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 |
![]() | 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: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
|
See products containing PEG-90M | |
About PEG-90M: PEG-90M is the polymer of ethylene oxide that conforms generally to the formula: where n has an average value of 90000.
PEG-90M has reported used in the following product types: shaving cream (28); styling gel/lotion (16); shaving cream (men's) (16); bar soap (6); body wash/cleanser (5); moisturizer (3); conditioner (3); lubricant/spermicide (1); anti-aging (1); styling mousse/foam (1)
| 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 |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2006 | |
| show more | ||
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Research Progress in Organic-Biological and Medicinal Chemistry 1970 | |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1970 | |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| Classified as medium human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002 | |
| show more | ||
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | |
| show more | ||
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 1 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | PEG-20M | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Not safe for use on injured or damaged skin •May contain harmful impurities |
| Harvell, J, 1994 | POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL | •Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | POLY(OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL), _-HYDRO-_-HYDROXY- | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | POLY(OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL), .ALPHA;.-HYDRO-.OMEGA;.-HYDROXY- | •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 |
| RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LD50) |
| RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | PEG-90M | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | PEG-90M | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W 1969 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | PEG-90M | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | PEG-90M | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1973 | PEG-90M | • cardiovascular - Arrhythmias (including changes in conduction) (rat LDLo) • cardiovascular - BP lowering not characterized in autonomic section (rat LDLo) • kidney or renal system - Hematuria (rat LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1976 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1953 | PEG-90M | • kidney or renal system - Other changes (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Cancer 1961 | PEG-90M | • cancer - reproductive tumor formations - equivocal (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978 | PEG-90M | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster oth) |
| RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978 | PEG-90M | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster oth) |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 1112 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 2203 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LD50) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999 | PEG-90M | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999 | PEG-90M | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952 | PEG-90M | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952 | PEG-90M | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1951 | PEG-90M | • respiratory - Respiratory depression (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1945 | PEG-90M | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Changes primarily in glomeruli (rat TDLo) • liver - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1950 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Kriobiologiya i Kriomeditsina 1978 | PEG-90M | • blood - Change in clotting factors (rabbit LD50) |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002 | PEG-90M | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lvr) |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002 | PEG-90M | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster lvr) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the European Society of Toxicology 1976 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975 | PEG-90M | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (other micro-organisms ) |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975 | PEG-90M | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage (other micro-organisms ) |
| RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2006 | PEG-90M | • reproductive - Menstrual cycle changes or disorders (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Research Progress in Organic-Biological and Medicinal Chemistry 1970 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Teratology, The International Journal of Abnormal Development 1996 | PEG-90M | • reproductive - Other effects (rabbit TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1970 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LDLo) |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965 | PEG-90M | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965 | PEG-90M | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- United States Patent Document 7763 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Yaoxue Tongbao 1986 | PEG-90M | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| Environment 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 |
| RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982 | RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev. ed., Clayton, G.D., and F.E. Clayton, eds., New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1978-82. Vol. 3 originally pub. in 1979; pub. as 2nd rev. ed. in 1985. 2C,3847,1982 |
| RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev 1982 | RTECS®- "Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology," 3rd rev. ed., Clayton, G.D., and F.E. Clayton, eds., New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1978-82. Vol. 3 originally pub. in 1979; pub. as 2nd rev. ed. in 1985. 2C,3849,1982 |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,1413,1986 |
| RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J.V., Institut Pro Vychovu Vedoucicn Pracovniku Chemickeho Prumyclu Praha, Czechoslovakia, 1972 -,255,1972 |
| RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W 1969 | RTECS®- "Toxicology of Drugs and Chemicals," Deichmann, W.B., New York, Academic Press, Inc., 1969 -,747,1969 |
| 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®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1973 | RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. (Editio Cantor Verlag, Postfach 1255, W-7960 Aulendorf, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1- 1951- 23,1087,1973 |
| RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1976 | RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. (Editio Cantor Verlag, Postfach 1255, W-7960 Aulendorf, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1- 1951- 26,1581,1976 |
| RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1953 | RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. (Editio Cantor Verlag, Postfach 1255, W-7960 Aulendorf, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1- 1951- 3,451,1953 |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Cancer 1961 | RTECS®- British Journal of Cancer. (Macmillan Press Ltd., Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hants. RG21 2XS, UK) V.1- 1947- 15,252,1961 |
| RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978 | RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation). Translation of DANKAS: Biological Section. (Plenum Pub. Corp., 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013) V.112- 1957- 240,228,1978 |
| RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation) 1978 | RTECS®- Doklady Biological Sciences (English Translation). Translation of DANKAS: Biological Section. (Plenum Pub. Corp., 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013) V.112- 240,228,1978 |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 1112 | RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-1112 |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports 2203 | RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-2203 |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports | RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-937 |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports | RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-94 |
| RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports | RTECS®- Dow Chemical Company Reports. (Dow Chemical USA, Health and Environment Research, Toxicology Research Lab., Midland, MI 48640) MSD-95 |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology | RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 1997- 18(Suppl |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999 | RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 1997- 18(Suppl 2),17,1999 |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1999 | RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 18(Suppl 2),17,1999 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952 | RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1938- 19,423,1952 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1952 | RTECS®- Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 19,423,1952 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1951 | RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1909/10- 103,293,1951 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1945 | RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 34,172,1945 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition 1950 | RTECS®- Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Scientific Edition. (Washington, DC) V.29-49, 1940-60. For publisher information, see JPMSAE. 39,349,1950 |
| RTECS®- Kriobiologiya i Kriomeditsina 1978 | RTECS®- Kriobiologiya i Kriomeditsina. Cryobiology and Cryomedicine. (Izdatel'stvo Naukova Dumka, Kiev, USSR) No.1- 1975- 4,71,1978 |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002 | RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 1986- 17,261,2002 |
| RTECS®- Mutagenesis 2002 | RTECS®- Mutagenesis. (Oxford Univ. Press, Pinkhill House, Southfield Road, Eynsham, Oxford OX8 1JJ, UK) V.1- 17,261,2002 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. AD628-313 |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the European Society of Toxicology 1976 | RTECS®- Proceedings of the European Society of Toxicology. (Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.16-18, 1975-77. Discontinued. 17,351,1976 |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975 | RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 1915- 72,4288,1975 |
| RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1975 | RTECS®- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (National Academy of Sciences, Printing & Pub. Office, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418) V.1- 72,4288,1975 |
| RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology 2006 | RTECS®- Reproductive Toxicology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.1- 1987- 22,263,2006 |
| RTECS®- Research Progress in Organic-Biological and Medicinal Chemistry 1970 | RTECS®- Research Progress in Organic-Biological and Medicinal Chemistry. (New York, NY) V.1-3, 1964-72. Discontinued. 2,316,1970 |
| RTECS®- Teratology, The International Journal of Abnormal Development 1996 | RTECS®- Teratology, The International Journal of Abnormal Development. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.1- 1968- 53,111,1996 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1970 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 16,442,1970 |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965 | RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet. (Union Carbide Corp., 39 Old Ridgebury Rd., Danbury, CT 06817) 4/13/1965 |
| RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet 1965 | RTECS®- Union Carbide Data Sheet. (Union Carbide Corp., 39 Old Ridgebury Rd., Danbury, CT 06817) 4/9/1965 |
| RTECS®- United States Patent Document 7763 | RTECS®- United States Patent Document. (U.S. Patent Office, Box 9, Washington, DC 20231) #4767763 |
| RTECS®- Yaoxue Tongbao 1986 | RTECS®- Yaoxue Tongbao. Bulletin of Pharmacology. (China International Book Trading Corp., POB 2820, Beijing, Peop. Rep. China) V.13-23, 1978-88. For publisher information, see ZYZAEU. 21,387,1986 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
No items in basket.
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.
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.
Stay informed with email updates on toxics in everyday products and how they can affect your health.
It's true. EWG's researchers list the products and ingredients you should avoid in What Not to Buy.