Is Triclocarban safe in cosmetics?
Triclocarban has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Triclocarban
Also known as: Urea, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-, 4-12-00-01265, BRN 2814890, Caswell No. 874, 1-(3',4'-Dichlorophenyl)-3-(4'-chlorophenyl)urea (+9 more)
INCI: TRICLOCARBAN
Triclocarban (CAS 101-20-2) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as Preservative. NOAEL 6.75 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 1.5%. 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 101-20-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Preservative
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea
InChIKey
ICUTUKXCWQYESQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
1.5%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
No specific restrictions
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Triclocarban.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Triclocarban. 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 | =0.0321 mg/kg bw/d | oral | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.0321 mg/kg bw/d | oral | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.0321 mg/kg bw/d | oral | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.0321 mg/kg bw/d | oral | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.4 mg/kg | - | - | reproductive toxicity | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.4 mg/kg | - | - | reproductive toxicity | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.4 mg/kg | - | - | reproductive toxicity | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.4 mg/kg | - | - | reproductive toxicity | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =1 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =1 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Triclocarban across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
SCCS NOAEL Values
NOAEL/LOAEL values cited in official SCCS opinions for Triclocarban.
| NOAEL | LOAEL | Route | Species | Study | DA% (SCCS) | Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg/kg/day | 25 mg/kg/day | Oral | Rat | Subchronic (90-day) (90 days) | 100 | SCCS/1643/22 (2022) |
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
NESIL
1046 µg/cm²
GHS: 1B
Human: positive
Source: HPPT: [30] Marzulli FN and Maibach HI (1974): https://doi.org/10.1016/0015-6264(74)90367-8
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
4 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 1046.25 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 6975.01 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 1046.25 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 6975.01 | - | - |
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Suspected
Evidence: Moderate
(2019)
Health effects: Yes
Affected pathways: Thyroid, Anti-androgenic
Regulatory framework: REACH
Source list: III
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: triclosan
Receptor targets: AR, ERα
LOEC: 1 nM
EU status: banned (CMR 1B; Annex II since Sept 2023)
agonist (AR); mixed (ER)
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
Ceased manufacture
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex V — Permitted Preservatives
Product type: All cosmetic products, with the exception of mouthwash.
Max: 0,2 %
For toothpaste containing Triclocarban the following labelling is obligatory: ‘Not to be used for children under 6 years of age’.
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.
KR Korea MFDS Annex 2 (Restricted)
Category: Preservative. Max: 0.2%. Purity requirements for tetrachloroazobenzene
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
Product type: Rinse-off products. Max: 0.015.
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Positive (Preservative)): max 0.30
Japan (Restricted): max Wash-away: No limit | Leave-on: 0.30% | Mucosa: 0.30%
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Restricted · max 1,5%
Brazil: Permitted Preservative · max 0,2%
India: Restricted · max 0.015
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (8)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP | restricted | Wash-away: No limit | Leave-on: 0.30% | Mucosa: 0.30% | Wash-away: No limit | Leave-on: 0.30% | Mucosa: 0.30% |
| CN | permitted_preservative | 0.2 | Rinse-off products |
| IN | permitted_preservative | 0.2 | all cosmetics |
| AU | restricted | - | limited use |
| BR | restricted | 1.5 | Rinse-off products only; purity criteria: 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazobenzene <1ppm, 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazoxybenzene <1ppm |
| BR | permitted_preservative | 0.2 | Purity criteria: 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazobenzene <1ppm; tetrachloroazoxybenzene <1ppm |
| ASEAN | restricted | 1.5% | Rinse-off personal care products |
