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METHANOL


image source: PubChem
Health concerns of ingredient
About the ratings
Cancer no information
Developmental & reproductive toxicityyes
Allergies & immunotoxicity no information
Other HIGH concerns: Occupational hazards, Use restrictions
Other MODERATE concerns: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Other LOW concerns: Data gaps

About the ratings

EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer

Synonym(s): METHYL ALCOHOL, CARBINOL; METHYL HYDROXIDE; METHYLOL; WOOD ALCOHOL; ALCOOL METHYLIQUE (FRENCH) ; ALCOOL METILICO (ITALIAN) ; BIELESKI'S SOLUTION; CARBINOL; COLONIAL SPIRIT; COLUMBIAN SPIRIT; METANOLO (ITALIAN)

Neurotoxicity

Type of Concern Reference
Strong evidence of human neurotoxicityChemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans
Moderate evidence of human neurotoxicityCHE Toxicant and Disease Database

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

Type of Concern Reference
Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidenceChemicals known to be neurotoxic to humans
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Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Type of Concern Reference
Known human renal toxicantCHE Toxicant and Disease Database
Possible human gastrointestinal toxicantCHE Toxicant and Disease Database
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
Classified as medium human health priorityEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
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Occupational hazards

Type of Concern Reference
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low dosesEuropean Union - Classification & Labelling
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Persistence and bioaccumulation

Type of Concern Reference
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Miscellaneous

Type of Concern Reference
Occupational hazards related to handling European Union - Classification & Labelling

Multiple, additive exposure sources

Type of Concern Reference
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food FDA Everything Added to Food

Ecotoxicology

Type of Concern Reference
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Data gaps

Type of Concern 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

Government, industry, academic studies and classifications

government/industry list/academic study appears on list as classification(s)

references

government/industry list/academic study reference
European Union - Classification & LabellingCPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP.
Association of Occupational and Environmental ClinicsAOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation.
Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics IngredientsHealth Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007.
CHE Toxicant and Disease DatabaseCHE (The Collaborative on Health and the Environment). 2006. Toxicant and Disease Database.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
FDA Everything Added to FoodFDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Environment Canada Domestic Substance ListEC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
National Library of Medicine HazMapNLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
Japan's Standards for CosmeticsJapan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
Chemicals known to be neurotoxic to humansGrandjean P and PJ Landrigan. 2006. Developmental neurotoxicity of industrial chemicals. Lancet. 2006 Dec 16;368(9553):2167-78.
NTP - Risks to Human ReproductionNTP (National Toxicology Program). 2006. NTP Center for the Evaluation fo Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR). NTP-CERHR Reports and Monographs.
EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTsEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule.

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