Is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil safe in cosmetics?
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 2 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Also known as: HCO 40, HCO 50, Castor oil, hydrogenated, ethoxylated, Cremophor RH 40, Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil 60 (+13 more)
INCI: PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (CAS 61788-85-0) is a cosmetic surfactant functioning as Surfactant, solubilizer. NOAEL 1250 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against 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 data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 61788-85-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Surfactant, solubilizer
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR Expert Panel (1997, re-reviewed 2014) concluded safe at up to 100% when formulated non-irritating. FDA no restriction. Not for application to broken or damaged skin due to systemic absorption risk in burn-treatment studies.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
2 study endpoints found for PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil. 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 | =1000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =5000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10 - 100 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | 0.5–2 | 5 | CIR/VCRP |
| Face Cream | 0.5–2 | 5 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "1", "irritancy_rating": "1", "skin_type_suitability": "all,combination,normal", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "Emulsifier/solubilizer"}
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "partial", "biodegradation_days": "120-240", "bioaccumulative": "yes", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "unknown", "marine_toxicity": "low toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "moderate persistence", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environmental": …
emulsifier
{"cas_number": "61788-85-0", "ingredient_class": "O/W_emulsifier", "chemical_type": "PEG_ester", "HLB_value": "10.8", "HLB_required_for_oil_phase": "9-13", "emulsion_type_primary": "O/W", "droplet_size_typical_um": "0.5-2", "critical_micelle_concentration_pct": "0.005-0.02", "surface_tension_reduction_mN_m": "32", "interfacial_tension_reduction": "36", "foam_formation": "moderate", "foam_stability…
emulsion_hlb
{"hlb_value": "14.0", "hlb_required_as_emulsifier": "yes", "emulsifier_type": "o_w", "critical_packing_parameter": "0.23-0.35", "emulsion_stabilization_mechanism": "steric_stabilization", "co_emulsifier_pairs": "glyceryl_stearate,cetearyl_alcohol", "optimal_oil_phase_pct": "5-15", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "85-95", "electrolyte_tolerance": "low", "pH_emulsion_stability_range": "3.0-8.5", "viscosi…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "conditioning", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "neutral", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "neutral", "kera…
ph_stability
{"optimal_ph_min": "3.0", "optimal_ph_max": "10.0", "stable_ph_min": "3.0", "stable_ph_max": "11.0", "ph_dependent_function": "Non-ionic; solubilizer", "formulation_note": "HLB ~14", "source": "Formulation literature"}
pregnancy_detail
{"pregnancy_safe": "yes", "breastfeeding_safe": "yes", "risk_category": "not-rated", "reason": "Safe; solubilizer (ethoxylated - trace 1,4-dioxane)", "source": "dermatology literature"}
self_tanning
{"cas_number": "61788-85-0", "ingredient_class": "drop_tan", "tanning_mechanism": "other", "color_development_onset_hours": "0.0", "full_color_development_hours": "0", "color_duration_days": "0", "DHA_concentration_if_applicable_pct": "0", "erythrulose_concentration_pct": "0", "pH_dependent_color": "no", "formaldehyde_release_concern": "no", "formaldehyde_release_ppm": "0", "AGE_formation_concern"…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Emulsifier
Fragrance
Lubricating agent
Softener and conditioner
Solubility enhancer
Solvent
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil.
Regulatory Flags
ethoxylation-byproduct-risk
dioxane-impurity-potential
avoid-damaged-skin
penetration-enhancer
cir-safe
eu_children_restricted
ifra_fragrance
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
2
Lowest NOAEL
1000 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
5000 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
HCO 40
HCO 50
Castor oil, hydrogenated, ethoxylated
Cremophor RH 40
Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil 60
EC No.: 500-147-5
EC No.: 613-097-5
EC No.: 918-326-5
UNII-7YC686GQ8F
UNII-02NG325BQG
UNII-0ZNO9PJJ9J
UNII-R07D3A9614
UNII-0WZF1506N9
UNII-MH590ECD4O
UNII-WE09129TH5
UNII-43SW2U113W
Polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Emulsifier
Regulatory Lists
Indirect additives food contact (10/2018)
IFRA Transparency
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - hand soap
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - body wash
Canada; Personal care; Substances in PCP - Canada (4/2014)
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil allowed in the EU?
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil do in cosmetics?
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil functions as: Surfactant, solubilizer. It is classified as a Surfactant in our database. CAS number: 61788-85-0.
What is the NOAEL for PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is =1000 mg/kg bw/day based on a reproduction developmental study via oral route in Mouse. A total of 2 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil used outside cosmetics?
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil 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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