Is ACETALDEHYDE safe in cosmetics?
ACETALDEHYDE has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
ACETALDEHYDE
Also known as: Ethanal, Acetic ethanol, Acetylaldehyde, EINECS 200-836-8, FEMA No. 2003 (+8 more)
ACETALDEHYDE (CAS 75-07-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Fragrance. NOAEL 120 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max II/1391. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 75-07-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
ACETALDEHYDE is classified GHS Danger (H224, H302, H311, H317, H319, H335, H341, H350) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max II/1391.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status/eu_max; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Fragrance
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
acetaldehyde
InChIKey
IKHGUXGNUITLKF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
II/1391
US US Status
Not specifically regulated
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for ACETALDEHYDE.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for ACETALDEHYDE. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | 240 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Reproductive | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 324 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 400 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 675 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | =0.5 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | rat | carcinogenicity | SCCS_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =0.5 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | rat | carcinogenicity | SCCS_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =0.5 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | rat | carcinogenicity | SCCS_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =0.5 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | rat | carcinogenicity | SCCS_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg bw/day | - | rat | NOAEL study | SCCS_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg bw/day | - | rat | NOAEL study | SCCS_vision_codex |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. The substance may have effects on the respiratory tract. This may result in tissue lesions. This substance is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for ACETALDEHYDE across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cancer slope factor | =0.01 (mg/kg-day)-1 | Human | inhalation | chronic | Cal OEHHA |
| LD50 | >2000 mg/kg | Rat | dermal | acute | ECHA IUCLID |
| LD50 | >5000 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =120 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EFSA |
| NOAEL | =12000 ppm | Rat | oral | short-term | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =6000 ppm | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =6000 ppm | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOEL | =125 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | EFSA |
| LOAEL | =142 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| LEL | =72070.7 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | DOE Protective Action Criteria |
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
1
Volume
100E
Evaluation Year
2009
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
FlammableHealth HazardHarmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Flam. Liq. 1; Carc. 1B; Muta. 2; STOT SE 3; Eye Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H224 Extremely flammable liquid and vapour
- H350 May cause cancer
- H341 Suspected of causing genetic defects
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Inserted via ATP: ATP13
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex II — Prohibited
Ref: 1391
(EU) 2019/831
CMR: Carcinogenic Cat. 1B(),Mutagenic Cat. 2()
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (II - Prohibited)
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (II)
Ref: 1391
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Prohibited (GNRAS)
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (1 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| default | 100.0% | - | - | SCCS/0104 |
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (7)
Carcinogen Classification
2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans. Acetaldehyde associated with consumption of alcoholic beverages is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). (L135)
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Acetaldehyde | Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans | Volume 36: (1985) Allyl Compounds, Aldehydes, Epoxides and Peroxides | Volume Sup 7: Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, 1987; 440 pages; ISBN 92-832-1411-0 (out of print) | Volume 71: (1999) Re-evaluation of Some Organic Chemicals, Hydrazine and Hydrogen Peroxide (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Carcinogen Classification
Acetaldehyde associated with consumption of alcoholic beverages | Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans | Volume 100E: (2012) Personal Habits and Indoor Combustions
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
Acetaldehyde is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals. | Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of acetaldehyde. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of acetaldehyde. Overall evaluation: Acetaldehyde is possibly carcinogenic to h
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Regulatory (4)
JECFA Number
80
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
ACETALDEHYDE | 2023 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | JECFA concluded that flavouring agents Nos 2299, 2303 and 2306 all exceeded their respective thresholds of toxicological concern. The structural analogue proposed to complete the evaluation of these three flavouring agents was acetaldehyde (No. 80); however, JECFA considered that the use of acetal
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
ACETIC ALDEHYDE | 2023 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | JECFA concluded that flavouring agents Nos 2299, 2303 and 2306 all exceeded their respective thresholds of toxicological concern. The structural analogue proposed to complete the evaluation of these three flavouring agents was acetaldehyde (No. 80); however, JECFA considered that the use of ace
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
ETHANAL | 2023 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | JECFA concluded that flavouring agents Nos 2299, 2303 and 2306 all exceeded their respective thresholds of toxicological concern. The structural analogue proposed to complete the evaluation of these three flavouring agents was acetaldehyde (No. 80); however, JECFA considered that the use of acetaldehyd
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Binder
Corrosion inhibitor
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Softener and conditioner
Solvent
Regulatory List Membership (5)
California Proposition 65 (OEHHA)
EU Banned in Cosmetics
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for ACETALDEHYDE.
Regulatory Flags
cosing-sourced
eu-restricted
fragrance
needs-enrichment
endocrine_disruptor
prop65
eu_banned_cosmetics
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to ACETALDEHYDE by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
12
Lowest NOAEL
0.5
Highest NOAEL
675
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg bw/d
COSMOS_DB
SCCS_vision_codex
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 100.0% | - | - |
Known Synonyms
Ethanal
Acetic ethanol
Acetylaldehyde
EINECS 200-836-8
FEMA No. 2003
NCI-C56326
RCRA waste number U001
Aldehyde acetique
Aldeide acetica
Octowy aldehyd
UNII-GO1N1ZPR3B
Aldehyde
Azetaldehyd
Chemical Function
Deodorizer
Softener and conditioner
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Flavouring and nutrient
Corrosion inhibitor
Binder
No specific technical function
Regulatory Lists
Canada; consumer_product; Substances in Products - Canada (4/2014)
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; emissions; Europe
air; consumer_product; detected; emissions
consumer_product; detected
air; Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment; detected; emissions
air; detected; emissions; Personal care
air; Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; emissions
OEHHA Proposition 65 (3/2019)
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
ACETALDEHYDE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL170365
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ACETALDEHYDE allowed in the EU?
ACETALDEHYDE EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: II/1391. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does ACETALDEHYDE do in cosmetics?
ACETALDEHYDE functions as: Fragrance. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 75-07-0.
What is the NOAEL for ACETALDEHYDE?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for ACETALDEHYDE is 240 mg/kg bw/day based on a Reproductive study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is ACETALDEHYDE used outside cosmetics?
ACETALDEHYDE also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does ACETALDEHYDE have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
ACETALDEHYDE is classified GHS Danger (H224, H302, H311, H317, H319, H335, H341, H350) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max II/1391.
Compliance Tools
Check ACETALDEHYDE compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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