Is 2-Ethoxyethanol safe in cosmetics?
2-Ethoxyethanol has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: prohibited. US status: prohibited. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
2-Ethoxyethanol
Also known as: Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, EGMEE, EINECS 203-804-1, beta-Ethoxyethanol, Ethylethylene glycol (+14 more)
INCI: ETHOXYETHANOL
2-Ethoxyethanol (CAS 110-80-5) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Solvent. NOAEL 122 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: prohibited; GHS signal word DANGER. 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 110-80-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
2-Ethoxyethanol is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H226, H302, H312, H331, H332, H360, H360FD, H303).
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-ethoxyethanol
InChIKey
ZNQVEEAIQZEUHB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
prohibited
US US Status
prohibited
US Notes
CIR concluded unsafe for use in cosmetics; no permitted cosmetic use
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for 2-Ethoxyethanol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for 2-Ethoxyethanol. 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 | 150 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 185.8 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 200 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 250 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 255 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 300 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 321 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 357 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 407 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 800 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
FlamFlameCancerHealth haz
Hazard Statements
Flammable liquid and vapour May cause damage to central nervous system and blood May damage fertility or the unborn child
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system and blood. This may result in impaired functions and metabolic acidosis. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. The substance may have effects on the blood and bone marrow. This may result in anaemia and lesions of blood cells. May cause toxicity to human reproduction or development.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for 2-Ethoxyethanol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
FlammableHealth HazardAcute Toxicity
Hazard Class and Category
Flam. Liq. 3; Repr. 1B; Acute Tox. 3; Acute Tox. 4
Hazard Statements
- H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
- H360FD
- H331 Toxic if inhaled
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
Inserted via ATP: ATP03
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10 - 100 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
Yes (since 15-Dec-2010)
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
SVHC reason: Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)
Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC)
Included: 15-Dec-2010
Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)
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.
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (II)
Ref: 666
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (2)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | banned | - | - |
| KR | prohibited | - | - |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Roberts Skin Permeation (Mendeley 2022)
MW: 90.1
Log Kow: -0.27
Log Kp: -3.6020599913279625
Log Jmax: -5.58
Source: Roberts_Cheruvu_Mendeley_2022
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (4)
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
ICSC Safety Card
0060
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Effects of short-term exposure: The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. ... | Not significantly irritating to skin, slightly irritating to eyes and mucous membranes ...
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Solvent
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (5)
California Proposition 65 (OEHHA)
EU Banned in Cosmetics
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for 2-Ethoxyethanol.
Regulatory Flags
annex-ii-prohibited
cmr-category-2
reproductive-toxicant
cir-unsafe
prohibited-canada
do-not-use
prop65
eu_banned_cosmetics
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to 2-Ethoxyethanol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
18
Lowest NOAEL
150 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
3750 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS_DB
Known Synonyms
Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether
EGMEE
EINECS 203-804-1
beta-Ethoxyethanol
Ethylethylene glycol
NCI-C54853
Celosolv
UNII-IDK7C2HS09
2-Ethoxy-Ethanol
2-Ethoxyethanol (cellosolve)
2-ethoxyethan-1-ol
2EE
Athylenglykol-monoathylather
Bikanol E1
Cellosolve solvent
Cellosolve(R)
Dowanol 8
EGEE
ETX
Chemical Function
Solvent
Viscosity modifier
Fragrance
Processing aids not otherwise specified
No specific technical function
Regulatory Lists
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - home office - pens and markers; detected; Europe
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; Europe
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Canada; pharmaceutical
consumer_product
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - children's art and toys - modeling clay; detected; Europe
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
children
OEHHA Proposition 65 (3/2019)
children; WA Children's Safe Product Act (4/2020)
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
children
OEHHA Proposition 65 (1/2023)
banned; Europe; Personal care
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.
Compound
2-ETHOXYETHANOL
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL119596
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2-Ethoxyethanol allowed in the EU?
2-Ethoxyethanol EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does 2-Ethoxyethanol do in cosmetics?
2-Ethoxyethanol functions as: Solvent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 110-80-5.
What is the NOAEL for 2-Ethoxyethanol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for 2-Ethoxyethanol is 150 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is 2-Ethoxyethanol classified as hazardous under GHS?
2-Ethoxyethanol carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Flammable liquid and vapour May cause damage to central nervous system and blood May damage fertility or the unborn child. 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 2-Ethoxyethanol used outside cosmetics?
2-Ethoxyethanol 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 2-Ethoxyethanol have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
2-Ethoxyethanol is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H226, H302, H312, H331, H332, H360, H360FD, H303).
Compliance Tools
Check 2-Ethoxyethanol 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
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