BUTOXYETHANOL
Fragrance Ingredient; Solvent; Viscosity Decreasing Agent; MASKING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
Also listed as
2-BUTOXYETHANOL; BUTYL GLYCOL; ETHANOL, 2-BUTOXY-; ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER; GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER; MONOBUTYL ETHYLENE GLYCOL ETHER; 2-BUTOXY- ETHANOL; ETHANOL, 2BUTOXY; 2-BUTOSSI-ETANOLO (ITALIAN) ; 2-BUTOXY-1-ETHANOL; 2-BUTOXY-AETHANOL (GERMAN)
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
| Restrictions & warnings |
 | Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Other strong concerns for this ingredient: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Data gaps |
|
See products containing BUTOXYETHANOL | |
About BUTOXYETHANOL: Butoxyethanol is the ether alcohol.
BUTOXYETHANOL has reported used in the following product types: hair color and bleaching (6); facial moisturizer/treatment (2); anti-aging (2); sunscreen: makeup (1); moisturizer (1); foundation (1)
Restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | |
| show more | ||
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 |
| show more | ||
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as irritant | European Union - Classification & Labelling | |
| Human irritant - strong evidence | products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne) | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| show more | ||
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain, nervous system, or behavioral effects at high doses | RTECS®- Human Toxicology 1988 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Insufficient data to determine safety | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | |
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 173 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status | |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | 2-BUTOXYETHANOL | •Harmful •Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed •Irritant (eyes, skin, or lungs) •Irritating to eyes and skin |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | 2-BUTOXYETHANOL (EGBE) | •Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans (ACGIH classification A3) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER | • Used in food processing: sanitizing agent • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Food additive: must be in accordance with good manufacturing practices, or sufficient for purpose; or in quantity not greater than required • Adequate drainage - CFR178.1010 • miscellaneous • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • less than 1 parts per million in flumewater - Used in flume water for washing sugar beets prior to slicing operation - CFR173.315 |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | EGBE | • SR |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | EGBE | • SR |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | EGBE | • SR |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | BUTOXYETHANOL | •Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | BUTOXYETHANOL | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit • • •Irritation (eyes, skin, or lungs) • |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | ETHANOL, 2-BUTOXY- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority. |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER (EGBE) (2-BUTOXYETHANOL) | •Group C: Possible human carcinogen (EPA classification) |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER (EGBE) (2-BUTOXYETHANOL) | •Carcinogenicity cannot be determined (EPA classification) |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | ETHANOL, 2-BUTOXY- | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | 2-BUTOXYETHANOL | •Reproductive Toxin - A chemical that is toxic to the reproductive system, including defects in the progeny and injury to male and female reproductive function: Yes; •Hepatotoxin: Hepatotoxin, Secondary; •Nephrotoxin: Yes; •Neurotoxin: CNS Solvent Syndrome; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 50 ppm; •RD50 - Concentration producing a 50% decrease in respiratory rate in experimental animals following a 10-minute exposure: 2824 ppm; •LC50 - Lethal concentration in 50% of animals tested: 900 ppm; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 20 ppm; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 2: high ambient temperature required; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 700 ppm; •Odor Threshold High - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 0.35 ppm; •Odor Threshold Low - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 0.1 ppm; •MAK - Maximum Allowable Concentration (Federal Republic of Germany): 20 ppm; |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | 2-BUTOXYETHANOL | •IARC Group 3 (no cancer link) |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | ETHANOL, 2-BUTOXY | •Pesticide inerts: potentially toxic, testing priority, according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER | •Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2000 | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2000 | ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health 1956 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Changes in bladder weight (rat TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Human Toxicology 1988 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Coma (woman TDLo) • respiratory - Dyspnea (woman TDLo) • metabolic - Metabolic acidosis (woman TDLo) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,29,1971 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1995 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1995 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 3349 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • reproductive - Spermatogenesis (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2002 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse unr) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (mouse unr) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2002 | BUTOXYETHANOL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (mouse unr) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (mouse unr) |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet | BUTOXYETHANOL | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) 2008. ACGIH cancer classification system. www.acgih.org. |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2008. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Evidence for human carcinogenicity based on 1986-2005 guidelines. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99 (a total of 935 agents, mixtures and exposures). |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1987 & 2005. Office of Pesticide Programs. Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients in Pesticide Products - Categorized List of Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, LaDou, J. (ed.). Occupational Medicine. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CN. 1990., Malachowsky, M.J. Health Effects of Toxic Substances. Government Institutes. Rockville, MD 1995., California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document 'Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels'. Includes all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) adopted by OEHHA as of August 2003 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/AllChrels.html, plus draft CRELS proposed through March 2004 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/index.html., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Acute Reference Exposure Levels (RELs), Averaging Times, and Toxicologic Endpoints. Includes all Acute Reference Exposure Levels (ARELs) developed by OEHHA through May 2000http://www.oehha.org/air/acute_rels/allAcRELs.html, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Acute Reference Exposure Levels (RELs), Averaging Times, and Toxicologic Endpoints. Includes all Acute Reference Exposure Levels (ARELs) developed by OEHHA through May 2000http://www.oehha.org/air/acute_rels/allAcRELs.html, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,629,1986 |
| RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health 1956 | RTECS®- AMA Archives of Industrial Health. (Chicago, IL) V.11-21, 1955-60. For publisher information, see AEHLAU. 14,114,1956 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 1918- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- Human Toxicology 1988 | RTECS®- Human Toxicology. (Macmillan Press Ltd., Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hants., RG 21 2XS, UK) V.1- -1981 7,187,1988 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,29,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,29,1971 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1995 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 341,281,1995 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1995 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 341,281,1995 |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 3349 | RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series. (Research Triangle Park, NC 27709) No.206- NIH-93-3349 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926.55,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204.50,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910.1000,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915.1000,1993 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2002 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- -1981 66,306,2002 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2002 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- 1981- 66,306,2002 |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet | RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet. (Union Carbide Corp., 39 Old Ridgebury Rd., Danbury, CT 06817) |
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