DIETHANOLAMINE
pH Adjuster
Also listed as
N,N-DIETHANOLAMINE; 2,2'-DIHYDROXYDIETHYLAMINE; 2,2'-IMINOBISETHANOL; 2,2'-IMINODIETHANOL; ETHANOL, 2,2 IMINOBIS; DEA (EWG) ; 2,2'-DIHYDROXYDIETHYLAMINE; 2,2'-IMINOBISETHANOL; 2,2'-IMINODIETHANOL; 2- (2-HYDROXYETHYLAMINO) ETHANOL; BIS (2-HYDROXYETHYL) AMINE
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 - NITROSAMINES |
 | Other strong concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Persistence and bioaccumulation |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Ecotoxicology, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
|
See products containing DIETHANOLAMINE | |
About DIETHANOLAMINE: Diethanolamine is the aliphatic amine.
DIETHANOLAMINE has reported used in the following product types: sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (15); facial moisturizer/treatment (14); sunscreen: moisturizer (8); foundation (7); moisturizer (5); anti-fungal treatment (3); sunscreen: SPF greater than 30 (3); around-eye cream (2); athlete's foot treatment (2); anti-itch/rash cream (2)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence | 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 | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | |
| 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 |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Possible carcinogen | 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 low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Classified as irritant | European Union - Classification & Labelling | |
| Human skin irritant - moderate evidence | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| show more | ||
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show neurodevelopmental effects at moderate doses | Craciunescu CN, Wu R, Zeisel SH, 2006 | |
| show more | ||
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 3718 |
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses | RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 3343 | |
| show more | ||
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 3343 |
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 |
| 382 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | 2,2'-IMINODIETHANOL | •Harmful •Harmful if swallowed •Irritant (eyes, skin, or lungs) •Irritating to skin |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | DIETHANOLAMINE | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Distinction between safe conc in leave-on and rinse-off products •Amine: forms carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds if mixed with nitrosating agents •Sensitizer - can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | ETHANOL, 2,2'-IMINOBIS- | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Asthma - Reversible bronchoconstriction (narrowing of bronchioles) initiated by the inhalation of irritating or allergenic agents: Yes; •Skin Designation (ACGIH) - Danger of cutaneous absorption (ACGIH): Yes; •Dermatotoxin: Skin Burns; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 0.46 ppm; |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | DIETHANOLAMINE | •IARC Group 3 (no cancer link) |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Pesticide inerts: potentially toxic, testing priority, according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| Craciunescu CN, Wu R, Zeisel SH, 2006 | DIETHANOLAMINE | Maternal exposure to DEA interferes with brain development (hippocampus region), and this could permanently alter memory function in offspring of mothers exposed to this common ingredient of shampoos and soaps. |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| National Toxicology Program, 2001 | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Cancer hazards: suspected |
| California EPA, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 2003 | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | DIETHANOLAMINE | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Chemico-Biological Interactions 2003 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • cancer - liver neoplasms (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2004 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • cancer - Cells (cultured) transformed (mouse TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (mouse TDLo) • skin - Corrosive (mouse TDLo) • liver - Other changes (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 3718 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • endocrine system - Death in the "U" data type field (rat TDLo) • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Changes in kidney weight (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Fluid intake (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Food intake (animal) (rat TDLo) • skin - Hair (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Sleep (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Tremor (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 7553 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • cancer - liver tumors (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 3343 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • endocrine system - Death in the "U" data type field (mouse TDLo) • reproductive - Spermatogenesis (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Changes in bladder weight (rat TDLo) • cardiovascular - Changes in heart weight (mouse TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (rat TDLo) • endocrine system - Changes in testicular weight (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Dehydrogenases (rat TDLo) • skin - Dermatitis, other (mouse TDLo) • blood - Normocytic anemia (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Other changes in urine composition (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Transaminases (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 1999 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • cancer - liver tumors (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 1999 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • reproductive - Musculoskeletal system (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Other effects (rabbit TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2001 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • kidney or renal system - Other changes (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (rat lvr) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (rat lvr) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1970 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • endocrine system - Death in the "U" data type field (rat TDLo) • blood - Normocytic anemia (rat TDLo) • liver - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1971 | DIETHANOLAMINE | • 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. |
| 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. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2005. Office of Air. The 112(b)1 Hazardous Air Pollutants List (as modified). Last modified: 12 Dec 2005. |
| 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). |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1987 & 2005. Office of Pesticide Programs. Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients in Pesticide Products - Categorized List of Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Open scientific literature | Craciunescu CN, Wu R, Zeisel SH. "Diethanolamine alters neurogenesis and induces apoptosis in fetal mouse hippocampus." FASEB J. 2006 Aug;20(10):1635-40. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html, A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | National Toxicology Program. Summary for Agents, Substances, Mixtures or Exposure Circumstances to be Reviewed in 2001-2002 for Possible Listing in the Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition. NTP Board of Scientific Counselors, NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/NewHomeRoc/11thConsideration.html National Toxicology Program. Summary for Agents, Substances, Mixtures or Exposure Circumstances to be Reviewed in 2004-2005 for Possible Listing in the Report on Carcinogens, Twelfth Edition. NTP Board of Scientific Counselors, NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC. http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/NewHomeRoc/12thConsideration.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., 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 | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html, A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| 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 -,685,1986 |
| 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®- Chemico-Biological Interactions 2003 | RTECS®- Chemico-Biological Interactions. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1969- 146,251,2003 |
| RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Food and Chemical Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.20- 1982- 42,127,2004 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 3718 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. #PB2001-103718 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 7553 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. PB99-167553 |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 3343 | RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series. (Research Triangle Park, NC 27709) No.206- NIH-92-3343 |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 1999 | RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series. (Research Triangle Park, NC 27709) No.206- NTP-TR-478,1999 |
| RTECS®- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 1999 | RTECS®- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1981- 30,169,1999 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2001 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- -1981 60,287,2001 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- -1981 72,238,2003 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- 1981- 72,238,2003 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1970 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 17,308,1970 |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1971 | RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet. (Union Carbide Corp., 39 Old Ridgebury Rd., Danbury, CT 06817) 12/29/1971 |
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