Is Glyoxal safe in cosmetics?
Glyoxal has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: restricted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
Glyoxal
Also known as: Ethanedial, 4-01-00-03625, Aerotex glyoxal 40, BRN 1732463, EINECS 203-474-9 (+4 more)
INCI: GLYOXAL
Glyoxal (CAS 107-22-2) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Preservative (formaldehyde releaser). NOAEL 100 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 0.05%; 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 107-22-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Glyoxal is classified GHS Danger (H302, H332, H315, H317, H319, H334, H335, H341) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 0.05%.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status/eu_max; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Preservative (formaldehyde releaser)
Safety Rating
POOR
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
oxaldehyde
InChIKey
LEQAOMBKQFMDFZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
0.05%
US US Status
restricted
US Notes
Restricted / pending ban — FDA identified glyoxal as a formaldehyde releaser. US proposed rule under MoCRA to ban formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers in 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 Glyoxal.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Glyoxal. 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 | =100 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =100 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =100 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =100 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =25 mg/kg bw | - | - | Chronic toxicity | INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad57 |
| NOAEL | =25 mg/kg bw | - | - | Chronic toxicity | INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad57 |
| NOAEL | =125 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | Subchronic toxicity | INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad57 |
| NOAEL | =125 mg/kg bw | - | Rat | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad57 |
| NOAEL | =125 mg/kg bw | - | Rat | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad57 |
| NOAEL | =5 mg/kg bw | oral | rat | 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 may cause skin sensitization.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol or vapour and by ingestion.
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
cir
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 300 mg/kg/day (oral)
to limit the concentration of free formaldehyde, the Expert Panel concluded that Glyoxal is safe for use in products intended to be applied to the nail at concentrations < 1.25%. The available data are insufficient to support the safety for other uses, if any. INTRODUCTION Glyoxal (CAS No. 1
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Glyoxal across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Glyoxal based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.3%
Cross-reactivity Group
aldehyde-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
Source: ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Health HazardHarmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Muta. 2; Acute Tox. 4 *; Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Irrit. 2; Skin Sens. 1
Hazard Statements
- H341 Suspected of causing genetic defects
- H332 Harmful if inhaled
- H315 Causes skin irritation
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
- H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
*
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 %
62.35%
DPRA Lys %
47.25%
KeratinoSens IC50
693.99 µM
hCLAT CV75
396 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
1%
NESIL
6207 µg/cm²
LLNA: Strong (1A)
GHS: 1A
Human: positive
Source: LLNA: Gerberick et al. (2005) | Schneider & Akkan (2004); DPRA: Gerberick et al. 2007 [DOI:10.1093/toxsci/kfm064] | Nukada personal communication (undated); KS: Natsch et al. 2013 [DOI:10.1002/jat.2868] | Natsch et al. 2011 [DOI:10.1021/tx2003678]; hCLAT: Ashikaga et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1177/026119291003800403]; HPPT: [27] Kligman AM (1966): https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.1966.160
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
2 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 6206.9 | - | - |
| OECD_DA_Human | - | 0 | - | - | 1A (Strong sensitizer) |
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
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
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 (III - Restricted)
Max: 100 mg/kg.
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Restricted · max 100 mg/kg
India: Restricted · max 100 mg/kg
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (2)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BR | restricted | 0.01 | As impurity/trace only; max 100 mg/kg (0.01%) |
| ASEAN | restricted | 100 mg/kg | 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 (1 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured | 100.0% | in_vitro | - | SCCP/0023 |
Additional Ingredient Properties
1 property record from structured ingredient metadata.
allergen_detail
{"eu_allergen_listed": "no", "allergen_class": "preservative", "cross_reactivity_group": "aldehyde-group", "patch_test_frequency_pct": "0.3", "sensitization_rate": "low", "common_reaction_type": "contact-dermatitis", "ifra_restricted": "no", "source": "ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG"}
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (3)
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
A4: Not classifiable as a human carcinogen.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
ICSC Safety Card
1162
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Liquid /is/ irritating to skin and eyes. | Inhalation causes some irritation of nose and, 40% solution throat.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Chemical reaction regulator
Film former
Fragrance
Preservative
Regulatory List Membership (2)
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Glyoxal.
Regulatory Flags
potential-allergen
preservative
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Glyoxal by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
55
Lowest NOAEL
5
Highest NOAEL
1000
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg bw, mg/kg/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
INCHEM_WHO_cicads_cicads_cicad57
CIR_vision_codex
SCCS_vision_codex
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 100.0% | in_vitro | - |
Known Synonyms
Ethanedial
4-01-00-03625
Aerotex glyoxal 40
BRN 1732463
EINECS 203-474-9
UNII-50NP6JJ975
Diformal
ethane-1,2-dial
oxal
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Biocide
Preservative
Chemical reaction regulator
Film former
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
Indirect additives food contact (10/2018)
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care; restricted
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
CHEMBL1606435
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glyoxal allowed in the EU?
Glyoxal EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.05%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Glyoxal do in cosmetics?
Glyoxal functions as: Preservative (formaldehyde releaser). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 107-22-2.
What is the NOAEL for Glyoxal?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Glyoxal is =100 mg/kg/day based on a oral toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR_vision_codex.
Is Glyoxal used outside cosmetics?
Glyoxal 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 Glyoxal have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Glyoxal is classified GHS Danger (H302, H332, H315, H317, H319, H334, H335, H341) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 0.05%.
Compliance Tools
Check Glyoxal compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
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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