Is Monoethanolamine (MEA) safe in cosmetics?
Monoethanolamine (MEA) has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Monoethanolamine (MEA)
INCI: ETHANOLAMINE
Monoethanolamine (MEA) (CAS 141-43-5) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as alkalizer; pH adjuster; ammonia alternative; hair dye developer; buffering. NOAEL 300 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 0.5% as leave-on cosmetic; higher concentrations permitted in rinse-off hair dye and bleach products; GHS signal word DANGER. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 141-43-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
alkalizer; pH adjuster; ammonia alternative; hair dye developer; buffering agent; emulsifier
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-aminoethanol
InChIKey
HZAXFHJVJLSVMW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
0.5% as leave-on cosmetic; higher concentrations permitted in rinse-off hair dye and bleach products
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR Expert Panel (2012) found ethanolamine and 12 of its salts safe in rinse-off products at concentrations formulated to be non-irritating. H2O2 + MEA synergistic cytotoxicity not fully addressed by CIR; implicated in hair-dye-induced hair loss at in-use concentrations.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Monoethanolamine (MEA).
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Monoethanolamine (MEA). 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 | =10 mg/kg bw/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg bw/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg bw/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg bw/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =75 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =75 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =75 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =75 mg/kg/d | - | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =120 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =120 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
CorrExcl markWarn
Hazard Statements
Harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled Causes severe skin burns and eye damage May cause respiratory irritation Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the skin and eyes. Corrosive on ingestion. The vapour is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. This may result in lowering of consciousness.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Monoethanolamine (MEA) 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
Danger
Pictograms
Harmful / IrritantCorrosive
Hazard Class and Category
Acute Tox. 4 *; Acute Tox. 4 *; Acute Tox. 4 *; Skin Corr. 1B
Hazard Statements
- H332 Harmful if inhaled
- H312 Harmful in contact with skin
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
STOT SE 3; H335: C ≥ 5.0%
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100,000 - 1,000,000 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)
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
ICSC Safety Card
0152
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory system. | Monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) are irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, with MEA being the worst irritant, followed by DEA and TEA.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Chelating agent
Cleaning agent
Corrosion inhibitor
Defoamer
Emulsifier
Fragrance
Humectant
Intermediate
Pharmaceutical
Preservative
Regulatory List Membership (3)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Monoethanolamine (MEA).
Regulatory Flags
alkalizer
ammonia-alternative
hair-dye-developer
restricted
keratinocyte-cytotoxic
synergistic-h2o2-toxicity
hair-loss-implicated
eu-annex-iii
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Monoethanolamine (MEA) by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
30
Lowest NOAEL
10
Highest NOAEL
1000
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg/d, mg/kg bw/d
COSMOS_DB
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
CIR_vision_codex
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
pH regulating agent
Regulatory Lists
active_ingredient; animal_products; Europe; pharmaceutical; residue
Cleaning products and household care - oven - oven cleaner; Europe
Europe; Specialty occupational products
Europe; Specialty occupational products
IFRA Transparency
active_ingredient; Pesticides
pharmaceutical
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monoethanolamine (MEA) allowed in the EU?
Monoethanolamine (MEA) EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.5% as leave-on cosmetic; higher concentrations permitted in rinse-off hair dye and bleach products. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Monoethanolamine (MEA) do in cosmetics?
Monoethanolamine (MEA) functions as: alkalizer; pH adjuster; ammonia alternative; hair dye developer; buffering agent; emulsifier. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 141-43-5.
What is the NOAEL for Monoethanolamine (MEA)?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Monoethanolamine (MEA) is =10 mg/kg bw/d based on a developmental toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR_vision_codex.
Is Monoethanolamine (MEA) classified as hazardous under GHS?
Monoethanolamine (MEA) carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled Causes severe skin burns and eye damage May cause respiratory irritation Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. 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 Monoethanolamine (MEA) 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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