Moderate Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Phenol

INCI: PHENOL

CAS Number
108-95-2
Function
Denaturant, antimicrobial, fragrance component
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 0.2%
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes FDA-permitted in cosmetics; no specific concentration limit but subject to general safety requirement. OTC drug ingredient in some applications

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
high
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

10 study endpoints found for Phenol. 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 86.2 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 167 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 750 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 2500 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 500 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 625 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 120 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 280 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 224 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Special Toxicology Study COSMOS_DB

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
skull;toxic; corr; cancer;health haz
Hazard Statements
Toxic if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Suspected of causing genetic defects Causes damage to central nervous system, the heart and kidneys Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure May cause respiratory irritation Toxic to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance and the vapour are corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion. Inhalation of the vapour may cause lung oedema, but only after initial corrosive effects on eyes and/or airways have become manifest. See Notes. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system, heart and kidneys. This may result in convulsions, coma, cardiac disorders, respiratory failure and collapse. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated. Exposure could cause death.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance may have effects on the liver, kidneys and nervous system.
Routes of Exposure
Serious local effects by all routes of exposure.

Expert Verdict

Acute toxicity concern with LD50 340–530 mg/kg (rat). Skin Corr. 1B at ≥3%; Skin Irrit. 2 at 1–3%. STOT RE 2 (H373). Rapidly absorbed through intact skin. Strict concentration compliance mandatory.

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

fragrance-component endocrine_disruptor eu_banned_cosmetics ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive eu_cosing_listed jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phenol safe in cosmetics?

Acute toxicity concern with LD50 340–530 mg/kg (rat). Skin Corr. 1B at ≥3%; Skin Irrit. 2 at 1–3%. STOT RE 2 (H373). Rapidly absorbed through intact skin. Strict concentration compliance mandatory. The EU classifies Phenol as "restricted". Safety rating: MODERATE. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Phenol allowed in the EU?

Phenol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.2%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Phenol do in cosmetics?

Phenol functions as: Denaturant, antimicrobial, fragrance component. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 108-95-2.

What is the Margin of Safety for Phenol?

adequate 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 Phenol?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Phenol is 86.2 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Is Phenol classified as hazardous under GHS?

Phenol carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Toxic if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Suspected of causing genetic defects Causes damage to central nervous system, the heart and kidneys Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure May cause respiratory irritation Toxic to aquatic life. 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 Phenol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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