ETHANOLAMINE
pH Adjuster; BUFFERING
Also listed as
2-AMINOETHANOL; ETHANOL, 2-AMINO-; 2-HYDROXYETHYLAMINE; MONOETHANOLAMINE; 2-AMINO- ETHANOL; ETHANOL, 2AMINO; MEA; 2-AMINOAETHANOL (GERMAN) ; 2-AMINOETANOLO (ITALIAN) ; 2-AMINOETHANOL (OSHA) ; 2-HYDROXYETHYLAMINE
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 strong concerns for this ingredient: Occupational hazards |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Ecotoxicology |
|
See products containing ETHANOLAMINE | |
About ETHANOLAMINE: Ethanolamine is the monoamine.
ETHANOLAMINE has reported used in the following product types: hair color and bleaching (1311); hair relaxer (9); shampoo (9); conditioner (2); facial moisturizer/treatment (1); bubble bath (1); lipstick (1); Garnier Hair Color (1); body wash/cleanser (1); hair spray (1)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Unsafe in products left on skin and not rinsed off | products that are intended to be left on the skin | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence | Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence | AND products that may be aerosolized (airborne) | Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| Human immune system toxicant - moderate evidence | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Possible carcinogen | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as a high human health priority | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| Possible human immune system toxicant | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
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Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,100,1971 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses | RTECS®- Kosmicheskaya Biologiya i Meditsina 1968 | |
| show more | ||
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses | RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1986 | |
| show more | ||
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 6797 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human skin irritant - moderate evidence | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 1,245 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | 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 |
Miscellaneous
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | 2-AMINOETHANOL | •Harmful •Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed •Corrosive •Causes burns |
| FDA Food Additive Status | MONOETHANOLAMINE | • miscellaneous • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • less than 0.3 parts per million in flume water - Used in flume water for washing sugar beets prior to slicing operation - CFR173.315 |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | ETHANOLAMINES, NOS | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | MONOETHANOLAMINE | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | MONOETHANOLAMINE | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | ETHANOLAMINE | •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | MONOETHANOLAMINE | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Distinction between safe conc in leave-on and rinse-off products •Unsafe in products left on skin and not rinsed off •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | MONOETHANOLAMINE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | ETHANOL, 2-AMINO- | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | ETHANOLAMINE | •Asthma - Reversible bronchoconstriction (narrowing of bronchioles) initiated by the inhalation of irritating or allergenic agents: Yes; •Dermatotoxin: Skin Burns; •Hepatotoxin: Hepatotoxin, Secondary; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 3 ppm; •STEL (ACGIH) - Short-term exposure limits (ACGIH): 6 ppm; •LC50 - Lethal concentration in 50% of animals tested: 291 ppm; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 3 ppm; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 2: high ambient temperature required; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 30 ppm; •Odor Threshold High - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 4 ppm; •Odor Threshold Low - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 2 ppm; •MAK - Maximum Allowable Concentration (Federal Republic of Germany): 2 ppm; |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | ETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | ETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | ETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | ETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | ETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | ETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | ETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | ETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1996 | ETHANOLAMINE | • reproductive - Other effects (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1997 | ETHANOLAMINE | • reproductive - Other effects (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1964 | ETHANOLAMINE | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (rat TDLo) • liver - Liver function tests impaired (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1979 | ETHANOLAMINE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LD50) |
| RTECS®- Kosmicheskaya Biologiya i Meditsina 1968 | ETHANOLAMINE | • respiratory - Dyspnea (rat LD50) • brain and nervous system - Muscle contraction or spasticity (rat LD50) • brain and nervous system - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,100,1971 | ETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 6797 | ETHANOLAMINE | • endocrine system - Death in the "U" data type field (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Changes in bladder weight (rat TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | ETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | ETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | ETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | ETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1986 | ETHANOLAMINE | • reproductive - Fetotoxicity (rat TDLo) • developmental - Musculoskeletal system (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Urogenital system (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toksikologiya Novykh Promyshlennykh Khimicheskikh Veshchestv 1962 | ETHANOLAMINE | • respiratory - Dyspnea (mouse LD50) • brain and nervous system - Muscle contraction or spasticity (mouse LD50) • brain and nervous system - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1977 | ETHANOLAMINE | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1972 | ETHANOLAMINE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex I of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| FDA Food Additive Status | 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. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | 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. |
| 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. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 1918- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii. Biological Journal of Armenia. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.19- 39,422,1986 |
| RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii. Biological Journal of Armenia. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.19- 1966- 39,422,1986 |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation). Translation of TGANAK. (Allerton Press Inc., 150 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011) V.8- 1974- 21(6),29,1987 |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation). Translation of TGANAK. (Allerton Press Inc., 150 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011) V.8- 21(6),29,1987 |
| RTECS®- Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1996 | RTECS®- Fundamental and Applied Toxicology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1-40, 1981-97. For publisher information, see TOSCF2 31,117,1996 |
| RTECS®- Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1997 | RTECS®- Fundamental and Applied Toxicology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1-40, 1981-97. For publisher information, see TOSCF2 40,158,1997 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1964 | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936- 29(2),9,1964 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1979 | RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya. Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1-36, 1957-1992. For publisher information, see MTPEEI 23(9),55,1979 |
| RTECS®- Kosmicheskaya Biologiya i Meditsina 1968 | RTECS®- Kosmicheskaya Biologiya i Meditsina. Space Biology and Medicine. (Moscow, USSR) V.1-7, 1967-73. For publisher information, see KBAMAJ. (4),44,1968 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,100,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,100,1971 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 6797 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. OTS0516797 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926.55,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204.50,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910.1000,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915.1000,1993 |
| RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis 1986 | RTECS®- Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 1980- 6,403,1986 |
| RTECS®- Toksikologiya Novykh Promyshlennykh Khimicheskikh Veshchestv 1962 | RTECS®- Toksikologiya Novykh Promyshlennykh Khimicheskikh Veshchestv. Toxicology of New Industrial Chemical Substances. For English translation, see TNICS*. (Izdatel'stvo Meditsina, Moscow, USSR) No.1- 1961- 4,81,1962 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1977 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 42,417,1977 |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1972 | RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet. (Union Carbide Corp., 39 Old Ridgebury Rd., Danbury, CT 06817) 1/13/1972 |
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