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CarCareTruth

Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate

  • Chelators
  • CAS 7722-88-5
  • IUPAC: tetrasodium pyrophosphate

Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (CAS 7722-88-5) appears in 1 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026). It is readily biodegradable.

Ingredient-level classification carries H302 (harmful if swallowed) and H318 (serious eye damage Cat 1) per GB CLP data. Not a skin sensitizer or asthmagen. Primary realistic exposure risk is eye splash during handling of concentrated cleaner.

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) is a food-grade and industrial-grade alkaline builder used to soften water and boost cleaning power in caustic formulas. It is GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for food use at low concentrations, but the technical-grade material used in cleaning concentrates carries an ingredient-level serious-eye-damage classification (H318) that formulators must account for in the finished-product SDS.

Regulatory status

  • Not Prop 65 listed
  • USDA/FDA-approved food additive at food-grade purity and dosage; industrial use in cleaners is a distinct application at higher relative concentration
  • No PBT/vPvB classification

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
5/5
Purpose: Alkaline builder and water softener (sequestrant) in caustic tire and wheel cleaners

Common questions about Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate

What is Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate used for in car care?
Alkaline builder and water softener (sequestrant) in caustic tire and wheel cleaners
Is Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate a VOC?
No. Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate biodegradable?
Yes. Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate has a confirmed biodegradable profile.

1 product 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.