STEARYL ALCOHOL
Emulsion Stabilizer; Fragrance Ingredient; Surfactant - Emulsifying Agent; Surfactant - FoamBooster; Viscosity Increasing Agent - Aqueous; Viscosity Increasing Agent - Nonaqueous; EMOLLIENT; EMULSION STABILISING; FOAM BOOSTING; MASKING; OPACIFYING; REFATTING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
Also listed as
1-OCTADECANOL; OCTADECAN-1-OL; ADOL 68; ALFOL 18; ATALCO S; CO-1895; CO-1897; CRODACOL-S; DECYL OCTYL ALCOHOL; DYTOL E-46; LOROL 28
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: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Data gaps |
|
See products containing STEARYL ALCOHOL | |
About STEARYL ALCOHOL: Stearyl Alcohol is the fatty alcohol that conforms generally to the formula:
This ingredient may be derived from animals. From PETA's Caring Consumer: A mixture of solid alcohols. Can be prepared from sperm whale oil. In medicines, creams, rinses, shampoos, etc. Derivatives: Stearamine Oxide, Stearyl Acetate, Stearyl Caprylate, Stearyl Citrate, Stearyldimethyl Amine, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Stearyl Heptanoate, Stearyl Octanoate, Stearyl Stearate. Alternatives: plant sources, vegetable stearic acid.
STEARYL ALCOHOL has reported used in the following product types: hair color and bleaching (637); conditioner (537); facial moisturizer/treatment (484); moisturizer (392); antiperspirant/deodorant (325); anti-aging (324); antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) (191); facial cleanser (159); sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (141); sunscreen: moisturizer (103)
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human irritant - strong evidence | products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne) | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at high doses | RTECS®- Cancer Research 1966 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1985 |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 46 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 Everything Added to Food |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | STEARYL ALCOHOL | •Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product •Irritation (eyes, skin, or lungs) • |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | STEARYL ALCOHOL | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | 1-OCTADECANOL | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged as a low human health priority and for suspected aquatic toxicity. |
| RTECS®- "Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology," 3rd ed 1978 | STEARYL ALCOHOL | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1966 | STEARYL ALCOHOL | • cancer - kidney or renal system neoplasms (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1985 | STEARYL ALCOHOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1985 | STEARYL ALCOHOL | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
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. |
| 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. |
| RTECS®- "Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology," 3rd ed 1978 | RTECS®- "Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology," 3rd ed., Grayson, M., and D. Eckroth, eds., New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1978 1,722,1978 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Research 1966 | RTECS®- Cancer Research. (Public Ledger Building, Suit 816, 6th & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19106) V.1- 1941- 26,105,1966 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1985 | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology. (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 1651 Third Ave., New York, NY 10128) V.1-12, 1982-1993. Discontinued. 4(5),1,1985 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology 1985 | RTECS®- Journal of the American College of Toxicology. (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 1651 Third Ave., New York, NY 10128) V.1-12, 1982-1993. Discontinued. 4(5),1,1985 |
"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
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