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POLYETHYLENE
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
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 | 704 products |
| eye liner | 195 products |
| foundation | 179 products |
| eye shadow | 158 products |
| lip liner | 119 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 113 products |
| brow liner | 91 products |
| blush | 58 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 47 products |
| concealer | 44 products |
| lip gloss | 43 products |
| lip balm | 38 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 22 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 16 products |
| makeup primer | 14 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 13 products |
| facial powder | 13 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 12 products |
| mascara | 12 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 10 products |
| baby sunscreen | 8 products |
| serums & essences | 6 products |
| around-eye cream | 5 products |
| lip plumper | 5 products |
| facial cleanser | 5 products |
| other eye makeup | 5 products |
| makeup with SPF | 4 products |
| body firming lotion | 4 products |
| makeup remover | 4 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 3 products |
| Facial Sun Care | 3 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| anti-aging | 2 products |
| Under Eye Concealers | 1 products |
| mask | 1 products |
| eye makeup remover | 1 products |
| oil controller | 1 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 1 products |
| nail treatment | 1 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 1 products |
| baby wipes | 1 products |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Human any irritant - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergies | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
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 |
| Considered safe based on assumption of low absorption | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry review | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 0 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
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 19, Suppl. 7 ;1987 |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
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 | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
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 |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | 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.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- 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 19, Suppl. 7 ;1987
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- 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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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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