BENZOCAINE
Ultraviolet Light Absorber
Also listed as
ETHYL PABA, 4-AMINOBENZOIC ACID, ETHYL ESTER; BENZOIC ACID, 4-AMINO-, ETHYL ESTER; ETHYL 4-AMINOBENZOATE; ETHYL PARAAMINOBENZOATE; ETHYL ESTER 4-AMINOBENZOIC ACID; ETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-AMINO-; 4-AMINO- ETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID; BENZOIC ACID, 4AMINO, ETHYL ESTER; 4-AMINOBENZOIC ACID, ETHYL ESTER; AMERICAINE; ANAESTHESIN
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps |
|
See products containing BENZOCAINE | |
About BENZOCAINE: Ethyl PABA is the ester of ethyl alcohol and p-aminobenzoic acid.
ingredient UV blocking strength
| possible* sunscreen concentrations |
UV blocking strength |
|
1.0% |
| |
4.0% |
| |
5.0% |
|
* Skin Deep does not have any concentration information for this ingredient in products. The concentrations shown are only for illustrative purposes.
BENZOCAINE has reported used in the following product types: oral pain relief (62); pain relief (31); anti-itch/rash cream (21); wound treatment (14); shaving cream (men's) (7); lubricant/spermicide (5); after shave (3); denture care (3); facial moisturizer/treatment (2); corn/callus treatment (2)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human immune system toxicant | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1972 | |
| show more | ||
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses | RTECS®- Toksikologicheskii Vestnik 1996 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 1977 |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 357 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | ETHYL PABA | •Prohibited from use in Canadian cosmetics |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | BENZOIC ACID, 4-AMINO-, ETHYL ESTER | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | BENZOCAINE | •Skin Sensitizer - An agent that can induce an allergic reaction in the skin or lungs: Yes; |
| Harvell, J, 1994 | BENZOCAINE | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- Drugs in Japan (Ethical Drugs) 1982 | BENZOCAINE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 1974 | BENZOCAINE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 1977 | BENZOCAINE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (guinea pig ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 1977 | BENZOCAINE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (guinea pig ) |
| RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1960 | BENZOCAINE | • blood - Methemoglobinemia-Carboxylhemoglobin (infant TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toksikologicheskii Vestnik 1996 | BENZOCAINE | • brain and nervous system - Ataxia (mouse LD50) • respiratory - Cyanosis (mouse LD50) • respiratory - Dyspnea (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1972 | BENZOCAINE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (wild bird species LD50) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Harvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach. Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. 1994. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria)., A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html |
| RTECS®- Drugs in Japan (Ethical Drugs) 1982 | RTECS®- Drugs in Japan (Ethical Drugs). (Yakugyo Jiho Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) 6,33,1982 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 1974 | RTECS®- Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. (American Chemical Soc., Distribution Office Dept. 223, POB POB 57136, West End Stn., Washington, DC 20037) V.6- 1963- 17,900,1974 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 1977 | RTECS®- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. (Soc. of Cosmetic Chemists, 1995 Broadway, Suite 1701, New York, NY 10023) V.1- 1947- 28,357,1977 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 1977 | RTECS®- Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. (Soc. of Cosmetic Chemists, 1995 Broadway, Suite 1701, New York, NY 10023) V.1- 28,357,1977 |
| RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine 1960 | RTECS®- New England Journal of Medicine. (Massachusetts Medical Soc., 10 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115) V.198- 1928- 263,454,1960 |
| RTECS®- Toksikologicheskii Vestnik 1996 | RTECS®- Toksikologicheskii Vestnik. (18-20 Vadkovskii per. Moscow, 101479, Russia) History Unknown (2),34,1996 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1972 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 21,315,1972 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
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