Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP)

INCI: NOT A RECOGNIZED COSMETIC INCI NAME - THIS IS AN INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL

CAS Number
1338-23-4
Function
Oxidizing agent / catalyst (industrial use: initiator for room-temperature curing of unsaturated polyester resins)
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Not recognized as a cosmetic ingredient. No GRAS or cosmetic-use history. Would require full safety substantiation if anyone attempted cosmetic use, which is essentially unprecedented.

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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

4 study endpoints found for MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP). 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 oral REACH
NOAEL 1.07 mg/kg bw/day dermal rat dermal REACH
NOAEL 200 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL 0.357 mg/kg bw/day dermal code:3543 dermal REACH

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 corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Extremely hazardous. Strong oxidizer; causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage. Corrosive to tissues; organic peroxide oxygen generates free radicals that damage cellular metabolism. Explosive when concentrated or heated. No safe cosmetic application exists.. Colorless liquid; thermally unstable; must be stored with phlegmatizer (dimethyl phthalate); classified as Organic Peroxide Type D under GHS. Inclusion here appears to be a database artifact from the "MEK" name proximity - this is...

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Concern Level: Moderate

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP) safe in cosmetics?

Extremely hazardous. Strong oxidizer; causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage. Corrosive to tissues; organic peroxide oxygen generates free radicals that damage cellular metabolism. Explosive when concentrated or heated. No safe cosmetic application exists.. Colorless liquid; thermally unstable; must be stored with phlegmatizer (dimethyl phthalate); classified as Organic Peroxide Type D under GHS. Inclusion here appears to be a database artifact from the "MEK" name proximity - this is... The EU classifies MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP) as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP) allowed in the EU?

MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP) do in cosmetics?

MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP) functions as: Oxidizing agent / catalyst (industrial use: initiator for room-temperature curing of unsaturated polyester resins). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1338-23-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP)?

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 MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP)?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for MEK Peroxides (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide / MEKP) is 150 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

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