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POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL
Score
Data: Good
CAS25322-68-3
oral pain relief (29 products)
lubricant/ spermicide (18 products)
sunscreen: makeup (12 products)
toothpaste (6 products)
anti-fungal treatment (5 products)
Show all 96 products that contain POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL.
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POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL


image source: PubChem
Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Cancer no information
Developmental & reproductive toxicity no information
Allergies & immunotoxicity no information
Use restrictionsyes
Contamination concerns: ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE
Other MODERATE concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer

Function/use(s): Humectant; Solvent

About POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL: PEG-7 is a polymer of ethylene oxide.

Synonym(s): PEG-7

Use restrictions

type of concern product conditions reference
Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Not safe for use on injured or damaged skin products for use on damaged skin Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

type of concern product conditions reference
Classified as medium human health priority    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List
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Data gaps

type of concern product conditions reference
14,679 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results ->   PubMed

Multiple, additive exposure sources

type of concern product conditions reference
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food   FDA Everything Added to Food
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food   FDA Food Additive Status

Persistence and bioaccumulation

type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Ecotoxicology

type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin    Environment Canada Domestic Substance List

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
FDA Food Additive StatusPOLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• BC
• REG
• GMP
• In boiler water -173.310
• AF
• REG
• GMP
• Comp of defoaming agent -173.340
• CTG
• REG
• GMP
• Ctg on fresh citrus fruits -172.210
FDA Food Additive StatusPOLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• MISC
• REG
• GMP
• Ctg
• binder
• plasticizing agent
• and/or lubricant in tabs used for food
• Adjuvant in nonnutritive sweeteners
• vitamin & mineral prepns
• Ctg for sodium nitrite to inhibit hygroscopic properties - CFR172.820
• ZERO - In milk - CFR172.820; 526.820
FDA Everything Added to FoodPOLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (M W 200-9,500)• ASP
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListPOLY(OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL), _-HYDRO-_-HYDROXY-Y-Categorization,Y-Human health,Moderate-Health Priority,Y-Persistent,,,,,,
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListPOLY(OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL), .ALPHA;.-HYDRO-.OMEGA;.-HYDROXY-reported as used in fragrance compounds in 2008
Harvell, J, 1994POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLSkin or Sense Organ Toxicity Hazards: suspected
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsPEG-6QQQ01,QQQ22; I, M-, R-, C-
CIRPEG-6Impurity: 1,4-dioxane, ethylene oxide

Other RTECS® classifications [shown for informational purposes only]
government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)
RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LD50)
RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W 1969POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1973POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• cardiovascular - Arrhythmias (including changes in conduction) (rat LDLo)
• cardiovascular - BP lowering not characterized in autonomic section (rat LDLo)
• kidney or renal system - Hematuria (rat LDLo)
RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1976POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1953POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• kidney or renal system - Other changes (rat LD50)
RTECS®- British Journal of Cancer 1961POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• cancer - reproductive tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TDLo)
RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster oth)
RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster oth)
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 1112POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 2203POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LD50)
RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• skin - Primary skin irritant ( human )
RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1951POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• respiratory - Respiratory depression (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1945POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo)
• kidney or renal system - Changes primarily in glomeruli (rat TDLo)
• liver - Other changes (rat TDLo)
RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1950POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Kriobiologiya i Kriomeditsina 1978POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• blood - Change in clotting factors (rabbit LD50)
RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lvr)
RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lvr)
RTECS®- National Technical Information Service POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Proceedings of the European Society of Toxicology 1976POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (other micro-organisms )
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (other micro-organisms )
RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2006POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• reproductive - Menstrual cycle changes or disorders (rat TDLo)
RTECS®- Research Progress in Organic-Biological and Medicinal Chemistry 1970POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)
RTECS®- Teratology, The International Journal of Abnormal Development 1996POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• reproductive - Other effects (rabbit TDLo)
RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1970POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LDLo)
RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit )
RTECS®- United States Patent Document 7763POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50)
RTECS®- Yaoxue Tongbao 1986POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL• broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50)

