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ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
Score:
Data: Good
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Enhanced skin absorption, Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Occupational hazards (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
| nail polish | 404 products |
| conditioner | 235 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 106 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 48 products |
| shampoo | 47 products |
| hand sanitizer | 44 products |
| foundation | 42 products |
| lip gloss | 29 products |
| hair styling aide | 29 products |
| mascara | 14 products |
| mask | 9 products |
| nail treatment | 9 products |
| moisturizer | 7 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 7 products |
| detangler | 7 products |
| hair spray | 6 products |
| toners/astringents | 5 products |
| 5 products | |
| facial cleanser | 4 products |
| after shave | 3 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 3 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 3 products |
| serums & essences | 3 products |
| body firming lotion | 2 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 2 products |
| makeup primer | 2 products |
| foot moisturizer | 2 products |
| daily use with SPF | 2 products |
| after sun product | 2 products |
| eye liner | 1 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
| body spray | 1 products |
| nail glue | 1 products |
| body oil | 1 products |
| beard care | 1 products |
| hair relaxer | 1 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 1 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 1 products |
| hand cream | 1 products |
| makeup remover | 1 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 1 products |
| lipstick | 1 products |
| beard cleanser | 1 products |
| BB cream | 1 products |
Enhanced skin absorption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Isopropyl alcohol disrupts the skin barrier and may enhance penetration of other substances. | I Brinkmann & C. Müller-Goymann. 1900. Role of isopropyl myristate, isopropyl alcohol and a combination of both in hydrocortisone permeation across the human stratum corneum. Skin pharmacology and applied skin physiology 16(6), 393-404. |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Harmonised classification and labelling (CLP00) approved by the European Union: this substance causes serious eye irritation. | EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes 2012. GHS Hazard Codes. Appears as: Chemical Name: propan-2-ol; isopropyl alcohol; isopropanol; CAS number: 67-63-0; Classification Hazard Statement Codes: H225|H319 |
Occupational hazards
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The peer-reviewed study reports isopropyl alcohol is associated with occupational bronchitis and respiratory symptoms. | Andrés Eduardo Soto-de la Fuente, Magdalena Aguilar-Loya, María Martha Méndez-Vargas, Pablo Zamudio-Martínez, Pablo López-Rojas, Santiago Salinas-Tovar & Irma Araceli Marín-Cotoñieto 2007. [Industrial bronchitis in workers exposed to hydroalcohol]. Revista médica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social 45(6), 565-72. |
| Animal evidence suggests occupational exposure to isopropyl alcohol may be harmful to the nasal mucosa. | Y Ohashi, Y. Nakai, H. Koshimo, Y. Esaki, H. Ikeoka, S. Horiguchi, K. Teramoto & H. Nakaseko. 1988. Toxicity of isopropyl alcohol exposure on the nasal mucociliary system in the guinea pig. Environmental research 46(1), 25-38. |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as medium human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs |
| Application to damaged skin can result in systemic absorption and toxicity. | R B. McGrath & R. Einterz. 1989. Absorption of topical isopropyl alcohol in an adult. Critical care medicine 17(11), 1233. |
| Toxic if ingested. | Fahim Zaman, Aslam Pervez & Kenneth Abreo 2002. Isopropyl alcohol intoxication: a diagnostic challenge. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 40(3), E12. |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Human evidence suggests isopropyl alcohol can be a sensitizer. | Juan García-Gavín, Ruth Lissens, Ann Timmermans & An Goossens 2011. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by isopropyl alcohol: a missed allergen?. Contact dermatitis 65(2), 101-6. |
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 |
| 112675 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Miscellaneous
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Occupational hazards related to handling | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Neurotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| nervous system - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Limited or incomplete evidence of cancer according to safety/hazard data – government assessment cannot classify as human carcinogen due to data gaps | World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monographs Programme on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lists of Group 1, 2a, and 2b substances can be obtained. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php; Vol 15, Suppl. 7, 71 ;1999 |
Data Sources
- I Brinkmann & C. Müller-Goymann. 1900. Role of isopropyl myristate, isopropyl alcohol and a combination of both in hydrocortisone permeation across the human stratum corneum. Skin pharmacology and applied skin physiology 16(6), 393-404.
- EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes 2012. GHS Hazard Codes. Appears as: Chemical Name: propan-2-ol; isopropyl alcohol; isopropanol; CAS number: 67-63-0; Classification Hazard Statement Codes: H225|H319
- Andrés Eduardo Soto-de la Fuente, Magdalena Aguilar-Loya, María Martha Méndez-Vargas, Pablo Zamudio-Martínez, Pablo López-Rojas, Santiago Salinas-Tovar & Irma Araceli Marín-Cotoñieto 2007. [Industrial bronchitis in workers exposed to hydroalcohol]. Revista médica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social 45(6), 565-72.
- Y Ohashi, Y. Nakai, H. Koshimo, Y. Esaki, H. Ikeoka, S. Horiguchi, K. Teramoto & H. Nakaseko. 1988. Toxicity of isopropyl alcohol exposure on the nasal mucociliary system in the guinea pig. Environmental research 46(1), 25-38.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule.
- R B. McGrath & R. Einterz. 1989. Absorption of topical isopropyl alcohol in an adult. Critical care medicine 17(11), 1233.
- Fahim Zaman, Aslam Pervez & Kenneth Abreo 2002. Isopropyl alcohol intoxication: a diagnostic challenge. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 40(3), E12.
- Juan García-Gavín, Ruth Lissens, Ann Timmermans & An Goossens 2011. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by isopropyl alcohol: a missed allergen?. Contact dermatitis 65(2), 101-6.
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
- 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.
- World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monographs Programme on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lists of Group 1, 2a, and 2b substances can be obtained. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php; Vol 15, Suppl. 7, 71 ;1999
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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
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