LAURETH-23
Surfactant - Cleansing Agent; Surfactant - Solubilizing Agent
Also listed as
PEG-23 LAURYL ETHER; POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (23) LAURYL ETHER; POLYOXYETHYLENE (23) LAURYL ETHER; POLY (OXY1,2ETHANEDIYL) , αDODECYLωHYDROXY; ALDOSPERSE L 9; ALPHA-DODECYL-OMEGA-HYDROXY-POLYOXYETHYLENE; ASK-010; ATLAS G-2133; ATLAS G-3705; BASE LP 12; BL 9
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: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
|
See products containing LAURETH-23 | |
About LAURETH-23: Laureth-23 is the polyethylene glycol ether of Lauryl Alcohol (q.v.) that conforms to theformula: where n has an average value of 23.
LAURETH-23 has reported used in the following product types: hair color and bleaching (49); shaving cream (men's) (22); styling gel/lotion (19); shampoo (18); facial moisturizer/treatment (13); shaving cream (13); anti-aging (12); conditioner (11); styling mousse/foam (10); moisturizer (8)
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at low doses | RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1957 | |
| 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®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 |
| 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 | ||
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 in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Mutation Research 1981 | |
| show more | ||
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at moderate doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicological Sciences 2000 |
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 | |
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 430 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical 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 |
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) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | POLYOXYETHYLENE (23) LAURYL ETHER | • Feed (Block) • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Use: For bloat in cattle in block - CFR520.1846 • |
| FDA Food Additive Status | POLYOXYETHYLENE (23) LAURYL ETHER | • Used in animal feed • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Use: In feed blocks for cattle - CFR520.1846 |
| FDA Food Additive Status | LAURETH 23 | • See Polyoxyethylene (23) Lauryl Ether |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | LAURETH-23 | •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 •Determined safe for use in cosmetics based on concentrations of surrogate, related chemical in cosmetics, by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Irritation (eyes, skin, or lungs) |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | POLY(OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL), _-DODECYL-_-HYDROXY- | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected aquatic toxicity. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | POLY(OXY-1,2-ETHANEDIYL), A-DODECYL-W-HYDROXY- | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| ATSDR, 2007 | PEGS, -ETHS, -OXYNOLS | |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | LAURETH-23 | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- "Sbornik Vysledku Toxixologickeho Vysetreni Latek A Pripravku," Marhold, J 1972 | LAURETH-23 | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Perfumer and Cosmetics 1962 | LAURETH-23 | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1957 | LAURETH-23 | • brain and nervous system - Changes in motor activity (specific assay) (rabbit LD50) • brain and nervous system - Flaccid paralysis without anesthesia (usually neuromuscular blockage) (guinea pig LD50) • kidney or renal system - Hematuria (rabbit LD50) • respiratory - Other changes (rabbit LD50) |
| RTECS®- Drugs in Japan (Ethical Drugs) 1995 | LAURETH-23 | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2004 | LAURETH-23 | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2004 | LAURETH-23 | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1970 | LAURETH-23 | • liver - Fatty liver degeneration (rat LD50) • gastrointestinal - Other changes (rat LD50) • gastrointestinal - Ulceration or bleeding from stomach (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Iyakuhin Kenkyu 1991 | LAURETH-23 | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2000 | LAURETH-23 | • skin - Primary skin irritant (woman ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicological Sciences 2000 | LAURETH-23 | • blood - Hemorrhage (rat TDLo) • respiratory - Chronic pulmonary edema (rat TDLo) • biochemical - Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation (rat TDLo) • respiratory - Fibrosing alveolitis (rat TDLo) • respiratory - Fibrosis (interstitial) (rat TDLo) • respiratory - Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1981 | LAURETH-23 | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1981 | LAURETH-23 | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Adduct (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- Soap, Perfumery & Cosmetics 1965 | LAURETH-23 | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | LAURETH-23 | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1960 | LAURETH-23 | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1965 | LAURETH-23 | • brain and nervous system - Ataxia (rat TDLo) • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) • respiratory - Dyspnea (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Muscle weakness (rat TDLo) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | LAURETH-23 | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1960 | LAURETH-23 | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1965 | LAURETH-23 | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Open scientific literature | ATSDR. 2007. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: Public Health Statement for 1,4 Dioxane Available: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs187.html [accessed April 16 2008]. |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V.A., and P. Lazar, eds., New York, Academic Press, Inc. 1977 -,127,1977 |
| 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 -,301,1972 |
| RTECS®- American Perfumer and Cosmetics 1962 | RTECS®- American Perfumer and Cosmetics. (Oak Park, IL) V.77-86, 1962-71. For publisher information, see CSPEAX. 77,35,1962 |
| RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung 1957 | RTECS®- Arzneimittel-Forschung. Drug Research. (Editio Cantor Verlag, Postfach 1255, W-7960 Aulendorf, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1- 1951- 7,162,1957 |
| RTECS®- Drugs in Japan (Ethical Drugs) 1995 | RTECS®- Drugs in Japan (Ethical Drugs). (Yakugyo Jiho Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) -,1300,1995 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2004 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 1987- 44,329,2004 |
| RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2004 | RTECS®- Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. (Alan R. Liss, Inc., 41 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003) V.10- 44,329,2004 |
| RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology 1970 | RTECS®- Food and Cosmetics Toxicology. (London, UK) V.1-19, 1963-81. For publisher information, see FCTOD7. 8,125,1970 |
| RTECS®- Iyakuhin Kenkyu 1991 | RTECS®- Iyakuhin Kenkyu. Study of Medical Supplies. (Nippon Koteisho Kyokai, 12-15, 2-chome, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, Japan) V.1- 1970- 22,967,1991 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2000 | RTECS®- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. (C.V. Mosby Co., 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141) 1979- 42,879,2000 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicological Sciences 2000 | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicological Sciences. (Japanese Soc. of Toxicological Sciences, 4th Floor, Gakkai Center Bldg., 4-16, Yayoi 2-chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan) V.1- 1976- 25,49,2000 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1981 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 89,95,1981 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1981 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 89,95,1981 |
| RTECS®- Soap, Perfumery & Cosmetics 1965 | RTECS®- Soap, Perfumery & Cosmetics. (London, UK) V.8(7)-48(2), 1935-75. 38,47,1965 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 19,276,1971 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1960 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 2,133,1960 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1965 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 7,206,1965 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 19,276,1971 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1960 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 2,133,1960 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1965 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 7,206,1965 |
"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.
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.
SKIN DEEP NEWS
'I just wanted to let you know how much Skin Deep has changed my daughter's (and my) life.'
—Melissa M., Michigan