Is PEG-100 safe in cosmetics?
PEG-100 has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 6 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
PEG-100
Also known as: PEG, Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-hydro-omega-hydroxy-, PEG 4, Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy-, Colyte (+14 more)
PEG-100 (CAS 25322-68-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Humectant, Solvent. Reported NOAEL =10 mg/kg bw/day in Dog (ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID); 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.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 25322-68-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Humectant, Solvent
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR: S - IJT 33(Suppl 4):13-39, 2014
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Toxicological Studies
6 study endpoints found for PEG-100. 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/day | oral | Dog | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =60 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =700 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =768 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1667 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1690 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD50 | >2000 mg/kg | Rat | dermal | short-term | ECHA IUCLID |
| LD50 | >2000 mg/kg | Rat | dermal | acute | ECHA IUCLID |
| LD50 | =30200 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| LD50 | =47000 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| LD50 | >2000 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| LOAEL | =500 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| LOAEL | =1536 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | ECHA IUCLID |
| LOAEL | =2800 ppm | Rat | oral | subchronic | ECHA IUCLID |
| LOAEL | =156 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEC | =1000 mg/m3 | Rat | inhalation | subchronic | ECHA IUCLID |
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: surfactant
Receptor targets: ERα (via 1,4-dioxane contaminant)
LOEC: N/A (contaminant pathway)
EU status: allowed
indirect modulator (contaminant pathway)
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Additional Ingredient Properties
3 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "partial", "biodegradation_days": "120-240", "bioaccumulative": "yes", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "unknown", "marine_toxicity": "moderate persistence", "freshwater_toxicity": "accumulates", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environmental": "…
humectant
{"cas_number": "25322-68-3", "ingredient_class": "humectant/polyol", "molecular_weight_Da": "4300-4700", "chemical_type": "synthetic_polymer", "water_binding_mechanism": "hydrogen_bonding/hygroscopic", "water_holding_capacity_g_per_g": "0.9-1.3", "hygroscopicity_at_50_RH": "excellent", "hygroscopicity_at_80_RH": "excellent", "NMF_component": "no", "NMF_percentage_natural": "0", "TEWL_reduction_pct…
polymer
{"cas_number": "25322-68-3", "ingredient_class": "thickener/moisture_retention", "polymer_type": "polyether", "chemical_backbone": "ether", "molecular_weight_Da_range": "4000-5000", "ionic_character": "nonionic", "HLB_value": "18-19", "pH_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "salt_tolerance": "moderate", "electrolyte_effect_on_viscosity": "moderate", "temperature_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate",…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-caking agent
Anti-redeposition agent
Anti-static agent
Binder
Biocide
Cleaning agent
Coalescing agent
Degradant/impurity
Dispersing agent
Emulsifier
Regulatory List Membership (6)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for PEG-100.
Regulatory Flags
cosing-sourced
eu-permitted
humectant
needs-enrichment
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to PEG-100 by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
6
Lowest NOAEL
10 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1690 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
PEG
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-hydro-omega-hydroxy-
PEG 4
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy-
Colyte
3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39-Tridecaoxahentetracontane-1,41-diol
1,2-Ethanediol homopolymer
alpha-Hydro-omega-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)
alpha-Hydro-omega-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene)
NSC 152324
Pluracol E
UNII-3WJQ0SDW1A
UNII-G2M7P15E5P
UNII-1212Z7S33A
UNII-4R4HFI6D95
UNII-762678AC5R
UNII-B697894SGQ
UNII-FVS1AZD90Y
UNII-OJ4Z5Z32L4
Chemical Function
Solvent
Binder
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Lubricating agent
Regulatory Lists
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - specialized bath products - bath salts
Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - laundry detergent; Europe
IFRA Transparency
fracking; water
Canada; consumer_product; Substances in Products - Canada (4/2014)
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
inert_ingredient; 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
macrogol
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1201478
Adverse Event Associations
12812
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PEG-100 allowed in the EU?
PEG-100 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does PEG-100 do in cosmetics?
PEG-100 functions as: Humectant, Solvent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 25322-68-3.
What is the NOAEL for PEG-100?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for PEG-100 is =10 mg/kg bw/day based on a chronic study via oral route in Dog. A total of 6 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is PEG-100 used outside cosmetics?
PEG-100 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.
Compliance Tools
Check PEG-100 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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