Is Toluene Cosmetic safe in cosmetics?
Toluene Cosmetic has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: restricted. 5 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Toluene Cosmetic
Also known as: Benzene, methyl-, 1-Methylbenzene, Caswell No. 859, EINECS 203-625-9, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 080601 (+13 more)
INCI: TOLUENE
Toluene Cosmetic (CAS 108-88-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Viscosity Stabilizer, Solvent (nail polish). Reported NOAEL =625 mg/kg bw (INCHEM_WHO_kemi_kemi_ah2000_19); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted; GHS signal word DANGER. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 108-88-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Toluene Cosmetic is classified GHS Danger (H225, H304, H315, H336, H361, H373, H412, H320) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Viscosity Stabilizer, Solvent (nail polish)
Safety Rating
POOR
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
toluene
InChIKey
YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
US US Status
restricted
US Notes
CIR Expert Panel (2024 amended assessment). No federal ban; state-level restrictions (CA). Mislabeling widespread — EPA study found toluene in 83% of toluene-free labeled products up to 190,000 ppm.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Toluene Cosmetic.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
5 study endpoints found for Toluene Cosmetic. 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 | =625 mg/kg bw | - | - | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_kemi_kemi_ah2000_19 |
| NOAEL | =625 mg/kg bw | - | - | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_kemi_kemi_ah2000_19 |
| NOAEL | =625 mg/kg bw | - | - | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_kemi_kemi_ah2000_19 |
| NOAEL | =625 mg/kg bw | - | - | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_kemi_kemi_ah2000_19 |
| NOAEL | =625 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
FlamFlameExcl markWarnCancerHealth hazEnviroAqua
Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways Causes skin irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child May cause damage to nervous system through prolonged or repeated exposure Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the skin. The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. If this liquid is swallowed, aspiration into the lungs may result in chemical pneumonitis. Exposure at high levels could cause cardiac dysrhythmia and unconsciousness.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. The substance may have effects on the central nervous system. Exposure to the substance may increase noise-induced hearing loss. Animal tests show that this substance possibly causes toxicity to human reproduction or development. May cause colour vision impairment.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, through the skin and by ingestion.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =150 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| NOAEL | =132 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | chronic | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| MRL | =7.53713 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| MRL | =3.76857 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| MRL | =0.8 mg/kg-day | Human | oral | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| MRL | =0.2 mg/kg-day | Human | oral | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| LEL | =52759.9 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | DOE Protective Action Criteria |
| LD50 | >5000 mg/kg | Rabbit | dermal | acute | ECHA IUCLID |
| LOAEL | =1250 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =625 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | ECHA IUCLID |
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
3
Volume
47, 71
Evaluation Year
1998
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
FlammableHealth HazardHarmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Flam. Liq. 2; Repr. 2; Asp. Tox. 1; STOT SE 3; STOT RE 2 *; Skin Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
- H361d ***
- H304 May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways
- H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness
- H373 **
- H315 Causes skin irritation
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
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: other
Receptor targets: ERα, TR (limited)
LOEC: 10 µM
EU status: banned in cosmetics (CMR 2; Annex II)
weak modulator
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000,000 - 10,000,000 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: Nail products. Max: 0.25.
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Restricted · max 25%
India: Restricted · max 0.25
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (3)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | restricted | 25 | Nail products only |
| AU | restricted | - | nail polish |
| ASEAN | restricted | 25% | Nail products (nail varnish, nail varnish remover) |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Roberts Skin Permeation (Mendeley 2022)
MW: 92.1
Log Kow: 2.68
Log Kp: -0.08092190762392612
Log Jmax: -5.325047051951435
Source: Roberts_Cheruvu_Mendeley_2022
IFRA Concentration Limits (12 Product Categories)
International Fragrance Association standards per product category. Restriction: Prohibition/Specification. Effective: 2004-01-01.
