Health Concerns of the Ingredient:
Overall Hazard
Developmental &
reproductive toxicity
Allergies & immunotoxicity
About NONOXYNOL-12: Nonoxynol-12 is an ethoxylated alkyl phenol.
Function(s): Surfactant - Emulsifying Agent; CLEANSING
Synoym(s): ARKOPAL N-040; NONYLPHENOLETHOXYLATE; PEG-12 NONYL PHENYL ETHER; POLY (OXY1,2ETHANEDIYL) , α (NONYLPHENYL) ωHYDROXY; POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 600 NONYL PHENYL ETHER; POLYOXYETHYLENE (12) NONYL PHENYL ETHER; ARKOPAL N-090; CARSONON N-9; CHEMAX NP SERIES; CONCO NI-90; DOWFAX 9N20
Endocrine disruption
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Human endocrine disruptor - moderate evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
| One or more studies show significant wildlife and the environment disruption | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
| Limited evidence of endocrine disruption | Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | OSPAR PBTs - Substances of Possible Concern |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data gaps
| Concern |
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 | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 891 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | NLM PubMed |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern |
Reference |
|---|
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data Sources
| CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Cosmetics Ingredient Review Assessments |
| EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| 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 |
| Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences. Lists of Paradigmatic Chemicals. http://www.nihs.go.jp/hse/endocrine-e/paradigm/paradigm.html |
| NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov. |
| OSPAR (Oslo-Paris). 2002. OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR. Place Published, OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environement of North-East Atlanic. |
Products Containing the Ingredient
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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