Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data

Methyl Ethylcellulose

INCI: METHYL ETHYLCELLULOSE

CAS Number
9004-59-5
Function
Binding, film forming, viscosity controlling
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Allowed - cellulose derivatives are generally recognized as safe. Also permitted as an indirect food additive (21 CFR), further supporting its safety profile.

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

6 study endpoints found for Methyl Ethylcellulose. 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 5000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 15000 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 5000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 5000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Chronic COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 15000 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 5000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB

Expert Verdict

Very low. Cellulose ethers are biologically inert, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing. No significant safety flags in the literature.. Combines the properties of methylcellulose and ethylcellulose - water-dispersible to varying degrees depending on substitution ratio. Provides cohesion in powdered products and forms continuous films on skin, hair, and nails. Related to methylcellulose (CAS 9004-67-5), which also serves binding/viscosity functions.

โš ๏ธ
Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

potential-allergen fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Methyl Ethylcellulose safe in cosmetics?

Very low. Cellulose ethers are biologically inert, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing. No significant safety flags in the literature.. Combines the properties of methylcellulose and ethylcellulose - water-dispersible to varying degrees depending on substitution ratio. Provides cohesion in powdered products and forms continuous films on skin, hair, and nails. Related to methylcellulose (CAS 9004-67-5), which also serves binding/viscosity functions. The EU classifies Methyl Ethylcellulose as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 6 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Methyl Ethylcellulose allowed in the EU?

Methyl Ethylcellulose EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Methyl Ethylcellulose do in cosmetics?

Methyl Ethylcellulose functions as: Binding, film forming, viscosity controlling. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9004-59-5.

What is the Margin of Safety for Methyl Ethylcellulose?

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 Ethylcellulose?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Methyl Ethylcellulose is 5000 mg/kg bw/day based on a Chronic study via oral route in rat. A total of 6 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

๐Ÿ“ฑ

Is Methyl Ethylcellulose in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro โ€” our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free โ†’

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Methyl Ethylcellulose in your formulation.