Good Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified SCCS/CIR Reviewed

BHT

CAS Number
128-37-0
Function
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status Permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR: S - IJT 42(Suppl. 3):17S-19S, 2023; IJT 21(Suppl.2):19-94, 2002

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
NOAEL: 25 mg/kg bw/day | Source: SCCS/1636/21 | Study: 2-gen reproductive oral rat

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

10 study endpoints found for BHT. 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 300 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 500 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 200 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 50 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 6 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 750 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1125 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 150 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1125 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 250 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Chronic COSMOS_DB

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 irritating to the eyes and skin.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. The substance may have effects on the liver.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.

Safety Opinions

Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).

cir 6 June 2002
Verdict: unknown
NOAEL: 1000 ppm (oral)

Expert Verdict

BHT is listed in the EU CosIng database with functions: Antioxidant, Fragrance It is permitted in the EU without specific restrictions.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

cosing-sourced eu-permitted fragrance antioxidant needs-enrichment eu_children_restricted ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BHT safe in cosmetics?

BHT is listed in the EU CosIng database with functions: Antioxidant, Fragrance It is permitted in the EU without specific restrictions. The EU classifies BHT as "Permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.

Is BHT allowed in the EU?

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

What does BHT do in cosmetics?

BHT functions as: Antioxidant, Fragrance. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 128-37-0.

What is the Margin of Safety for BHT?

NOAEL: 25 mg/kg bw/day | Source: SCCS/1636/21 | Study: 2-gen reproductive oral rat 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 BHT?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for BHT is 300 mg/kg bw/day based on a Subchronic study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Compliance Tools

Check BHT compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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