Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data

C12-15 Pareth-4

INCI: C12-15 PARETH-4 (NEW: C12-15 ALKETH-4)

CAS Number
68131-39-5
Function
Surfactant; emulsifying
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes The CIR Panel has assessed alkyl PEG/PPG ethers (the pareth family) and concluded they are safe as used in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

6 study endpoints found for C12-15 Pareth-4. 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 oral REACH
NOAEL >=1000 mg/kg bw/day oral - oral REACH
NOAEL >=150 mg/kg bw/day oral - oral REACH
NOAEL 750 mg/kg bw/day oral - oral REACH
NOAEL >=2000 mg/kg bw/day oral - oral REACH
NOAEL 100 mg/kg bw/day oral - oral REACH

Expert Verdict

1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide residues from ethoxylation. Higher EO count compared to Pareth-2/3 increases water solubility and slightly reduces defatting potential. Nonionic, 4 moles average EO. More hydrophilic than Pareth-2 and Pareth-3 - better primary O/W emulsifier. Part of the same generic CAS family as all C12-15 ethoxylated alcohols

⚠️
Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is C12-15 Pareth-4 safe in cosmetics?

1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide residues from ethoxylation. Higher EO count compared to Pareth-2/3 increases water solubility and slightly reduces defatting potential. Nonionic, 4 moles average EO. More hydrophilic than Pareth-2 and Pareth-3 - better primary O/W emulsifier. Part of the same generic CAS family as all C12-15 ethoxylated alcohols The EU classifies C12-15 Pareth-4 as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 6 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is C12-15 Pareth-4 allowed in the EU?

C12-15 Pareth-4 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does C12-15 Pareth-4 do in cosmetics?

C12-15 Pareth-4 functions as: Surfactant; emulsifying. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 68131-39-5.

What is the Margin of Safety for C12-15 Pareth-4?

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 C12-15 Pareth-4?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for C12-15 Pareth-4 is >=500 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 6 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

Compliance Tools

Check C12-15 Pareth-4 compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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