What Are the Dangers of EDTA Consumption?

EDTA, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is a colorless, water-soluble chemical that used in a variety of ways in industry and medicine. While it is toxic in large quantities, the amounts that most people are likely to come into contact with are safe.

Uses

• EDTA binds well to metal ions, and can thus be used to keep them from reacting. It is added to a variety of products to keep them from oxidizing. EDTA can be found in small amounts in some food and cosmetic products. It is also added to some soft drinks, where it stops the formation of carcinogens. It can also be found in some paper products and dyed textiles.

Cytotoxicity

• Studies with rats have shown that, in significant amounts, EDTA can produce toxic effects. EDTA is considered to be a cytotoxin, which means that large enough amounts of it can cause damage to an organism's cells.

Genotoxicity

• EDTA is also considered a genotoxin, which means that, if large enough amounts of it are present, it can cause damage to an organism's genetic material, possibly causing developmental or reproductive problems.

Safety

• While this risk may sound worrying, the amounts large enough to harm rats were much, much larger than the amount of EDTA that is found in any product consumed by humans.

Bottom Line

• While it cannot be considered perfectly safe, the amount of EDTA you are likely to be exposed to is far too small to cause any harm at all. You should not be concerned about consuming it.