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CarCareTruthProducts · Ranked

Kaolin

  • Abrasives
  • CAS 1332-58-7
  • IUPAC: Hydrous aluminum silicate

Kaolin (CAS 1332-58-7) appears in 3 of the 1,812 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of June 2026).

ACGIH TLV 2 mg/m³ for respirable particulate (A4 — not classifiable as a human carcinogen). H332 (Harmful if inhaled) is the dust-tier classification carried into product SDSs; consumer wet-application use suppresses airborne particulate. Prolonged occupational dust exposure can cause benign pneumoconiosis.

Kaolin (CAS 1332-58-7) is a hydrous aluminosilicate clay used as a mild abrasive in plastic polishes — including the Formula 1 Headlight Restorer & Sealant. It carries an OSHA PEL (15 mg/m³ total dust, 5 mg/m³ respirable) and an ACGIH TLV of 2 mg/m³ for respirable particulate. The H332 classification in supplier SDSs reflects dust-form inhalation; in a cream/liquid car-care product the kaolin is wet-bound and the dust exposure pathway is negligible under normal consumer use.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
no
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
yes
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
3/5
Purpose: Mild aluminosilicate clay abrasive used in plastic polishes and rubbing compounds to cut surface oxidation

Common questions about Kaolin

What is Kaolin used for in car care?
Mild aluminosilicate clay abrasive used in plastic polishes and rubbing compounds to cut surface oxidation
Is Kaolin a VOC?
No. Kaolin is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Kaolin on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Kaolin is not on California's Proposition 65 list.

3 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.