Skip to main content

Overall Safety of Peroxides

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Tooth Whitening
  • 2178 Accesses

Abstract

Current tooth whiteners contain peroxides as active ingredients, which release hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the process of application. The primary source of safety concerns with the peroxide-based tooth whiteners is the capability of H2O2 to produce oxidative free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have been associated with various pathological consequences including carcinogenesis and degenerative diseases. This chapter will review and discuss toxicology of H2O2, its presence in the human body, and its potential systemic effects, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity on the basis of evidence available in the literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adam-Rodwell G, Kong BM, Bagley DM, Tonucci D, Christina LM (1994) Safety profile of Colgate Platinum Professional Toothwhitening System. Compend Suppl 17(Suppl):S622–S626

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asanza G, Menchén PL, Castellote JI, Salcedo M, Jaime B, Senent C, Castellanos D, Cos E (1995) Hydrogen peroxide-induced lesions in the digestive tract. Apropos 4 cases. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 87:465–468

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bates EJ, Johnson CC, Lowther DA (1985) Inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis by hydrogen peroxide in cultured bovine cartilage. Biochim Biophys Acta 838:221–228

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertram T (1991) Gastrointestinal tract. In: Haschek WM, Rousseaux CG (eds) Handbook of toxicologic pathology. Academic, New York, pp 195–237

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bock FG, Myers HK, Fox HW (1975) Cocarcinogenic activity of peroxy compounds. J Natl Cancer Inst 55:1359–1361

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne B, Sherwin R, Courage C, Baylor A, Dolcourt B, Brudzewski JR, Mosteller J, Wilson RF (2014) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for systemic gas embolism after hydrogen peroxide ingestion. J Emerg Med 46:171–175

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson J (1987) Salivary peroxidase: an important part of our defense against oxygen toxicity. J Oral Pathol 16:412–416

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cherry DV, Bowers DE Jr, Thomas L, Redmond AF (1993) Acute toxicological effects of ingested tooth whiteners in female rats. J Dent Res 72:1298–1303

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen DW, Faught WE, Black RE, Woodward GA, Timmons OD (1992) Fatal oxygen embolization after hydrogen peroxide ingestion. Crit Care Med 20:543–544

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cina SJ, Downs JC, Conradi SE (1994) Hydrogen peroxide: a source of lethal oxygen embolism. Case report and review of the literature. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 15:44–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson KF, Caravati EM (1994) Hydrogen peroxide – 325 exposures reported to a regional poison control center. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 32:705–714

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ECETOX (1993) Joint assessment of commodity chemicals No. 22 – hydrogen peroxide. European Center for Toxicology of Chemicals, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (1983) Hydrogen peroxide: proposed affirmation of GRAS status as a direct human food ingredient with specific limitations. Fed Regist 1983(48):52323–53333

    Google Scholar 

  • FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (1988) Irradiation in the production, processing, and handling of food. USPHS FDA 53 FR 53176

    Google Scholar 

  • Floyd RA (1990) Role of oxygen free radicals in carcinogenesis and brain ischemia. FASEB J 4:2587–2597

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd RA, West MS, Eneff KL, Hogsett WE, Tingey DT (1988) Hydroxyl free radical mediated formation of 8-hydroxyguanine in isolated DNA. Arch Biochem Biophys 262:266–272

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giberson TP, Kern JD, Pettigrew DW, Eaves CC, Haynes JF (1989) Near fatal hydrogen peroxide ingestion. Ann Emerg Med 18:778–779

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giusti GV (1973) Fatal poisoning with hydrogen peroxide. Forensic Sci 2:99–100

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hanks CT, Fat JC, Wataha JC, Corcoran JF (1993) Cytotoxicity and dentin permeability of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide vital bleaching materials, in vitro. J Dent Res 72:931–938

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harman D (1981) The aging process. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 78:7124–7132

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Humberston CL, Dean BS, Krenzelok EP (1990) Ingestion of 35% hydrogen peroxide. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 28:95–100

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (1985) Hydrogen peroxide. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risk Chem Hum 36:285–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Ijichi T, Itoh T, Sakai R, Nakaji K, Miyauchi T, Takahashi R, Kadosaka S, Hirata M, Yoneda S, Kajita Y, Fujita Y (1997) Multiple brain gas embolism after ingestion of concentrated hydrogen peroxide. Neurology 48:277–279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ito R, Kawamura H, Chang HS, Toda S, Matsuura S, Hidano T, Nakai S, Inayoshi Y, Matsuura M, Akuzawa K (1976) Safety study on hydrogen peroxide: acute and subacute toxicity. J Med Soc Toho Jpn 23:531–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito A, Watanabe H, Naito M, Naito Y (1981) Induction of duodenal tumors in mice by oral administration of hydrogen peroxide. Gan 72:174–175

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ito A, Naito M, Naito Y, Watanabe H (1982) Induction and characterization of gastro-duodenal lesions in mice given continuous oral administration of hydrogen peroxide. Gan 73:315–322

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ito A, Watanabe H, Naito M, Naito Y, Kawashima K (1984) Correlation between induction of duodenal tumor by hydrogen peroxide and catalase activity in mice. Gan 75:17–21

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kawasaki C, Kondo M, Nagayama T, Takeuchi Y, Nagano H (1969) Effect of hydrogen peroxide on the growth of rats. J Food Hyg Soc Jpn 10:68–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein-Szanto AJP, Slaga TJ (1982) Effects of peroxides on rodent skin: epidermal hyperplasia and tumor promotion. J Invest Dermatol 79:30–34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y (1996) Biological properties of peroxide-containing tooth whiteners. Food Chem Toxicol 34:887–904

