Preservative
Phenylmercuric salts (including borate)
Safety score · 0–100
Not Rated
Derived from EU CosIng regulatory status, PubChem hazard data and published research. How we score.
About
Phenylmercuric salts — organomercury preservatives. Mercury is a neurotoxicant and bioaccumulant; EU only permits trace use in eye-area products and almost all uses are phased out.
Skin benefits
- Historical preservative for eye-area products
Known concerns
- Organomercury — bioaccumulative neurotoxicant
- EU restricted to eye-area at 0.007% as Hg only
- Severe environmental concern
- Largely phased out / banned in many uses
References
EU CosIng database
European Commission cosmetic ingredient registry — regulatory status, restrictions, authorised functions.
Related preservatives
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This profile is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Regulatory status and scientific understanding evolve — always read the physical product label and consult a healthcare professional for personal concerns.