Is P-HYDROXYANISOLE safe in cosmetics?
P-HYDROXYANISOLE has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
P-HYDROXYANISOLE
Also known as: Hydroquinone monomethyl ether, p-Methoxyphenol, EINECS 205-769-8, Mono methyl ether hydroquinone, Monomethyl ether hydroquinone (+3 more)
P-HYDROXYANISOLE (CAS 150-76-5) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Antioxidant, Reducing. NOAEL 40 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max III/95. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 150-76-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
P-HYDROXYANISOLE is classified GHS CMR hazard (H302, H317, H319, H412, H315, H320, H351, H361) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max III/95.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status/eu_max; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Antioxidant, Reducing
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
4-methoxyphenol
InChIKey
NWVVVBRKAWDGAB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
III/95
US US Status
Not specifically regulated
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for P-HYDROXYANISOLE. 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 | =100 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rabbit | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =150 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =200 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =250 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
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 and skin.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization. The substance may have effects on the skin. This may result in depigmentation.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for P-HYDROXYANISOLE 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
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Acute Tox. 4 *; Eye Irrit. 2; Skin Sens. 1
Hazard Statements
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
- H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
Product type: Artificial nail systems. Max: 0.02% (after mixing for use).
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Korea (Prohibited): Must not be used
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Restricted · max 0.02% (after mixing for use)
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (5)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | banned | - | - |
| BR | banned | - | Except 0.3% in oxidative hair dyes |
| CA | restricted | 0.02% (after mixing) | Artificial nail systems — professional use only |
| ASEAN | restricted | 0.02% after mixing | Artificial nail systems |
| KR | prohibited | - | - |
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
ICSC Safety Card
1097
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
...May produce severe irritation of eczematous skin. /Solage/ | A skin irritant.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Flavouring and nutrient
Heat stabilizer
Reducing agent
Regulatory List Membership (2)
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for P-HYDROXYANISOLE.
Regulatory Flags
cosing-sourced
eu-restricted
antioxidant
needs-enrichment
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to P-HYDROXYANISOLE by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
4
Lowest NOAEL
100 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
250 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
Hydroquinone monomethyl ether
p-Methoxyphenol
EINECS 205-769-8
Mono methyl ether hydroquinone
Monomethyl ether hydroquinone
Mechinolo
Mequinolum
UNII-6HT8U7K3AM
Chemical Function
Antioxidant
Reducing agent
Flavouring and nutrient
Heat stabilizer
Regulatory Lists
Indirect additives food contact (10/2018)
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; Europe
Europe
Europe; Personal care; restricted
pharmaceutical
detected; Europe; Personal care - nails - nail polish
detected; Europe; Personal care - nails - nail polish
Canada; pharmaceutical
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; Europe
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
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.
Compound
MEQUINOL
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL544
Max Phase
4
Frequently Asked Questions
Is P-HYDROXYANISOLE allowed in the EU?
P-HYDROXYANISOLE EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: III/95. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does P-HYDROXYANISOLE do in cosmetics?
P-HYDROXYANISOLE functions as: Antioxidant, Reducing. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 150-76-5.
What is the NOAEL for P-HYDROXYANISOLE?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for P-HYDROXYANISOLE is =100 mg/kg bw/day based on a reproduction developmental study via oral route in Rabbit. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is P-HYDROXYANISOLE used outside cosmetics?
P-HYDROXYANISOLE 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 P-HYDROXYANISOLE have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
P-HYDROXYANISOLE is classified GHS CMR hazard (H302, H317, H319, H412, H315, H320, H351, H361) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max III/95.
Compliance Tools
Check P-HYDROXYANISOLE 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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