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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 | 406 products |
| foundation | 267 products |
| lip gloss | 210 products |
| eye liner | 191 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 163 products |
| eye shadow | 145 products |
| concealer | 133 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 132 products |
| moisturizer | 105 products |
| fragrance for women | 97 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 95 products |
| mascara | 95 products |
| daily use with SPF | 92 products |
| fragrance for men | 83 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 71 products |
| serums & essences | 67 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 65 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 61 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 60 products |
| lip balm | 55 products |
| brow liner | 54 products |
| lip liner | 52 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 44 products |
| conditioner | 42 products |
| shampoo | 39 products |
| blush | 38 products |
| body firming lotion | 37 products |
| facial cleanser | 36 products |
| shaving cream | 35 products |
| facial powder | 33 products |
| makeup primer | 31 products |
| body oil | 28 products |
| hand cream | 24 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 24 products |
| mask | 23 products |
| liquid hand soap | 23 products |
| body spray | 22 products |
| hair styling aide | 22 products |
| anti-aging | 20 products |
| hair spray | 20 products |
| sunless tanning | 19 products |
| around-eye cream | 18 products |
| lip plumper | 16 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 15 products |
| toothpaste | 15 products |
| BB cream | 12 products |
| after shave | 11 products |
| setting powder/spray | 11 products |
| nail glue | 11 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 10 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 10 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 10 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 8 products |
| 8 products | |
| bar soap | 7 products |
| other eye makeup | 7 products |
| toners/astringents | 6 products |
| makeup remover | 6 products |
| CC cream | 6 products |
| baby sunscreen | 6 products |
| bubble bath | 5 products |
| nail polish | 4 products |
| hand sanitizer | 4 products |
| beard oil | 4 products |
| skin fading/lightener | 3 products |
| cuticle treatment | 3 products |
| foot moisturizer | 3 products |
| polish remover | 3 products |
| baby shampoo | 3 products |
| depilatory | 2 products |
| nail treatment | 2 products |
| detangler | 2 products |
| baby soap | 2 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| baby lotion | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| oil controller | 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.
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