Is Vinyl Acetate safe in cosmetics?
Vinyl Acetate has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Vinyl Acetate
Also known as: Acetic acid ethenyl ester, Acetic acid, ethylene ether, EINECS 203-545-4, Ethanoic acid, ethenyl ester, Vinyl acetate H.Q. (+12 more)
INCI: VINYL ACETATE
Vinyl Acetate (CAS 108-05-4) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Film forming (monomer used in copolymer synthesis). NOAEL 98 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; 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 and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 108-05-4 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Vinyl Acetate is classified GHS Danger (H225, H332, H335, H351, H412, H315, H319, H341) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Film forming (monomer used in copolymer synthesis)
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
ethenyl acetate
InChIKey
XTXRWKRVRITETP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted – CIR assessed polymer forms as safe
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Vinyl Acetate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Vinyl Acetate. 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 | =98 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =146 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =202 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =223 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =281 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =285 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =301 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =684 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =760 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =810 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.
Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
FlamFlameSkullToxicCancerHealth haz
Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour Toxic if inhaled May be harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Suspected of causing cancer May cause respiratory irritation Harmful to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the respiratory tract. The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes and skin.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dryness and cracking. This substance is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Vinyl Acetate across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
2B
Volume
Sup 7, 63
Evaluation Year
1995
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; Carc. 2; Acute Tox. 4; STOT SE 3
Hazard Statements
- H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
- H351 Suspected of causing cancer
- H332 Harmful if inhaled
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
Inserted via ATP: ATP05
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Under investigation
Evidence: Limited
(2021)
Health effects: Yes
Affected pathways: Thyroid, Estrogenic
Regulatory framework: REACH
Source list: II (former)
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)
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex II — Prohibited
Ref: 1565
(EU) 2019/831
CMR: Carcinogenic Cat. 2()
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 (II - Prohibited)
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (II)
Ref: 1565
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Prohibited (GNRAS)
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | banned | - | - |
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
2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans. (L135)
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Vinyl acetate | Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans | 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) | Volume 63: (1995) Dry Cleaning, Some Chlorinated Solvents and Other Industrial Chemicals
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of vinyl acetate. There is limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of vinyl acetate. Overall evaluation: Vinyl acetate is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). In making the overall evaluation, the working group took into account the following evidence: (1) Vinyl acetate is rapidly transformed
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Anti-adhesive/cohesive
Binder
Degradant/impurity
Film former
Flavouring and nutrient
Lubricating agent
Monomers
Solvent
Surface modifier
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Banned in Cosmetics
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Vinyl Acetate.
Regulatory Flags
endocrine_disruptor
eu_banned_cosmetics
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Vinyl Acetate by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
44
Lowest NOAEL
62.5 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
6048 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Known Synonyms
Acetic acid ethenyl ester
Acetic acid, ethylene ether
EINECS 203-545-4
Ethanoic acid, ethenyl ester
Vinyl acetate H.Q.
Vinylacetate
Zeset T
Octan winylu
Vinylacetaat
Vinylester kyseliny octove
UNII-L9MK238N77
Essigsaeurevinylester
Vinylazetat
ethenyl ethanoate
vinyl ethanoate
SN 12T
GC Fuji Varnish
Chemical Function
Film former
Binder
Degradant/impurity
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
Australia; Food and drug - smoking-related products
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
banned; Europe; Personal care
Europe; Food contact items; Toys and children's products
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; Europe
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.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1470323
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vinyl Acetate allowed in the EU?
Vinyl Acetate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Vinyl Acetate do in cosmetics?
Vinyl Acetate functions as: Film forming (monomer used in copolymer synthesis). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 108-05-4.
What is the NOAEL for Vinyl Acetate?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Vinyl Acetate is =98 mg/kg bw/day based on a chronic study via oral route in Rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Vinyl Acetate classified as hazardous under GHS?
Vinyl Acetate carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapour Toxic if inhaled May be harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Suspected of causing cancer May cause respiratory irritation Harmful 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.
Is Vinyl Acetate used outside cosmetics?
Vinyl Acetate 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 Vinyl Acetate have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Vinyl Acetate is classified GHS Danger (H225, H332, H335, H351, H412, H315, H319, H341) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Vinyl Acetate 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 multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Acrylates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Crosspolymer
Excellent
Same category
Emulsion stabilising, film forming
Adipic Acid
Excellent
Same category
Buffering
Aluminum Magnesium Oxide
Excellent
Same category
Absorbent, bulking agent, opacifying ...
Ammonium VA/Acrylates Copolymer
Excellent
Same category
Antistatic, binding, film forming, ha...
Ammonium VA/Crotonic Acid Copolymer
Excellent
Same category
Antistatic, film forming, hair fixing...
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
Excellent
Same category
Absorbent, emulsion stabilising, film...
(20S)-Protopanaxadiol
Moderate
Similar safety
(Cnidium Officinale/Coptis Chinensis/Glycyrrhiza Uralensis) Root Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Cryptomeria Japonica/Chamaecyparis Obtusa) Stem Ferment Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, humectant
(Eclipta Prostrata/Houttuynia Cordata) Leaf Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Lepidium Meyenii/Sarcodon Aspratus) Root Water
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning
(Licorice/Reynoutria Japonica) Root/Stem Extract
Moderate
Similar safety
Skin conditioning, antioxidant
1-Nitropropane
Poor
Chemical family
None in cosmetics - industrial solven...
2,4-Dimethylpyridine
Poor
Chemical family
Fragrance (limited); primarily an ind...
2,6-Dimethyl-4-heptanol
Good
Chemical family
Fragrance (perfuming)
Is Vinyl Acetate in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Vinyl Acetate in your formulation.