ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
Antifoaming Agent; Fragrance Ingredient; Solvent; Viscosity Decreasing Agent; PERFUMING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
Also listed as
ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, 2-HYDROXYPROPANE; ISOPROPANOL; 1-METHYLETHANOL; 2-PROPANOL; SEC-PROPYL ALCOHOL; 2PROPANOL; PROPAN-2-OL; 1-METHYLETHANOL; 1-METHYLETHYL ALCOHOL; 2-HYDROXYPROPANE; 2-PROPANOL
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: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Data gaps |
|
See products containing ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | |
About ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: Isopropyl Alcohol is the aliphatic alcohol.
ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL has reported used in the following product types: hair color and bleaching (836); nail polish (747); nail treatment (101); conditioner (75); mascara (47); pain relief (27); hand sanitizer (21); anti-itch/rash cream (19); polish remover (19); acne treatment (18)
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity | Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 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 | |
| Classified as medium human health priority | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 | |
| show more | ||
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | products that may be aerosolized (airborne) | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1981 | |
| show more | ||
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as irritant | European Union - Classification & Labelling | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 18,052 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Miscellaneous
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
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) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | PROPAN-2-OL;;ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL;;ISOPROPANOL | •Highly flammable •Highly flammable •Irritant (eyes, skin, or lungs) •Irritating to eyes •Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • S |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | 2-PROPANOL | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | •Neurotoxin: CNS Solvent Syndrome; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 400 ppm; •STEL (ACGIH) - Short-term exposure limits (ACGIH): 400 ppm; •RD50 - Concentration producing a 50% decrease in respiratory rate in experimental animals following a 10-minute exposure: 17693 ppm; •LC50 - Lethal concentration in 50% of animals tested: 23040 ppm; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 200 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: 3: may ignite at ambient temperature; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 2000 ppm; •Odor Threshold High - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 610 ppm; •Odor Threshold Low - The lowest concentration at which a substance can be detected or recognized using the sense of smell: 1 ppm; •MAK - Maximum Allowable Concentration (Federal Republic of Germany): 200 ppm; |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | ISOPROPANOL | •IARC Group 3 (no cancer link) |
| Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | •Known to be neurotoxic to humans, suspected developmental neurotoxin |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | 2PROPANOL | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2000 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2000 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | •Developmental toxicity hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W 1969 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • brain and nervous system - Coma ( human LDLo) • gastrointestinal - Nausea or vomiting ( human LDLo) • respiratory - Respiratory depression ( human LDLo) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Emergency Medicine 1992 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • brain and nervous system - Irritability (infant TDLo) • gastrointestinal - Nausea or vomiting (infant TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (infant TDLo) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1978 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • reproductive - Fetal death (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Litter size (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Menstrual cycle changes or disorders (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1981 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (rat ihl) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1981 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (rat ihl) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 1927 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • cardiovascular - BP lowering not characterized in autonomic section ( human TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Hallucinations, distorted perceptions ( human TDLo) • cardiovascular - Pulse rate ( human TDLo) |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,141,1971 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 1996 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • reproductive - Fetotoxicity (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 1993 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • reproductive - Mating performance (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL | • sense organ - Primary eye 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. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| 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. |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). 2008. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99 (a total of 935 agents, mixtures and exposures). |
| Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans | Grandjean P and PJ Landrigan. 2006. Developmental neurotoxicity of industrial chemicals. Lancet. 2006 Dec 16;368(9553):2167-78. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Acute Reference Exposure Levels (RELs), Averaging Times, and Toxicologic Endpoints. Includes all Acute Reference Exposure Levels (ARELs) developed by OEHHA through May 2000http://www.oehha.org/air/acute_rels/allAcRELs.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Acute Reference Exposure Levels (RELs), Averaging Times, and Toxicologic Endpoints. Includes all Acute Reference Exposure Levels (ARELs) developed by OEHHA through May 2000http://www.oehha.org/air/acute_rels/allAcRELs.html, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. See Environmental Defense's Suspect Hazard Identification documentation. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document 'Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels'. Includes all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) adopted by OEHHA as of August 2003 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/AllChrels.html, plus draft CRELS proposed through March 2004 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/index.html. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines, Part III: Technical Support Document 'Determination of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels'. Includes all Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) adopted by OEHHA as of August 2003 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/AllChrels.html, plus draft CRELS proposed through March 2004 (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/index.html. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,191,1986 |
| RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W 1969 | RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W.B., New York, Academic Press, Inc., 1969 -,339,1969 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Emergency Medicine 1992 | RTECS®- American Journal of Emergency Medicine. (WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA) V.1- 1983- 10,542,1992 |
| 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®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1978 | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936- 43(1),8,1978 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1981 | 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 25(7),33,1981 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1981 | 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 25(7),33,1981 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 1927 | RTECS®- Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine. (C.V. Mosby Co., 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141) V.1- 1915- 12,326,1927 |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,141,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,141,1971 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. AD-A106-944 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. AD-A106-944 |
| 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®- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 1996 | RTECS®- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1981- 23,183,1996 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 1993 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- -1981 13,75,1993 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 55,501,1980 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 55,501,1980 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Favorites basket
No items in basket.
Skin Deep User Tools BETA
Looking for a product report that we don't have in Skin Deep? Sign up to enter it into the Skin Deep database and leave product reviews.
SKIN DEEP NEEDS YOUR HELP
We always want Skin Deep to be free to the public, but delivering high-quality research costs time and money. Help by donating just the cost of a bar of soap or bottle of shampoo.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Stay informed with email updates on toxics in everyday products and how they can affect your health.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
Find out more about the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.