Is Acetone safe in cosmetics?
Acetone has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Acetone
Also known as: Caswell No. 004, Chevron acetone, Dimethylketal, EINECS 200-662-2, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 004101 (+13 more)
INCI: ACETONE
Acetone (CAS 67-64-1) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Solvent, denaturant. NOAEL 100 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; GHS signal word DANGER. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Acetone is classified GHS Danger (H225, H319, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Solvent, denaturant
Editorial assessment
MODERATE
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted without specific restriction. FDA GRAS for food contact. Widely used in OTC drug products (nail polish removers).
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Acetone.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Acetone. 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 | 500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Reproductive | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 1144 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Immunotoxicology | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 1700 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 1788 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 2500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 3896 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 4312 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 5000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 6400 mg/kg bw/day | oral | syrian hamster | Immunotoxicology | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | Subchronic toxicity | WHO/JECFA |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
FlamFlameExcl markWarn
Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour Causes eye irritation May cause respiratory irritation
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Exposure at high levels could cause lowering of consciousness.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Acetone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRL | =19.0038 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| MRL | =0.6 mg/kg-day | Human | oral | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| LOAEL | =539.232 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | TX TCEQ |
| LOAEL | =890.802 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | chronic | TX TCEQ |
| NOAEL | =900 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EFSA |
| LEL | =61762.3 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | DOE Protective Action Criteria |
| NOAEL | =900 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | Mass. ORSG |
| NOEL | =200 uL | Mouse | dermal | chronic | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =200 uL | Mouse | dermal | chronic | ECOTOX |
| OEL | =1187.74 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | EU SCOEL |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
FlammableHarmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Flam. Liq. 2; STOT SE 3; Eye Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
- H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
1 human repeat insult patch test aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRIPT | - | 0 | - | - | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000,000 - 10,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nail Polish Remover | 50–80 | 100 | CIR Safety Assessment |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Binder
Cleaning agent
Degradant/impurity
Diluent
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Solubility enhancer
Solvent
Regulatory List Membership (3)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Acetone — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
endocrine_disruptor
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Acetone by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
11
Lowest NOAEL
500
Highest NOAEL
6400
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg bw
COSMOS DB
WHO/JECFA
Known Synonyms
Caswell No. 004
Chevron acetone
Dimethylketal
EINECS 200-662-2
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 004101
FEMA No. 3326
Ketone, dimethyl
Ketone propane
Pyroacetic acid
RCRA waste number U002
UNII-1364PS73AF
Aceton
Azeton
Dimethylketon
Propanon
beta-Ketopropane
dimethylcetone
dimethylketone
Chemical Function
Solvent
Regulatory Lists
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies; Europe
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
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected
air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; emissions; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; Europe
CEDI
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other indirect contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings
air; Construction and building materials; detected; emissions; Europe
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
ACETONE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL14253
Max Phase
-1
Adverse Event Associations
43
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acetone allowed in the EU?
Acetone EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Acetone do in cosmetics?
Acetone functions as: Solvent, denaturant. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 67-64-1.
What is the NOAEL for Acetone?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Acetone is 500 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 Acetone classified as hazardous under GHS?
Acetone carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapour Causes eye irritation May cause respiratory irritation. 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 — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.
Is Acetone used outside cosmetics?
Acetone 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 Acetone have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Acetone is classified GHS Danger (H225, H319, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Acetone 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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