Menu
BHT
Score:
Data: Fair
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Endocrine disruption (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| lipstick | 330 products |
| foundation | 237 products |
| eye liner | 167 products |
| lip gloss | 164 products |
| concealer | 127 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 106 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 90 products |
| eye shadow | 85 products |
| daily use with SPF | 85 products |
| mascara | 83 products |
| moisturizer | 80 products |
| fragrance for women | 77 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 67 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 63 products |
| serums & essences | 61 products |
| fragrance for men | 59 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 57 products |
| lip liner | 44 products |
| brow liner | 42 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 41 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 41 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 36 products |
| conditioner | 32 products |
| lip balm | 31 products |
| makeup primer | 29 products |
| body firming lotion | 28 products |
| facial cleanser | 27 products |
| facial powder | 25 products |
| shampoo | 24 products |
| blush | 24 products |
| shaving cream | 23 products |
| liquid hand soap | 23 products |
| hand cream | 22 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 20 products |
| body oil | 20 products |
| hair spray | 18 products |
| lip plumper | 16 products |
| anti-aging | 15 products |
| mask | 14 products |
| hair styling aide | 13 products |
| sunless tanning | 12 products |
| toothpaste | 12 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 9 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 9 products |
| around-eye cream | 9 products |
| body spray | 9 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 9 products |
| after shave | 8 products |
| BB cream | 7 products |
| CC cream | 7 products |
| toners/astringents | 6 products |
| makeup remover | 6 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 6 products |
| bar soap | 5 products |
| baby sunscreen | 5 products |
| setting powder/spray | 5 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 4 products |
| 4 products | |
| hand sanitizer | 4 products |
| foot moisturizer | 3 products |
| other eye makeup | 3 products |
| bubble bath | 3 products |
| polish remover | 3 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| beard oil | 2 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| skin fading/lightener | 1 products |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| cuticle treatment | 1 products |
| nail treatment | 1 products |
| detangler | 1 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 1 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
| beard care | 1 products |
| beard cleanser | 1 products |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The European Food Safety Authority reports that this substance can cause liver cancer in animals. | European Food Safety Authority 2012. EFSA. 2012. Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS); Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Butylated hydroxytoluene BHT (E 321) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 10(3), 2588. |
| This peer-reviewed study reports this substance is a tumor promoter. | Vikism, Haris G, Alexander S. Krupnick, Jay W. Tichelaar, Pengyuan Liu, Jihong Zhu, Amy Rymaszewski, Lauren Stein, Andrew Franklin, Andrew E. Gelman & Ming You. 2011. Neutrophils are required for 3-methylcholanthrene-initiated, butylated hydroxytoluene-promoted lung carcinogenesis. Molecular carcinogenesis. |
| This peer-reviewed study reports this substance is a tumor promoter. | Shearn, Colin T, Kristofer S. Fritz & John A. Thompson. 2011. Protein damage from electrophiles and oxidants in lungs of mice chronically exposed to the tumor promoter butylated hydroxytoluene. Chemico-biological interactions 192(3), 278-86. |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| One or more human case studies show significant any or allergenic effects | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Upper respiratory tract irritation | American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) 2010. Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances. |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Endocrine disruption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The European Food Safety Authority reports that this substance can cause allergies in people. | European Food Safety Authority 2012. EFSA. 2012. Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS); Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Butylated hydroxytoluene BHT (E 321) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 10(3), 2588. |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| A peer-reviewed study found this substance caused adverse developmental effects in rats. | Vorhees, C, R. E. Butcher, R. L. Brunner & T. J. Sobotka. 1981. Developmental neurobehavioural toxicity of butylated hydroxytoluene in rats. Food and cosmetics toxicology 19(2), 153-62. |
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 | IJT 21(S2):19-94, 2002 |
| 5406 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Concern | 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 |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | IJT 21(S2):19-94, 2002 |
Data Sources
- European Food Safety Authority 2012. EFSA. 2012. Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS); Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Butylated hydroxytoluene BHT (E 321) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 10(3), 2588.
- Vikism, Haris G, Alexander S. Krupnick, Jay W. Tichelaar, Pengyuan Liu, Jihong Zhu, Amy Rymaszewski, Lauren Stein, Andrew Franklin, Andrew E. Gelman & Ming You. 2011. Neutrophils are required for 3-methylcholanthrene-initiated, butylated hydroxytoluene-promoted lung carcinogenesis. Molecular carcinogenesis.
- Shearn, Colin T, Kristofer S. Fritz & John A. Thompson. 2011. Protein damage from electrophiles and oxidants in lungs of mice chronically exposed to the tumor promoter butylated hydroxytoluene. Chemico-biological interactions 192(3), 278-86.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) 2010. Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- Vorhees, C, R. E. Butcher, R. L. Brunner & T. J. Sobotka. 1981. Developmental neurobehavioural toxicity of butylated hydroxytoluene in rats. Food and cosmetics toxicology 19(2), 153-62.
- IJT 21(S2):19-94, 2002
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- 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.
- 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.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® 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
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
