Union / UK |
Prohibited in any concentration since 1 Dec 2010. Classified CMR 1B for developmental & fertility toxicity.(en.wikipedia.org, single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu) |
|
| United States (FDA OTC Monograph M022) |
Permitted as “oral health-care drug” rinse powder: 1.2 g/30 mL (≈4 % soln) up to 4× daily.(dps-admin.fda.gov) |
|
| Individual US States (e.g. California, Oregon) |
Scheduled for cosmetic ban from 1 Jan 2027 under Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act expansion. |
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| Australia / NZ (NICNAS) |
Classified Repr 1B, Acute Inh Cat 4; recommended restricted professional-only use with dust controls.(industrialchemicals.gov.au) |
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| ASEAN / Thailand |
Follows EU Annex II for CMR; practical result → not allowed in cosmetics; still legal in non-cosmetic OTC rinses if treated as medicinal product. (Check Thai FDA listing for final confirmation.) |
|
| Recent enforcement |
2025: Philippine watchdog ordered recall of powder hair dyes containing sodium perborate.(pressenza.com) |
|
4 | Safety & toxicology snapshot
| Endpoint |
Findings |
| Acute inhalation |
Harmful (ATE ≈ 1–2 mg/L dust); eye-damage Cat 1.(industrialchemicals.gov.au) |
| Repeated dose / reproductive |
Boron moiety linked to decreased fetal weight & male fertility at ≥ 17 mg B/kg bw/day → CMR 1B classification. |
| Dermal absorption |
Very low (~1 %). Most systemic exposure is oral or inhalation of dust. |
| pH & irritancy |
Alkaline pH ≈ 9–10 in use-solution; can irritate mucosa. |
| Environmental |
Releases boron (ecotoxic to plants/aquatic species at high WO/BAN), but breaks down to borate + O₂ (no AOX). |
5 | Formulation & handling guidelines (if legally acceptable in your market
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Keep it dry – store < 30 % RH; package in multilayer foil/poly to prevent caking and oxygen loss.
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Particle control – mill ≥ 100 µm or use agglomerated granules to drop respirable fraction below 0.1 % and comply with inhalation-hazard cut-off.
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Chelation & stabilisers – include 0.1 % EDTA or deferiprone to sequester Fe²⁺/Cu²⁺, and silicates to absorb trace moisture.
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pH window – formulating in dry powders or two-part systems avoids spontaneous decomposition; activate in-use at pH 8–9 for steady release.
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Compatibility – avoid strong acids, reducing agents, anionic surfactants with high organic load; do not combine directly with essential oils in powder (fire risk).
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Worker safety – local exhaust ventilation, FFP3 mask during charging; classified Eye Dam 1 / STOT SE 3 (resp).
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Label – if used as medicinal oral rinse in the US, follow monograph directions exactly; for leave-on cosmetic exposure (skin, hair) check local CMR exemptions—rarely granted.
6 | Alternatives you might consider
| Function sought |
Lower-risk substitute |
Remarks |
| Oxidative hair bleaching |
Sodium percarbonate + on-head H₂O₂ developer |
Boron-free; similar oxygen yield, but faster dissolution. |
| Gentle tooth whitening |
Carbamide peroxide (10 – 16 %) gels |
Already monographed; lower dust hazard. |
| Denture cleansing tablet |
Sodium percarbonate + TAED activator |
Comparable effervescence, still classed as detergent not cosmetic in most markets. |
| Scalp/skin antimicrobial boost |
Encapsulated H₂O₂ beadlets or lactoperoxidase system |
Regulatory burden lower; lower eye/respiratory risk. |
Product appearance: white powder
Solubility: Can be distributed in any formula. (cannot be dissolved)
Storage: For long-term storage Store at room temperature. Avoid heat and light. Shelf life: 2 years.
Chemical Name : Sodium perborate tetrahydrate
