PEG-40 CASTOR OIL
Surfactant - Cleansing Agent; Surfactant - Solubilizing Agent
Also listed as
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 2000 CASTOR OIL; POLYOXYETHYLENE (40) CASTOR OIL
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 - ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
 | Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity |
|
See products containing PEG-40 CASTOR OIL | |
About PEG-40 CASTOR OIL: PEG-40 Castor Oil is a polyethylene glycol derivative of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil (q.v.)with an average of 40 moles of ethylene oxide.
PEG-40 CASTOR OIL has reported used in the following product types: conditioner (30); facial moisturizer/treatment (26); sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (16); moisturizer (14); styling gel/lotion (11); hair relaxer (11); anti-aging (10); facial cleanser (9); sunscreen: moisturizer (9); around-eye cream (5)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Not safe for use on injured or damaged skin | products for use on damaged 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 skin toxicant - strong evidence | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | Harvell, J, 1994 | |
| show more | ||
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses | RTECS®- Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 2003 |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 13 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 |
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) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PEG-30 CASTOR OIL | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit •May contain harmful impurities •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PEG-33 CASTOR OIL | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit •May contain harmful impurities •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PEG-35 CASTOR OIL | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit •May contain harmful impurities •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PEG-36 CASTOR OIL | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit •May contain harmful impurities •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PEG-40 CASTOR OIL | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit •May contain harmful impurities •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | CASTOR OIL, ETHOXYLATED | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged as a low human health priority and for uncertain persistence and uncertain bioaccumulation. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | ETHOXYLATED CASTOR OIL | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| FDA Food Additive Status | POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL | • Food additive: boiler compound • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Food additive: must be in accordance with good manufacturing practices, or sufficient for purpose; or in quantity not greater than required • In boiler water -173.310 • Food additive: antifoaming (or defoaming) agent • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Food additive: must be in accordance with good manufacturing practices, or sufficient for purpose; or in quantity not greater than required • Comp of defoaming agent -173.340 • CTG • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Food additive: must be in accordance with good manufacturing practices, or sufficient for purpose; or in quantity not greater than required • Ctg on fresh citrus fruits -172.210 |
| FDA Food Additive Status | POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL | • miscellaneous • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Food additive: must be in accordance with good manufacturing practices, or sufficient for purpose; or in quantity not greater than required • Ctg • binder • plasticizing agent • and/or lubricant in tablets used for food • Adjuvant in nonnutritive sweeteners • vitamin and mineral preparations • Ctg for sodium nitrite to inhibit hygroscopic properties - CFR172.820 • ZERO - In milk - CFR172.820; 526.820 |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PEG-6 | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Not safe for use on injured or damaged skin •May contain harmful impurities |
| CIR | PEG-6 | •Ethylene oxide |
| Harvell, J, 1994 | POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, Supplementum 1965 | PEG-40 CASTOR OIL | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 2003 | PEG-40 CASTOR OIL | • brain and nervous system - Analgesia (mouse TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| 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. |
| Impurities - Open Scientific Literature | CIR |
| 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). |
| RTECS®- Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, Supplementum 1965 | RTECS®- Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, Supplementum. (Munksgaard International Pub., POB 2148, DK-1016 Copenhagen K, Denmark) No.1- 1959- 17,21,1965 |
| RTECS®- Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 2003 | RTECS®- Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. (Associacao Brasileira de Divulgacao Cientifica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, USP, 141000 Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil) V.14- 1981- 36,119,2003 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 by Environmental Working Group
All rights reserved.
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