| ASEAN | permitted_preservative | 0.2% | All products (preservative function); 1.5% rinse-off (Annex III) |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (1 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured_in_vitro | 7.0 | In vivo — human showering study In vitro — human skin | - | SCCS/1643/22 (2022) |
Additional Ingredient Properties
6 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
deodorant
{"cas_number": "101-20-2", "ingredient_class": "antimicrobial_deodorant", "mechanism_of_action": "bacterial_growth_inhibition", "antiperspirant_efficacy_sweat_reduction_pct": "0", "deodorant_efficacy_hours": "12-24", "odor_reduction_pct": "65-85", "bacteriostatic": "yes", "bactericidal": "yes", "target_bacteria": "broad_spectrum", "microbiome_impact": "broad", "axillary_microbiome_effect": "signif…
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "no", "biodegradation_days": "365+", "bioaccumulative": "yes", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "very-high", "coral_reef_safe": "no", "marine_toxicity": "extremely toxic to algae", "freshwater_toxicity": "very high fish toxicity", "endocrine_disruptor": "suspected", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "yes", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_…
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": "avoid", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "0.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "banned", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "high", "immature_skin_barrier_risk": "moderate", "oral_ingestion_risk": "moderate", "eye_irritation_risk": "m…
preservative
{"preservative_class": "Phenol derivative", "antimicrobial_spectrum_bacteria_gp": "Excellent", "antimicrobial_spectrum_bacteria_gn": "Good", "antimicrobial_spectrum_yeast": "Moderate", "antimicrobial_spectrum_mold": "Moderate", "mic_staph_aureus_ppm": "15", "mic_e_coli_ppm": "20", "mic_pseudomonas_ppm": "25", "mic_candida_albicans_ppm": "150", "mic_aspergillus_niger_ppm": "300", "challenge_test_pa…
regulatory
{"eu_status": "banned", "us_status": "banned", "eu_max_concentration": "0", "restricted_in": "all products", "ban_date": "2016-01-01", "regulation_reference": "Annex II/1344"}
skin_suitability
{"oily_skin": "avoid", "dry_skin": "avoid", "sensitive_skin": "avoid", "combination_skin": "avoid", "normal_skin": "avoid", "acne_prone": "avoid", "rosacea": "avoid", "eczema": "avoid", "hyperpigmentation": "avoid", "aging_mature": "avoid", "dehydrated": "avoid", "skin_benefit_primary": "antimicrobial", "skin_benefit_secondary": "preservative", "mechanism_of_action": "Endocrine disruptor, environm…
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (1)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Deodorizer
Preservative
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Triclocarban.
Regulatory Flags
EU Restricted
endocrine_disruptor
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Triclocarban by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
160
Lowest NOAEL
0.0321
Highest NOAEL
5000
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/d, mg/kg, mg/kg bw/day
SCCS Opinion
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | In vivo — human showering study In vitro — human skin | Bar soap (in vivo); Acetone (in vitro) |
Known Synonyms
Urea, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-
4-12-00-01265
BRN 2814890
Caswell No. 874
1-(3',4'-Dichlorophenyl)-3-(4'-chlorophenyl)urea
EINECS 202-924-1
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 027901
NSC-72005
Trichlocarban
Trilocarban
Triclocarbanum
UNII-BGG1Y1ED0Y
3,4,4'-trichloro carbanilide
TCC
Chemical Function
Biocide
Preservative
Deodorizer
Regulatory Lists
Europe; Personal care; restricted
Europe; Personal care
pharmaceutical
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
detected; MN Chemical Screening; surface_water
detected; MN Chemical Screening; wastewater
detected; MN Chemical Screening; surface_water
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; consumer_product; Substances in Products - Canada (4/2014)
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
TRICLOCARBAN
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1076347
Max Phase
2
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Triclocarban allowed in the EU?
Triclocarban EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 1.5%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Triclocarban do in cosmetics?
Triclocarban functions as: Preservative. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 101-20-2.
What is the NOAEL for Triclocarban?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Triclocarban is =0.0321 mg/kg bw/d based on a NOAEL study study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: SCCS Opinion.
Is Triclocarban used outside cosmetics?
Triclocarban 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 Triclocarban 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
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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