Poor Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified SCCS/CIR Reviewed

Butyl Benzyl Phthalate

Also known as: 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl phenylmethyl ester, Benzyl butylphthalate, BRN 2062204, Butyl phenylmethyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate, Caswell No. 125G (+8 more)

INCI: BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE

Butyl Benzyl Phthalate (CAS 85-68-7) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Plasticizer; historically used in nail polish; not a standard cosmetic. NOAEL 2 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: prohibited; 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 and pharmaceutical data.

View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 85-68-7 →

Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Plasticizer; historically used in nail polish; not a standard cosmetic ingredient
Safety Rating
POOR

Chemistry & Identifiers

Formula
C19H20O4
MW
312.4 g/mol
EC Number
201-622-7
PubChem CID
2347
IUPAC Name
2-O-benzyl 1-O-butyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate
InChIKey
IRIAEXORFWYRCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Regulatory Status

EU EU Status prohibited
US US Status prohibited
US Notes Prohibited substance; no safe use level established for cosmetics

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Butyl Benzyl Phthalate.

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

7 study endpoints found for Butyl Benzyl Phthalate. 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 =180 mg/kg bw/day oral Rat Toxicology study INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad17
NOAEL =217 mg/kg bw/day oral - Toxicology study INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad17
NOAEL =446 mg/kg bw/day oral - Reproductive toxicity INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad17
NOAEL =1852 mg/kg bw/day oral Dog Subchronic toxicity INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad17
NOAEL =1973 mg/kg bw/day oral Dog Subchronic toxicity INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad17
NOAEL =1500 mg/kg bw/day oral Rat repeat dose other ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
NOAEL =3000 mg/kg bw/day oral Rat repeat dose other ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID

GHS Hazard Classification

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

Long-term Exposure Effects
Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes toxicity to human reproduction or development.
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
Verdict: unknown

Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment

Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Butyl Benzyl Phthalate across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.

IARC Carcinogenicity

International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.

IARC Group
3
Volume
Sup 7, 73
Evaluation Year
1998

EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification

Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.

Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
Health HazardEnvironmental Hazard
Hazard Class and Category
Repr. 1B; Aquatic Acute 1; Aquatic Chronic 1
Hazard Statements
  • H360Df
  • H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
  • H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Inserted via ATP: CLP00

Sensitization AOP Dashboard

Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.

DPRA Cys %
3.6%
DPRA Lys %
0.1%
KeratinoSens IC50
4000 µM
LLNA EC3
50%
NESIL
12500 µg/cm²
LLNA: Weak (1B) GHS: 1B

Source: LLNA: Kern et al. (2010); DPRA: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008]; KS: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008]

Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)

Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.

Confirmed Evidence: High (2017)
Health effects: Yes
Affected pathways: Anti-androgenic, Estrogenic
Regulatory framework: REACH

Source list: I

Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: phthalate
Receptor targets: ERα, AR, PPARγ
LOEC: 1 µM
EU status: banned (CMR 1B); SVHC REACH (health + env)

agonist (ER, PPARγ); antagonist (AR)

Dose-Response Data Points
Endpoint Target Value Direction
Beta-galactosidase reporter ER EC50/IC50: EC50 ~0.1-1 uM; LOEC: 0.1 uM; NOEC: 0.01 uM mixed agonist

ECHA REACH Registration

European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.

Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1 - 10 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
Yes (since 28-Oct-2008)
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
SVHC reason: Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)
Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC)
Included: 28-Oct-2008
Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c); Endocrine disrupting properties (Article 57(f) - human health)

EU CosIng Annex Listing

European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

Annex II — Prohibited
Ref: 1152
(EC) 2009/1223
CMR: Reprotoxic Cat. 1B()

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: 1152
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Prohibited
India: Prohibited (GNRAS)
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
Jurisdiction Status Max % Product Type
KR prohibited - -

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_sccs_opinion 5.0% - - SCCP/1016/06
measured_sccs_opinion 5.0% - - SCCP/1016/06

PubChem Annotations

Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.

