Is Mesitylene safe in cosmetics?
Mesitylene 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.
Mesitylene
Also known as: EINECS 203-604-4, Fleet-X, UNII-887L18KQ6X, s-trimethylbenzene
INCI: MESITYLENE
Mesitylene (CAS 108-67-8) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Solvent. Reported NOAEL =600 mg/kg bw/day in Rat (ECHA); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Mesitylene is classified GHS Danger (H226, H304, H315, H319, H335, H411, H320, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Solvent
Editorial assessment
MODERATE
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
1,3,5-trimethylbenzene
InChIKey
AUHZEENZYGFFBQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Allowed - not specifically prohibited or restricted; subject to general safety substantiation
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Mesitylene.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Mesitylene. 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 | =600 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ECHA |
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, skin and respiratory tract. If this liquid is swallowed, aspiration into the lungs may result in chemical pneumonitis. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. Repeated or prolonged inhalation may cause effects on the lungs. This may result in chronic bronchitis. The substance may have effects on the central nervous system and blood. See Notes.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
FlammableHarmful / IrritantEnvironmental Hazard
Hazard Class and Category
Flam. Liq. 3; STOT SE 3; Aquatic Chronic 2
Hazard Statements
- H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H411 Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
STOT SE 3; H335: C ≥ 25.0%
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
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
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (3)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
ICSC Safety Card
1155
Source: WHO/JECFA
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Irritates eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Degradant/impurity
Fragrance
Solvent
Regulatory List Membership (1)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Mesitylene — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
ifra_fragrance
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Mesitylene by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
600 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
600 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA
Known Synonyms
EINECS 203-604-4
Fleet-X
UNII-887L18KQ6X
s-trimethylbenzene
Chemical Function
Solvent
Degradant/impurity
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
detected; ground_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
IFRA Transparency
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies; Europe
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
CHEMBL1797281
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mesitylene allowed in the EU?
Mesitylene EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Mesitylene do in cosmetics?
Mesitylene functions as: Solvent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 108-67-8.
What is the NOAEL for Mesitylene?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Mesitylene is =600 mg/kg bw/day based on a chronic study via oral route in Rat. Source: ECHA.
Is Mesitylene used outside cosmetics?
Mesitylene 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 Mesitylene have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Mesitylene is classified GHS Danger (H226, H304, H315, H319, H335, H411, H320, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Mesitylene 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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