Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Acetaminophen

INCI: ACETAMINOPHEN

CAS Number
103-90-2
Function
Skin conditioning; primarily a pharmaceutical (paracetamol)
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes FDA-regulated as an OTC drug (analgesic/antipyretic). Cosmetic use is uncommon and may trigger drug classification depending on claims.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

3 study endpoints found for Acetaminophen. 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
LOEL 12500 ppm oral rat oral REACH
LOAEL 3000 other oral rat oral REACH
LOEL 25000 ppm oral mouse oral REACH

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
cancer;health haz
Hazard Statements
May cause damage to liver and kidneys through prolonged or repeated exposure if swallowed Toxic to aquatic life
Long-term Exposure Effects
Ingestion may cause effects on the kidneys and liver. This may result in impaired functions.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Hepatotoxicity risk at systemic doses; borderline cosmetic/drug classification as any therapeutic claim triggers drug regulation in both EU and US.

โš ๏ธ
Concern Level: High

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Acetaminophen safe in cosmetics?

Hepatotoxicity risk at systemic doses; borderline cosmetic/drug classification as any therapeutic claim triggers drug regulation in both EU and US. The EU classifies Acetaminophen as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 3 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Acetaminophen allowed in the EU?

Acetaminophen EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Acetaminophen do in cosmetics?

Acetaminophen functions as: Skin conditioning; primarily a pharmaceutical (paracetamol). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 103-90-2.

What is the Margin of Safety for Acetaminophen?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

What is the NOAEL for Acetaminophen?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Acetaminophen is 12500 ppm based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 3 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

Is Acetaminophen classified as hazardous under GHS?

Acetaminophen carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: May cause damage to liver and kidneys through prolonged or repeated exposure if swallowed Toxic to aquatic life. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance โ€” at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

๐Ÿ“ฑ

Is Acetaminophen in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro โ€” our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free โ†’

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Acetaminophen in your formulation.