Safety (8)
Carcinogen Classification
3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. (L135)
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Butyl benzyl phthalate | Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | 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 73: (1999) Some Chemicals that Cause Tumours of the Kidney or Urinary Bladder in Rodents and Some Other Substances
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Carcinogen Classification
Butyl Benzyl Phthalate | TR-458: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Butyl Benzyl Phthalate (CASRN 85-68-7) in F344 Rats (Feed Studies) (1997 ) | 06/20/95 | Some Evidence | Equivocal Evidence | Chemical Not Tested in Species/Sex | Chemical Not Tested in Species/Sex | Under the conditions of this 2-year feed study, there was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of butyl benzyl phtha
Source: NTP Technical Reports
Carcinogen Classification
Butyl benzyl phthalate | TR-213: Carcinogenesis Bioassay of Butyl Benzyl Phthalate (CASRN 85-68-7) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Study) (1982 ) | 06/23/81 | Inadequate Experiment | Clear Evidence | No Evidence | No Evidence | Under the conditions of this bioassay, butyl benzyl phthalate was probably carcinogenic for female F344/N rats, causing an increased incidence of mononuclear
Source: NTP Technical Reports
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
CLASSIFICATION: C; possible human carcinogen. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Based on statistically significant increase in mononuclear cell leukemia in female rats; the response in male rats was inconclusive and there was no such response in mice. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Limited. | Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of buty
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Function Categories & List Membership

Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Plasticizer Processing aids not otherwise specified
Regulatory List Membership (4)
California Proposition 65 (OEHHA) EU Banned in Cosmetics FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database

Expert Verdict

Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Butyl Benzyl Phthalate.

Regulatory Flags

endocrine_disruptor prop65 eu_banned_cosmetics eu_cosing_listed

NOAEL Studies Summary

View details ->

Public NOAEL study rows linked to Butyl Benzyl Phthalate by CAS number or substance name.

Studies
7
Lowest NOAEL
180 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
3000 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad17

Dermal Absorption

View details ->
Absorption % Method Vehicle
5.0% SCCS opinion extraction -
5.0% SCCS opinion extraction -

Known Synonyms

1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl phenylmethyl ester Benzyl butylphthalate BRN 2062204 Butyl phenylmethyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate Caswell No. 125G EINECS 201-622-7 NCI-C54375 Benzyl-butylester kyseliny ftalove UNII-YPC4PJX59M BzBP BBP Sant 160 Sicol 160

Chemical Function

Plasticizer

Regulatory Lists

Construction and building materials; detected; Europe detected; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings Europe; nondetect; Other indirect contact consumer goods detected; New Zealand; Toys and children's products Arts and crafts/Office supplies - children's art and toys - modeling clay; detected detected; Toys and children's products Europe; nondetect; Toys and children's products Europe; nondetect; Other direct contact consumer goods Europe; nondetect; Toys and children's products Europe; nondetect; Toys and children's products Europe; nondetect; Other direct contact consumer goods Europe; nondetect; Other direct contact consumer goods Europe; nondetect; Other direct contact consumer goods detected; Toys and children's products detected; Toys and children's products nondetect; Toys and children's products nondetect; Toys and children's products nondetect; Toys and children's products

Australian Status

AICIS status: listed_with_terms

Specific information requirements: Obligations to provide information apply. These obligations are: 1. A person introducing this chemical must tell us in writing within 28 calendar days if any of the following circumstances have occurred in relation to their introduction (importation or manufacture): a. additional information becoming available on the...

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.

ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1450327
View full pharmaceutical profile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Butyl Benzyl Phthalate safe in cosmetics?

Butyl Benzyl Phthalate has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: prohibited. US status: prohibited. 7 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.

Is Butyl Benzyl Phthalate allowed in the EU?

Butyl Benzyl Phthalate EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Butyl Benzyl Phthalate do in cosmetics?

Butyl Benzyl Phthalate functions as: Plasticizer; historically used in nail polish; not a standard cosmetic ingredient. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 85-68-7.

What is the NOAEL for Butyl Benzyl Phthalate?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Butyl Benzyl Phthalate is =180 mg/kg bw/day based on a Toxicology study study via oral route in Rat. A total of 7 study endpoints are available. Source: INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad17.

Is Butyl Benzyl Phthalate used outside cosmetics?

Butyl Benzyl Phthalate 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 Butyl Benzyl Phthalate have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?

Butyl Benzyl Phthalate is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H360, H400, H410, H360Df, H303, H315, H320, H335).

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