Killer colours

Most cosmetic colours are considered capable of causing cancer - such as D&C reds 2, 3, 4, 10, 17 and 23; and FD&C red 10 and blue 4 - and are banned from US and European cosmetics, but the following carcinogens can be regularly found in illegally imported cosmetics from other countries.

Common name US Europe E number CAS

Pigment red 53 sodium salt D&C red 8 CI15585 - 2092-56-0
Pigment red 53 barium salt D&C red 9 CI15585 - 5160-02-1
Rhodamine B D&C red 19 CI45170 - -
Alizarine cyanine green F D&C green 5 CI61570 - 4403-90-1
Pigment orange 5 D&C orange 17 CI12075 - -
CI Disperse Blue 1 Disperse Blue 1 CI64500 - 2475-45-8
CI Disperse Yellow 3 Disperse Yellow 3 CI3/1185 - 2832-40-8
Fast green FCF FD&C green 3 CI42053 - 2353-45-9
Ponceau SX FD&C red 4 CI14700 - 4548-53-2
Tartrazine FD&C yellow 5 CI19140 E102 1934-21-0
Sunset yellow FD&C yellow 6 CI15985 E110 2781-94-0
Brilliant blue FCF FD&C blue 1 CI42090 E133 3844-45-9
Indigo carmine FD&C blue 2 CI73015 E132 860-22-0