HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE
About the ratings
EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any.
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Function/use(s): Binder; Emulsion Stabilizer; Film Former; Viscosity Increasing Agent - Aqueous; BINDING; EMULSION STABILISING; FILM FORMING; STABILISING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
About HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE: Hydroxyethylcellulose is a modified cellulose polymer; used as a gelling and thickening agent.
Synonym(s): CELLULOSE HYDROXYETHYLATE; CELLULOSE, 2-HYDROXYETHYL ETHER; H. E. CELLULOSE; 2-HYDROXYETHYL ETHER CELLULOSE; CELLULOSE, 2HYDROXYETHYL ETHER; 2-HYDROXYETHYL CELLULOSE; 2-HYDROXYETHYL CELLULOSE ETHER; AW 15 (POLYSACCHARIDE) ; BL 15; CELLOSIZE 4400H16; CELLOSIZE QP
Data gaps |
| type of concern |
product conditions |
reference |
| 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 |
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Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 3,874 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical
see search results ->
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PubMed |
Ecotoxicology |
| type of concern |
product conditions |
reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin |
|
Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
| type of concern |
product conditions |
reference |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful |
|
Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
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| Classified as a low human health priority |
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Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications |
| government/industry list/academic study |
appears on list as |
classification(s) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE | QQQ01,QQQ11; R-, D- |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | CELLULOSE, 2-HYDROXYETHYL ETHER | ,,Low-Health Priority,U-Persistent,U-Bioaccumulative,,,,, |
Other RTECS® classifications [shown for informational purposes only] |
| government/industry list/academic study |
appears on list as |
classification(s) |
| RTECS®- Anatomischer Anzeiger 1981 | HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE | • reproductive - Post-implantation mortality (mouse TDLo)
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| RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1987 | HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE | • cardiovascular - Change in plasma or blood volume (woman LDLo) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Increased intracranial pressure (woman LDLo) • brain, nervous system, or behavioral effect - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (woman LDLo)
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references |
| government/industry list/academic study
| reference
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| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| RTECS®- Anatomischer Anzeiger 1981 [shown for informational purposes only] | RTECS®- Anatomischer Anzeiger. (VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Postfach 176, Jena DDR-6900, Ger. Dem. Rep.) V.1- 1886- 149,282,1981 |
| RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1987 [shown for informational purposes only] | RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine. (Massachusetts Medical Soc., 10 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115) V.198- 1928- 317,964,1987 |
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