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y (1997) Toxicological considerations of tooth bleaching using peroxide-containing agents. J Am Dent Assoc 128:31S–36S

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y (1998) Tooth bleaching using peroxide-containing agents: current status of safety issues. Compend Contin Educ Dent 19:783–796

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y (2000) Peroxide-containing tooth whiteners: an update on safety. Compend Contin Educ Dent 21(Suppl 28):S4–S9

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y (2003) The safety of peroxide-containing at-home tooth whiteners. Compend Contin Educ Dent 24:384–389

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y (2011) Safety controversies in tooth bleaching. Dent Clin N Am 55:255–263

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Greewall L (2013) Safety issues of tooth whitening using peroxide-based materials. Br Dent J 215:29–34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Noblitt T, Zhang W, Schymik M, Fang S, Kafrawy A, Xu Y, Klaunig JE, Stookey GK (1996) Safety evaluation of opalescence sustained release whitening gel. J Dent Res 75:430

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutz WK (1990) Endogenous genotoxic agents and processes as a basis of spontaneous carcinogenesis. Mut Res 238:287–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maron DM, Ames BN (1983) Revised methods for the Salmonella mutagenicity test. Mutat Res 113:173–215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall MV, Kuhn JO, Torrey CF, Fischman SL, Cancro LP (1996) Hamster cheek pouch bioassay of dentifrices containing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. J Am Coll Toxicol 15:45–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall MV, Gragg PP, Packman EW, Wright PB, Cancro LP (2001) Hydrogen peroxide decomposition in the oral cavity. Am J Dent 14:39–45

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nagata C, Tagashira T, Kodama M, Loki Y, Oboshi S (1973) Effect of hydrogen peroxide, Fenton’s reagent, and iron ions on the carcinogenicity of 3,4-benzopyrene. Gan 64:277–285

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakahara W, Fukuoka F (1959) On the mechanism of radiation carcinogenesis. Gan 50:17–21

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rackoff WR, Merton DF (1990) Gas embolism after ingestion of hydrogen peroxide. Pediatrics 85:593–594

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramp WK, Arnold RR, Russell JE, Yancey JM (1987) Hydrogen peroxide inhibits glucose metabolism and collagen synthesis in bone. J Periodontol 58:340–344

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rider SP, Jackson SB, Rusyniak DE (2008) Cerebral air gas embolism from concentrated hydrogen peroxide ingestion. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 46:815–818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rotstein I, Li Y (2008) Tooth discoloration and bleaching. In: Ingle JI, Bakland LK, Baumgartner JC (eds) Ingle’s endodontics, 6th edn. BC Decker Inc, Hamilton, pp 1383–1399

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin R, Farber JL (1984) Mechanisms of the killing of cultured hepatocytes by hydrogen peroxide. Arch Biochem Biophys 228:450–459

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sacks T, Moldow CF, Craddock PR, Bowers TK, Jacob HS (1978) Oxygen radicals mediate endothelial cell damage by complement-stimulated granulocytes, an in vitro model of immune vascular damage. J Clin Invest 61:1161–1167

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) (2005) Opinion on hydrogen peroxide in tooth whitening products adopted by the SCCP during the 3rd plenary meeting of 15 March 2005. http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_sccp/docs/sccp_o_022.pdf

  • Sherman SJ, Boyer LV, Sibley WY (1994) Cerabral infarction immediately after ingestion of hydrogen peroxide solution. Stroke 25:1065–1067

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sies H (1981) Measurement of hydrogen peroxide formation in situ. In: Swern D (ed) Detoxification and drug metabolism: conjugation and related systems, vol 77, Methods in enzymology. Academic, New York, pp 15–20

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Simon RH, Scoggins CH, Patterson D (1981) Hydrogen peroxide causes the fatal injury to human fibroblasts exposed to oxygen radicals. J Biol Chem 256:7181–7186

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spector WS (1956) Acute toxicities of solids, liquids and gases to laboratory animals. In: Spector WS (ed) Handbook of toxicology, vol 1. Saunders, Philadelphia, p 160

    Google Scholar 

  • The Council of The European Union (CEU) (2011) Council directive 2011/84/EU, amending directive 76/768/EEC concerning cosmetic products. Official J Eur Union L283/36–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Tse CS, Lynch E, Blake DR, Williams DM (1991) Is home tooth bleaching gel cytotoxic? J Esthet Dent 3:162–168

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner ML, Freeman C, Trochimowicz H, Brock W, De Gerlache J, Malinverno G, Mayr W, Regnier JF (2000) A 13-week drinking water study with 6-week recovery period in catalase-deficient mice with hydrogen peroxide. Food Chem Toxicol 38:607–615

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weitzman SA, Weitberg AB, Stossel T, Schwartz J, Shklar G (1986) Effects of hydrogen peroxide on oral carcinogenesis in hamsters. J Periodontol 57:685–688

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams MD, Leigh JS Jr, Chance B (1982) Hydrogen peroxide in human breath and its probable role in spontaneous breath luminescence. Ann NY Acad Sci 386:478–483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woolverton CJ, Haywood VB, Heymann HO (1993) Toxicity of two carbamide peroxide products used in nightguard vital bleaching. Am J Dent 6:310–314

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yiming Li DDS, MSD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Li, Y. (2016). Overall Safety of Peroxides. In: Perdigão, J. (eds) Tooth Whitening. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38849-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38849-6_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-38847-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-38849-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics