Is Diethylhexyl Adipate safe in cosmetics?
Diethylhexyl Adipate has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Diethylhexyl Adipate
Also known as: Adimoll DO, DEHA, Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester, Adipic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester, BRN 1803774 (+15 more)
INCI: DIETHYLHEXYL ADIPATE
Diethylhexyl Adipate (CAS 103-23-1) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Emollient, plasticizer, skin conditioning agent, film former, solvent for UV. NOAEL 200 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; GHS signal word WARNING. 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 103-23-1 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Diethylhexyl Adipate is classified GHS CMR hazard (H336, H361) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Emollient, plasticizer, skin conditioning agent, film former, solvent for UV filters
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
bis(2-ethylhexyl) hexanedioate
InChIKey
SAOKZLXYCUGLFA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR concluded safe; reaffirmed 2010. Approved as indirect food additive (plasticizer) per 21 CFR.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Diethylhexyl Adipate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for Diethylhexyl Adipate. 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 | =296 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =491.4 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =936 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =4625 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
CancerHealth hazEnviroAqua
Hazard Statements
Causes eye irritation May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways Very toxic to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes. If swallowed the substance easily enters the airways and could result in aspiration pneumonitis.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Diethylhexyl Adipate 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, 77
Evaluation Year
2000
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: phthalate
Receptor targets: ERα, AR (weak)
LOEC: 10 µM
EU status: under_review
weak agonist (ER); antagonist (AR)
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
SVHC Candidate
No
Additional Ingredient Properties
1 property record from structured ingredient metadata.
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "1", "irritancy_rating": "0", "skin_type_suitability": "all,oily,combination,normal", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "Light emollient"}
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (5)
Carcinogen Classification
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | 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 77: (2000) Some Industrial Chemicals
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Carcinogen Classification
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | TR-212: Carcinogenesis Bioassay of Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (CASRN 103-23-1) in F344 Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Study) (1982 ) | 06/27/80 | No Evidence | No Evidence | Clear Evidence | Clear Evidence | Under the conditions of this bioassay, di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate was not carcinogenic for F344 rats. Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate was carcinogenic for female B6C3F1 mice,
Source: NTP Technical Reports
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
No data are available in humans. Limited evidence of carcinogenicity in animals. OVERALL EVALUATION: Group 3: The agent is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. | CLASSIFICATION: C; possible human carcinogen. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Based on an absence of human data and increased incidence of liver tumors in female mice. Except for a positive dominant lethal assay, there was no e
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Liquid irritating to the eyes.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Degradant/impurity
Dispersing agent
Film former
Fragrance
Lubricating agent
No specific technical function
Pigment
Plasticizer
Softener and conditioner
Solvent
Regulatory List Membership (3)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Diethylhexyl Adipate.
Regulatory Flags
ifra_fragrance
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Diethylhexyl Adipate by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
4
Lowest NOAEL
296 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
4625 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
Adimoll DO
DEHA
Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester
Adipic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester
BRN 1803774
Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate
EINECS 203-090-1
Flexol plasticizer A-26
Flexol plasticizer 10-A
Hexanedioic acid, dioctyl ester
Kemester 5652
Mollan S
Morflex 310
NCI-C54386
Rucoflex Plasticizer DOA
Staflex DOA
Uniflex DOA
Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)ester kyseliny adipove
UNII-MBY1SL921L
BEHA
Chemical Function
Solvent
Softener and conditioner
Film former
Plasticizer
Regulatory Lists
Europe; plastic_additive
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - home office - pens and markers; detected; Europe
Indirect additives food contact (10/2018)
IFRA Transparency
consumer_product
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
detected; Toys and children's products
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
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
CHEMBL1414950
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diethylhexyl Adipate allowed in the EU?
Diethylhexyl Adipate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Diethylhexyl Adipate do in cosmetics?
Diethylhexyl Adipate functions as: Emollient, plasticizer, skin conditioning agent, film former, solvent for UV filters. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 103-23-1.
What is the NOAEL for Diethylhexyl Adipate?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Diethylhexyl Adipate is =296 mg/kg bw/day based on a chronic study via oral route in Mouse. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Diethylhexyl Adipate classified as hazardous under GHS?
Diethylhexyl Adipate carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Causes eye irritation May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways Very toxic to aquatic life. 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 Diethylhexyl Adipate used outside cosmetics?
Diethylhexyl Adipate 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 Diethylhexyl Adipate have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Diethylhexyl Adipate is classified GHS CMR hazard (H336, H361) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Diethylhexyl Adipate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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