TRIETHANOLAMINE
Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Surfactant - Emulsifying Agent; BUFFERING; MASKING
Also listed as
ETHANOL, 2,2',2"-NITRILOTRIS-; 2,2',2"-NITRILOTRIS [ETHANOL] ; TEA; TROLAMINE; 2,2',2''-NITRILOTRIETHANOL; ETHANOL, 2,2 ,2 NITRILOTRIS; 2,2',2''-NITRILOTRIETHANOL; ALKANOLAMINE 244; DALTOGEN; NITRILO-2,2',2''-TRIETHANOL; STEROLAMIDE
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 moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption |
|
See products containing TRIETHANOLAMINE | |
About TRIETHANOLAMINE: Triethanolamine is an alkanolamine that conforms generally to the formula:
TRIETHANOLAMINE has reported used in the following product types: mascara (388); facial moisturizer/treatment (383); moisturizer (273); anti-aging (214); sunscreen: moisturizer (146); foundation (145); facial cleanser (117); sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (113); styling gel/lotion (106); sunscreen: SPF greater than 30 (91)
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human immune system toxicant | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| 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 | |
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Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 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 |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| Classified as medium human health priority | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
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Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | |
| show more | ||
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
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 |
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 0455 |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses | RTECS®- Toxicologist 2008 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 4,730 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 | |
| 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 bioaccumulative | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
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) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • miscellaneous • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • less than 2 parts per million in flume water -Used in flume water for washing sugar beets prior to slicing operation - CFR173.315 |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | TRIETHANOLAMINE | •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 |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | ETHANOL, 2,2',2''-NITRILOTRIS- | •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 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | TRIETHANOLAMINE | •Asthma - Reversible bronchoconstriction (narrowing of bronchioles) initiated by the inhalation of irritating or allergenic agents: Yes; •Skin Sensitizer - An agent that can induce an allergic reaction in the skin or lungs: Yes; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 5 mg/m3; |
| Int'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Carcinogens | TRIETHANOLAMINE | •IARC Group 3 (no cancer link) |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | TRIETHANOLAMINE | •Pesticide inerts: potentially toxic, testing priority, according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- "Cutaneous Toxicity, Proceedings of the 3rd Conference, 1976," Drill, V 1977 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Sister Chromatid Exchange ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 6740 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • kidney or renal system - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 6797 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • kidney or renal system - Changes in bladder weight (rat TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 0455 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • kidney or renal system - Changes in bladder weight (rat TDLo) • liver - Changes in liver weight (rat TDLo) • endocrine system - Changes in testicular weight (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 2846 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • cancer - kidney or renal system tumor formations - equivocal (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 1999 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • cancer - kidney or renal system tumor formations - equivocal (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2008 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (mouse ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1971 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1980 | TRIETHANOLAMINE | • sense organ - Primary eye 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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®- "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®- 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®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii. Biological Journal of Armenia. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.19- 39,422,1986 |
| RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii 1986 | RTECS®- Biologicheskii Zhurnal Armenii. Biological Journal of Armenia. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.19- 1966- 39,422,1986 |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation). Translation of TGANAK. (Allerton Press Inc., 150 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011) V.8- 1974- 21(6),29,1987 |
| RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation) 1987 | RTECS®- Cytology and Genetics (English Translation). Translation of TGANAK. (Allerton Press Inc., 150 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011) V.8- 21(6),29,1987 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 6740 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. OTS0516740 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 6797 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. OTS0516797 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 0455 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. OTS0520455 |
| RTECS®- National Technical Information Service 2846 | RTECS®- National Technical Information Service. (Springfield, VA 22161) Formerly U.S. Clearinghouse for Scientific & Technical Information. PB2000-102846 |
| RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series 1999 | RTECS®- National Toxicology Program Technical Report Series. (Research Triangle Park, NC 27709) No.206- NTP-TR-449,1999 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2008 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- 1981- -,270,2008 |
| 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 1980 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 1959- 55,501,1980 |
| 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 1980 | RTECS®- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. (Academic Press, Inc., 1 E. First St., Duluth, MN 55802) V.1- 55,501,1980 |
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