Is BHT safe in cosmetics?
BHT has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
BHT
Also known as: 2,6-bis(1,1-Dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol, 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-p-cresol, Butylated hydroxytoluene, p-Cresol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl- (+14 more)
BHT (CAS 128-37-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Antioxidant, Fragrance. Reported NOAEL 3.2 mg/kg bw/day in rabbit (COSMOS_DB); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; 1 safety opinion reviewed (cir). Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 128-37-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US 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 multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for BHT.
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 | 3.2 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rabbit | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 4 mg/kg bw/day | oral | dog | Subchronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 6 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 12.5 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 34 mg/kg bw/day | oral | chinese hamster | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 50 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 58 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 75 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Carcinogenicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 85 mg/kg bw/day | oral | guinea pig | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | =15 mg/kg bw/day | - | - | 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 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)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOAEL | =250 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| LOAEL | =750 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =25 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | EFSA |
| LOEL | =100 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =10 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| ADI | <=0.3 mg/kg | Human | oral | - | WHO JECFA ADI |
| NOEL | =1000 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | short-term | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =900 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =900 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =900 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | ECOTOX |
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
3
Volume
40, Sup 7
Evaluation Year
1987
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Suspected
Evidence: Moderate
(2016)
Health effects: Yes
Affected pathways: Estrogenic (weak), Thyroid
Regulatory framework: REACH
Source list: II
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: other
Receptor targets: TR, AR (weak); synergistic with parabens
LOEC: 100 µM
EU status: under_review (EU priority list 2019 Group A; SCCS 2021 no concern but substance evaluation ongoing)
antagonist (TR); synergistic anti-AR in mixtures
Dose-Response Data Points
| Endpoint | Target | Value | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| dermal_absorption | skin | <4% % | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
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.
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Korea (Restricted): Restricted in leave-on lip products; Category: Other
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (3)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU | restricted | - | antioxidants |
| UK | restricted | - | - |
| ID | restricted | Updated limits (Indonesia PerBPOM 25/2025) | All products |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (2 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured_in_vitro | 0.4 | In vitro; OECD TG 428-compliant; flow-through; GLP (Eurofins 2020) | Dermatomed human abdominal skin (350-450 µm), 5 donors | SCCS/1636/21 (2021) |
| measured_sccs_opinion | 0.4% | - | - | SCCS/1636/21 |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Lotion | 0.01–0.2 | 0.5 | CIR (max 0.5%) |
| Lipstick | 0.01–0.2 | 0.5 | CIR |
Additional Ingredient Properties
1 property record from structured ingredient metadata.
baby_pediatric
{"cas_number": "CAS-FUNC-25", "ingredient_class": "other", "pediatric_safety_rating": "caution", "minimum_age_months": "12", "neonatal_safe": "no", "premature_infant_safe": "insufficient_data", "skin_barrier_maturity_consideration": "Synthetic antioxidant - scrutiny, limit babies", "transepidermal_absorption_risk_pediatric": "low", "systemic_exposure_concern_pediatric": "low", "dose_per_kg_body_we…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Defoamer
Degradant/impurity
Deodorizer
Emulsifier
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Lubricating agent
Pharmaceutical
Preservative
Regulatory List Membership (4)
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for BHT.
Regulatory Flags
cosing-sourced
eu-permitted
fragrance
antioxidant
needs-enrichment
eu_children_restricted
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to BHT by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
40
Lowest NOAEL
3.2
Highest NOAEL
800
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg/day
COSMOS_DB
SCCS_vision_codex
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | In vitro; OECD TG 428-compliant; flow-through; GLP (Eurofins 2020) | Cosmetic formulation |
| 0.4% | SCCS opinion extraction | - |
Known Synonyms
2,6-bis(1,1-Dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol
2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol
2,6-Di-tert-butyl-p-cresol
Butylated hydroxytoluene
p-Cresol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-
Phenol, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-
Antrancine 8
Butylated hydroxytoluol
Caswell No. 291A
Catalin antioxydant 1
Catalin cao-3
Di-tert-butyl-p-methylphenol
EINECS 204-881-4
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 022105
FEMA No. 2184
1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2,6-di-tert-butylbenzene
"Ionol" CP-antioxidant
4-Methyl-2,6-tert-butylphenol
NCI-C03598
Chemical Function
Stabilizing agent
Fragrance
Preservative
Antioxidant
Regulatory Lists
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - children's art and toys - modeling clay; detected
detected; MN Chemical Screening; surface_water
detected; MN Chemical Screening; surface_water
detected; MN Chemical Screening; surface_water
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Europe; plastic_additive
Europe
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
artificial_sweat; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; artificial_sweat; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - home office - pens and markers; detected; Europe
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - specialized bath products - bath salts
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
children; Europe; Personal care
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL146
Max Phase
2
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Butylated hydroxytoluene
E Number
E321
ADI
0.25 mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
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 NOAEL for BHT?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for BHT is 3.2 mg/kg bw/day based on a Developmental study via oral route in rabbit. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is BHT used outside cosmetics?
BHT also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check BHT compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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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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