Is Piperonyl Butoxide safe in cosmetics?
Piperonyl Butoxide has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: prohibited. US status: restricted. 5 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Piperonyl Butoxide
Also known as: 1,3-Benzodioxole, 5-[[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]methyl]-6-propyl-, 2-(2-butoxietoxi)etil 6-propilpiperonil eter, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl 6-propylpiperonyl ether, 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethyl-6-propylpiperonylether, 3, 4-Methylenedioxy-6-propylbenzyl butyl diethyleneglycol ether (+15 more)
INCI: PIPERONYL BUTOXIDE
Piperonyl Butoxide (CAS 51-03-6) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Synergist (pesticide use) — not a standard cosmetic function. Reported NOAEL =12 mg/kg bw/day in Dog (ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: prohibited. 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 51-03-6 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Piperonyl Butoxide is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H319, H335, H400, H410, H317, H373).
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Synergist (pesticide use) — not a standard cosmetic function
Safety Rating
POOR
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
5-[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxymethyl]-6-propyl-1,3-benzodioxole
InChIKey
FIPWRIJSWJWJAI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
prohibited
US US Status
restricted
US Notes
EPA-registered pesticide synergist; not FDA-approved as a cosmetic ingredient
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Piperonyl Butoxide.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
5 study endpoints found for Piperonyl Butoxide. 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 | =12 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Dog | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =37 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Dog | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =125 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =780 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1411.2 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
3
Volume
30, Sup 7
Evaluation Year
1987
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / IrritantEnvironmental Hazard
Hazard Class and Category
STOT SE 3; Eye Irrit. 2; Aquatic Acute 1; Aquatic Chronic 1
Hazard Statements
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
- H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
- H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
M = 1; M = 1
Inserted via ATP: ATP18
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
Tonnage data confidential
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (6)
Carcinogen Classification
3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. (L135)
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Piperonyl butoxide | Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | Volume 30: (1983) Miscellaneous Pesticides | Volume Sup 7: Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, 1987; 440 pages; ISBN 92-832-1411-0 (out of print)
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Carcinogen Classification
Piperonyl butoxide | TR-120: Bioassay of Piperonyl Butoxide for Possible Carcinogenicity (CASRN 51-03-6) (1979 ) | 08/31/78 | No Evidence | No Evidence | No Evidence | No Evidence | It is concluded that under the conditions of this bioassay, piperonyl butoxide was not carcinogenic for Fischer 344 rats or B6C3F1 mice.
Source: NTP Technical Reports
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
PBO is classified as a Group C-possible human carcinogen with no cancer quantification required for PBO risk assessments. | No data are available in humans. Inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in animals. OVERALL EVALUATION: Group 3: The agent is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. | Cancer Classification: Group C Possible Human Carcinogen
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
ICSC Safety Card
1347
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Humectant
Pharmaceutical
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Piperonyl Butoxide.
Regulatory Flags
endocrine_disruptor
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Piperonyl Butoxide by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
5
Lowest NOAEL
12 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1411.2 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
1,3-Benzodioxole, 5-[[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]methyl]-6-propyl-
2-(2-butoxietoxi)etil 6-propilpiperonil eter
2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl 6-propylpiperonyl ether
2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethyl-6-propylpiperonylether
3, 4-Methylenedioxy-6-propylbenzyl butyl diethyleneglycol ether
3,4-METHYLENE DIOXY-6-PROPYLBENZYLDIETHYLENE GLYCOL BUTYL ETHER
5-[[2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]methyl]-6-propyl-1,3-benzodioxole
6-Propylpiperonyl butyl diethylene glycol ether
4-19-00-00779
BRN 0288063
alpha-(2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene
5-((2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)methyl)-6-propyl-1,3-benzodioxole
Butyl-carbityl (6-propylpiperonyl) ether
Caswell No. 670
EINECS 200-076-7
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 067501
Ethanol butoxide
3,4-Methylenedioxy-6-propylbenzyl n-butyl diethyleneglycol ether
3,4-Methylenedioxy-6-propylbenzyl n-butyldiethyleneglycol ether
NCI-C02813
Chemical Function
Humectant
Biocide
Pharmaceutical
Regulatory Lists
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; Pesticides
active_ingredient; agricultural; applied; 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
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
PIPERONYL BUTOXIDE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1201131
Max Phase
4
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Piperonyl Butoxide allowed in the EU?
Piperonyl Butoxide EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Piperonyl Butoxide do in cosmetics?
Piperonyl Butoxide functions as: Synergist (pesticide use) — not a standard cosmetic function. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 51-03-6.
What is the NOAEL for Piperonyl Butoxide?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Piperonyl Butoxide is =12 mg/kg bw/day based on a chronic study via oral route in Dog. A total of 5 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Piperonyl Butoxide used outside cosmetics?
Piperonyl Butoxide 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 Piperonyl Butoxide have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Piperonyl Butoxide is prohibited in EU cosmetics but has active industrial GHS classifications (H319, H335, H400, H410, H317, H373).
Compliance Tools
Check Piperonyl Butoxide compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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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
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