Poor Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Valeric Acid

INCI: VALERIC ACID (N-PENTANOIC ACID)

CAS Number
109-52-4
Function
Fragrance (Perfuming)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted for cosmetic use as fragrance; GRAS as food flavoring

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
high
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

3 study endpoints found for Valeric Acid. 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 750 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 75 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 50 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB

GHS Hazard Classification

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

Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Corrosive on ingestion.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

CORROSIVE (H314) — causes severe skin burns and eye damage; moderately toxic by ingestion (H302); harmful to aquatic environment (H412); must only be used at very low fragrance-level concentrations; requires careful SDS review and concentration controls

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

fragrance-component ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Valeric Acid safe in cosmetics?

CORROSIVE (H314) — causes severe skin burns and eye damage; moderately toxic by ingestion (H302); harmful to aquatic environment (H412); must only be used at very low fragrance-level concentrations; requires careful SDS review and concentration controls The EU classifies Valeric Acid as "permitted". Safety rating: POOR. 3 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Valeric Acid allowed in the EU?

Valeric Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Valeric Acid do in cosmetics?

Valeric Acid functions as: Fragrance (Perfuming). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 109-52-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Valeric Acid?

not established 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 Valeric Acid?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Valeric Acid is 750 mg/kg bw/day based on a Developmental study via oral route in rat. A total of 3 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Compliance Tools

Check Valeric Acid 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 55 jurisdictions
 🧮
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
 ⚗️
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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