references
government/industry list/academic study reference
FDA Food Additive StatusFDA (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.
FDA Everything Added to FoodFDA (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 ListEC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
IFRA Fragrance Ingredient ListIFRA (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
Scorecard.org Toxicity InformationHarvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria).
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
Impurities - Open Scientific LiteratureCIR
RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev. ed., Clayton, G.D., and F.E. Clayton, eds., New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1978-82. Vol. 3 originally pub. in 1979; pub. as 2nd rev. ed. in 1985. 2C,3847,1982
RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev. ed., Clayton, G.D., and F.E. Clayton, eds., New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1978-82. Vol. 3 originally pub. in 1979; pub. as 2nd rev. ed. in 1985. 2C,3849,1982
RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,1413,1986
RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J.V., Institut Pro Vychovu Vedoucicn Pracovniku Chemickeho Prumyclu Praha, Czechoslovakia, 1972 -,255,1972
RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W 1969 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W.B., New York, Academic Press, Inc., 1969 -,747,1969
RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 [shown for informational purposes only]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 [shown for informational purposes only]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®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1973 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. (Editio Cantor Verlag, Postfach 1255, W-7960 Aulendorf, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1- 1951- 23,1087,1973
RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1976 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. (Editio Cantor Verlag, Postfach 1255, W-7960 Aulendorf, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1- 1951- 26,1581,1976
RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1953 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. (Editio Cantor Verlag, Postfach 1255, W-7960 Aulendorf, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1- 1951- 3,451,1953
RTECS®- British Journal of Cancer 1961 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- British Journal of Cancer. (Macmillan Press Ltd., Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hants. RG21 2XS, UK) V.1- 1947- 15,252,1961
RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation). Translation of DANKAS: Biological Section. (Plenum Pub. Corp., 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013) V.112- 1957- 240,228,1978
RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation). Translation of DANKAS: Biological Section. (Plenum Pub. Corp., 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013) V.112- 240,228,1978
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 1112 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-1112
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 2203 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-2203
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-937
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-94
RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-95
RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 1997- 18(Suppl
RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 1997- 18(Suppl 2),17,1999
RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 18(Suppl 2),17,1999
RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1938- 19,423,1952
RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 19,423,1952
RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1951 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1909/10- 103,293,1951
RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1945 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 34,172,1945
RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1950 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 39,349,1950
RTECS®- Kriobiologiya i Kriomeditsina 1978 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Kriobiologiya i Kriomeditsina. Cryobiology and Cryomedicine. (Izdatel'stvo Naukova Dumka, Kiev, USSR) No.1- 1975- 4,71,1978
RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 1986- 17,261,2002
RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 17,261,2002
RTECS®- National Technical Information Service [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. AD628-313
RTECS®- Proceedings of the European Society of Toxicology 1976 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Proceedings of the European Society of Toxicology. (Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.16-18, 1975-77. Discontinued. 17,351,1976
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 1915- 72,4288,1975
RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 72,4288,1975
RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2006 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.1- 1987- 22,263,2006
RTECS®- Research Progress in Organic-Biological and Medicinal Chemistry 1970 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Research Progress in Organic-Biological and Medicinal Chemistry. (New York, NY) V.1-3, 1964-72. Discontinued. 2,316,1970
RTECS®- Teratology, The International Journal of Abnormal Development 1996 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Teratology, The International Journal of Abnormal Development. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 1968- 53,111,1996
RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1970 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 16,442,1970
RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet. (Union Carbide Corp., 39 Old Ridgebury Rd., Danbury, CT 06817) 4/13/1965
RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet. (Union Carbide Corp., 39 Old Ridgebury Rd., Danbury, CT 06817) 4/9/1965
RTECS®- United States Patent Document 7763 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- United States Patent Document. (U.S. Patent Office, Box 9, Washington, DC 20231) #4767763
RTECS®- Yaoxue Tongbao 1986 [shown for informational purposes only]RTECS®- Yaoxue Tongbao. Bulletin of Pharmacology. (China International Book Trading Corp., POB 2820, Beijing, Peop. Rep. China) V.13-23, 1978-88. For publisher information, see ZYZAEU. 21,387,1986

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