| Category | Max % | Category | Max % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Lip products) | 0.0% | 7a (Deodorant – not spray) | 0.0% |
| 2 (Body spray) | 0.0% | 7b (Deodorant spray) | 0.0% |
| 3 (Body cream) | 0.0% | 8 (Face cream) | 0.0% |
| 4 (Fine fragrance) | 0.0% | 9 (Soap) | 0.0% |
| 5a (Body lotion) | 0.0% | 10a (Household – non-spray) | 0.0% |
| 5b (Face cream leave-on) | 0.0% | 10b (Household – spray) | 0.0% |
| 5c (Hand cream) | 0.0% | 11a (Intimate – leave-on) | 0.0% |
| 5d (Baby cream) | 0.0% | 11b (Intimate – rinse) | 0.0% |
| 6 (Mouthwash) | 0.0% | 12 (Not for consumer exposure) | 0.0% |
Additional Ingredient Properties
4 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "7-14", "bioaccumulative": "no", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "high", "coral_reef_safe": "no", "marine_toxicity": "toxic to aquatic life", "freshwater_toxicity": "high fish toxicity", "endocrine_disruptor": "suspected", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environmental"…
pediatric_safety
{"safe_for_newborn_0_6m": "avoid", "safe_for_infant_6_12m": "avoid", "safe_for_toddler_1_3y": "avoid", "safe_for_child_3_12y": "avoid", "safe_for_teen_12_18y": "caution", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "0.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "25.0", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "high", "immature_skin_barrier_risk": "high", "oral_ingestion_risk": "high", "eye_irritation_risk": "moderate"…
pregnancy_detail
{"pregnancy_safe": "avoid", "breastfeeding_safe": "avoid", "trimester_restriction": "all", "risk_category": "not-rated", "reason": "Nervous system toxicant; fetal development concern via inhalation", "alternative_ingredient": "Toluene-free nail polish", "source": "ACOG; dermatology literature"}
regulatory
{"eu_status": "restricted", "us_status": "restricted", "eu_max_concentration": "0.25", "restricted_in": "nail products only, max 25%", "regulation_reference": "Annex III/48"}
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (7)
Carcinogen Classification
3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. (L135)
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Toluene | Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | Volume 47: (1989) Some Organic Solvents, Resin Monomers and Related Compounds, Pigments and Occupational Exposures in Paint Manufacture and Painting | Volume 71: (1999) Re-evaluation of Some Organic Chemicals, Hydrazine and Hydrogen Peroxide (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Carcinogen Classification
Toluene | TR-371: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Toluene (CASRN 108-88-3) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies) (1990 ) | 03/13/89 | No Evidence | No Evidence | No Evidence | No Evidence | Under the conditions of these 2-year inhalation studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity for male or female F344/N rats exposed to toluene at concentrations of 600
Source: NTP Technical Reports
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity of toluene in humans. There is evidence suggesting lack of carcinogenicity of toluene in experimental animals. Overall evaluation: Toluene is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3). | Under the Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (U.S. EPA, 2005), there is inadequate information to assess the carcinogeni
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Regulatory (1)
JECFA Evaluation
PHENYLMETHANE | 1981 | NOT SPECIFIED | Residues of toluene occurring in food when this solvent is used in accordance with good manufacturing practice would not pose any toxicological problems | TRS 669-JECFA 25/30 | FAS 16-JECFA 25/214
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Antioxidant
Chemical reaction regulator
Cleaning agent
Fragrance
Propellants
non-motive (blowing agents)
Solubility enhancer
Solvent
Regulatory List Membership (5)
California Proposition 65 (OEHHA)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Toluene Cosmetic.
Regulatory Flags
toxic_trio
reproductive_toxin
cns_toxicity
eu_restricted
mislabeling_risk
occupational_hazard
detected_breast_milk
ca_arb_restricted
prop65
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Toluene Cosmetic by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
5
Lowest NOAEL
625
Highest NOAEL
625
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg bw
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
INCHEM_WHO_kemi_kemi_ah2000_19
Known Synonyms
Benzene, methyl-
1-Methylbenzene
Caswell No. 859
EINECS 203-625-9
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 080601
Methane, phenyl-
NCI-C07272
RCRA waste number U220
Tolu-Sol
Tolueen
Toluolo
UNII-3FPU23BG52
Methyl-Benzene
Methylbenzene, 9CI
Monomethyl benzene
Phenyl-Methane
Toluen
Toluol
Chemical Function
Solvent
Antioxidant
Regulatory Lists
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; detected; Europe
air; Cleaning products and household care - air freshener; detected; emissions; Europe
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies; Europe
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
artificial_sweat; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Indirect additives food contact (10/2018)
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
TOLUENE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL9113
Max Phase
2
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
toluene
ADI
NOT SPECIFIED mg/kg bw
Food Category
food_additive
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toluene Cosmetic allowed in the EU?
Toluene Cosmetic EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Toluene Cosmetic do in cosmetics?
Toluene Cosmetic functions as: Viscosity Stabilizer, Solvent (nail polish). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 108-88-3.
What is the NOAEL for Toluene Cosmetic?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Toluene Cosmetic is =625 mg/kg bw based on a Toxicology study study via oral route in rat. A total of 5 study endpoints are available. Source: INCHEM_WHO_kemi_kemi_ah2000_19.
Is Toluene Cosmetic classified as hazardous under GHS?
Toluene Cosmetic carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapour May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways Causes skin irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child May cause damage to nervous system through prolonged or repeated exposure Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. 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.
Is Toluene Cosmetic used outside cosmetics?
Toluene Cosmetic also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Toluene Cosmetic have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Toluene Cosmetic is classified GHS Danger (H225, H304, H315, H336, H361, H373, H412, H320) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Toluene Cosmetic compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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