What does PROPYLENE GLYCOL do?

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PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Safe83 products

CAS: 57-55-6

Propane-1,2-diol

What does it do?

Functions as a solvent and humectant in the product.

Details

Propane-1,2-diol

Wild Lemon Myrtle Hand and Body Cream - 125ml

Ingredient guide

Propylene glycol: the humectant feared as antifreeze

When you see propylene glycol on a cosmetic label, you might think of car antifreeze. It really is used in fluids that keep airplanes and cars from icing. Yet the same substance has been used for years in food and medicine, not just cosmetics.

Read the full guide →

Function & Use

Skin Conditioning

Humectant

Viscosity Controlling

Solvent

Skin-Conditioning Agent

The verdict isn’t ours: below is what ToxValDB (EPA Toxicity Value Database), EPA ToxCast (high-throughput in vitro screening), Europe PMC (scientific literature) said, verbatim.

What The Sources Say

Europe PMC (scientific literature)1

General assessmentView source →

Cited by 146. Objectives Propylene glycol (PG) (1-2 propanediol; CAS No 57-55-6) is a low toxicity compound widely used as a food additive, in pharmaceutical preparations, in cosmetics, and in the workplace-for example, water based paints, de-icing fluids, and cooling liquids. Exposure to PG mist may occur from smoke generators in discotheques, theatres, and aviation emergency training. Propylene glycol may cau

ToxValDB (EPA Toxicity Value Database)3

Hazard claimView source →

EPA ToxValDB kanser değerlendirmesi: NL - Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.

Hazard claimView source →

EPA ToxValDB skin/eye data - endpoint: skin irritation: in vivo, classification: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation, species: rabbit, study: skin irritation, guideline: OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to, year: 1984. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.

Hazard claim

EPA ToxValDB genotoxicity: positive - positive reports: 9, negative: 4, Ames: positive, micronucleus: positive. Caveat: this is an aggregated record; dose, species and route of exposure must be considered together.

EPA ToxCast (high-throughput in vitro screening)1

Safety assessmentView source →

EPA ToxCast ER model: NO estrogen receptor activity found (AUC agonist=0, antagonist=0). Tested in 18 in vitro assays. Caveat: this is an in vitro screening model with no dose or exposure context; it does NOT mean an effect occurs in humans at cosmetic use levels.