Is Maleic Acid safe in cosmetics?
Maleic Acid has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
Maleic Acid
Also known as: (2Z)-2-Butenedioic acid, 2-Butenedioic acid (2Z)-, (2Z)-Butene-2-dioic acid, (Z)-2-Butenedioic acid, (Z)-Butenedioic acid (+15 more)
INCI: MALEIC ACID
Maleic Acid (CAS 110-16-7) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as pH adjuster, buffering agent. NOAEL 19.5 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified 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 110-16-7 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Maleic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H302, H312, H315, H317, H319, H335, H318, H370) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
pH adjuster, buffering agent
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
(Z)-but-2-enedioic acid
InChIKey
VZCYOOQTPOCHFL-UPHRSURJSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Safety limited to neutralized form. Unneutralized acid causes severe irritation.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Maleic Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Maleic Acid. 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 | =140 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | 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
CorrExcl markWarn
Hazard Statements
May be osive to metals Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin and eye irritation May cause an allergic skin reaction May cause respiratory irritation Toxic to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is severely irritating to the eyes. The substance is irritating to the skin and respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
cir
30 November 2006
Verdict: unknown
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Maleic Acid 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
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Acute Tox. 4 *; STOT SE 3; Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Irrit. 2; Skin Sens. 1
Hazard Statements
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H315 Causes skin irritation
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
- H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
Skin Sens. 1; H317: C ≥ 0.1%
Inserted via ATP: ATP01
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Additional Ingredient Properties
2 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
hair_care
{"hair_function": "strengthening", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "high", "protein_sensitivity": "protein", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "strengthens",…
hair_conditioning
{"cas_number": "110-16-7", "ingredient_class": "bond_repair", "chemical_type": "other", "substantivity_to_hair": "moderate", "deposition_from_shampoo": "no", "deposition_from_conditioner": "yes", "conditioning_mechanism": "bond_repair_pH_modulation", "hair_penetration": "cuticle_cortex", "molecular_weight_effect_on_penetration": "low_MW_penetrates", "wet_combing_force_reduction_pct": "5-10", "dry_…
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
ICSC Safety Card
1186
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Passes through intact skin. A skin and severe eye irritant and a corrosive. | Dust: Irritating to eyes, nose and throat. ... Solid: Irritating to skin and eyes.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Foamant
Fragrance
pH regulating agent
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Maleic Acid.
Regulatory Flags
CONTROVERSIAL
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Maleic Acid by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
140 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
140 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
(2Z)-2-Butenedioic acid
2-Butenedioic acid (2Z)-
(2Z)-Butene-2-dioic acid
(Z)-2-Butenedioic acid
(Z)-Butenedioic acid
1,2-Ethylene dicarboxylic acid
2-Butenedioic acid (Z)-
2-Butenedioic acid(Z)
2-Butenedioic acid, (Z)-
cis-Butenedioic acid
4-02-00-02199
BRN 0605762
Butenedioic acid, (Z)-
EINECS 203-742-5
NSC 25940
UNII-91XW058U2C
(2Z)-2-Butenedioate
(2Z)-Butene-2-dioate
(2Z)-but-2-enedioate
(2Z)-but-2-enedioic acid
Chemical Function
Foamant
pH regulating agent
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
CEDI
Indirect additives food contact (10/2018)
Europe; Specialty occupational products
Canada; pharmaceutical
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
MALEIC ACID
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL539648
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maleic Acid allowed in the EU?
Maleic Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Maleic Acid do in cosmetics?
Maleic Acid functions as: pH adjuster, buffering agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 110-16-7.
What is the NOAEL for Maleic Acid?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Maleic Acid is =140 mg/kg bw/day based on a reproduction developmental study via oral route in Rat. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Maleic Acid classified as hazardous under GHS?
Maleic Acid carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: May be osive to metals Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin and eye irritation May cause an allergic skin reaction May cause respiratory irritation 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 Maleic Acid used outside cosmetics?
Maleic Acid 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 Maleic Acid have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Maleic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H302, H312, H315, H317, H319, H335, H318, H370) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Maleic Acid 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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