title: Safety Assessment of Alkyl PEG/PPG Ethers as Used in Cosmetics.
abstract: The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel assessed the safety of 131 alkyl polyethylene glycol (PEG)/polypropylene glycol ethers as used in cosmetics, concluding that these ingredients are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be nonirritating. Most of the alkyl PEG/PPG ethers included in this review are reported to function in cosmetics as surfactants, skin-conditioning agents, and/or emulsifying agents. The alkyl PEG/PPG ethers share very similar physiochemical properties as the alkyl PEG ethers, which were reviewed previously by the CIR Expert Panel and found safe when formulated to be nonirritating. The alkyl PEG ethers differ by the inclusion of PPG repeat units, which are used to fine-tune the surfactant properties of this group. The Panel relied heavily on data on analogous ingredients, extracted from the alkyl PEG ethers and PPG reports, when making its determination of safety.
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Scientific Analyst/Writer, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Monice M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fiume
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Chemist, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heldreth
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Wilma F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Bergfeld
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Donald V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Belsito
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Curtis D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Klaassen
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Liebler
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shank
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Slaga
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Member, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: Former Director, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: F Alan
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D000818:Animals; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003358:Cosmetics; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D045703:Emulsifying Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D004987:Ethers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D045703:Emulsifying Agents; D004987:Ethers; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: alkyl PEG/PPG ethers; cosmetics; safety