Ingredient Dictionary

ETHYL PABA

Benzocaine is a benzoate ester having 4-aminobenzoic acid as the acid component and ethanol as the alcohol component.

Definition

Benzocaine is a benzoate ester having 4-aminobenzoic acid as the acid component and ethanol as the alcohol component. A surface anaesthetic, it is used to suppress the gag reflex, and as a lubricant and topical anaesthetic on the larynx, mouth, nasal cavity, respiratory tract, oesophagus, rectum, urinary tract, and vagina. It has a role as a sensitiser, a topical anaesthetic, an allergen and an antipruritic drug. It is a benzoate ester and a substituted aniline.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII U3RSY48JW5 · registered name Benzocaine · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Cares for the mouthORAL CAREAbsorbs UV (including to protect the product)UV ABSORBER

Safety & regulatory references

Banned: Canada
Restricted or banned: Argentina · ASEAN · Brazil · Canada · China · European Union · Japan · South Korea

Source: Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist · prohibited in cosmetics

Source: Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist

Restriction II/167

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name エチルＰＡＢＡ: 本品は、パラアミノ安息香酸（PABA（＊））のエチルエステルであり、次の化学式で表される。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

ETHYL PABAINCI에틸파바Korean label name (MFDS standard)エチルＰＡＢＡJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 94-09-7
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 202-303-5
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID8021804
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID301804

IUPAC: Ethyl 4-aminobenzoate
Molecular formula: C9H11NO2
Molecular weight: 165.192 g/mol

Measured properties

Odour: odourless
Melting/freezing point: 88~90 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 310 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: - / - %
Molecular weight: 165.21

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 55 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Pharmaceutical (EPA)47
Other3
UV stabilizer3
Intermediate2

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

5 skin studies and 2 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low1

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 7 studies

Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
SkinSens1
Skin Sensitization · QSAR Predicted
Category 6.5B (Category 1)
Skin Sensitization · Read Across
Category 1
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Classification not possible
Skin Irritation · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Classification not possible
Eye Irritation · Screening