Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Methyl Alcohol

INCI: METHYL ALCOHOL

CAS Number
67-56-1
Function
Denaturant, Fragrance, Solvent
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 5%
🇺🇸 US Status prohibited
US Notes Prohibited. Under 21 CFR § 700.18, methyl alcohol (methanol) is a poisonous substance and is not permitted as a cosmetic ingredient. FDA has issued multiple warnings about methanol contamination, particularly in hand sanitizers

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

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

10 study endpoints found for Methyl Alcohol. 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 1584 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Special Toxicology Study COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Neurotoxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 3200 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1600 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 3200 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 3250 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Neurotoxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 2500 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 3200 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 3200 mg/kg bw/day oral rat 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
flam;flame; skull;toxic; cancer;health haz
Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour Toxic if swallowed Harmful if inhaled Causes damage to central nervous system
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. This may result in loss of consciousness. Exposure could cause blindness and death. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. The substance may have effects on the central nervous system. This may result in persistent or recurring headaches and impaired vision.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, through the skin and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Extremely toxic - ingestion or significant inhalation/dermal absorption can cause blindness (optic nerve damage), metabolic acidosis, organ failure, and death. Metabolized to formaldehyde and formic acid. Even small amounts (10-30 mL oral) can be lethal. Smallest alcohol (CH₃OH); highly volatile; often confused with ethanol but orders of magnitude more toxic. Any detection above trace levels in cosmetics triggers regulatory action

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

fragrance-component prop65 fda_food_additive eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Methyl Alcohol safe in cosmetics?

Extremely toxic - ingestion or significant inhalation/dermal absorption can cause blindness (optic nerve damage), metabolic acidosis, organ failure, and death. Metabolized to formaldehyde and formic acid. Even small amounts (10-30 mL oral) can be lethal. Smallest alcohol (CH₃OH); highly volatile; often confused with ethanol but orders of magnitude more toxic. Any detection above trace levels in cosmetics triggers regulatory action The EU classifies Methyl Alcohol as "restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Methyl Alcohol allowed in the EU?

Methyl Alcohol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 5%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Methyl Alcohol do in cosmetics?

Methyl Alcohol functions as: Denaturant, Fragrance, Solvent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 67-56-1.

What is the Margin of Safety for Methyl Alcohol?

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 Methyl Alcohol?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Methyl Alcohol is 1584 mg/kg bw/day based on a Special Toxicology Study study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Is Methyl Alcohol classified as hazardous under GHS?

Methyl Alcohol carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapour Toxic if swallowed Harmful if inhaled Causes damage to central nervous system. 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.

Compliance Tools

Check Methyl Alcohol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
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