Ammonia (H3N) is a gas. When dissolved in water, Ammonia forms Ammonium Hydroxide (H5NO). Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide are used in a large variety of products including hair dyes, hair bleaching products, shaving cream and hair grooming products.
Both Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide are FDA approved indirect food additives. Ammonia may be used as a defoaming agent used in the manufacture of paper and paperboard used to package food, and Ammonium Hydroxide may be used in polymers that come in contact with food.Ammonium Hydroxide and Ammonia are identified as food additives that may be safely used following prescribed conditions.
Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
Ammonia has been evaluated by the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and a toxicology fact sheet is available at
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts126.pdf
Ammonia is listed in the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union (see Annex III, Part I). It is allowed for use at a maximum concentration of 6% as NH3, and must be labeled, contains Ammonia if the concentration is above 2%.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...