o-Phenylphenol can cause cancer according to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Korean limit
- 0.15%
How much products actually contain
No product states its amount yet.
Of the products containing it, 1 list it before the 1% line and 0 after it (usually 1% or less).
Products using this ingredient
1 of 1 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first
Definition
o-Phenylphenol can cause cancer according to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII D343Z75HT8 · registered name 2-PHENYLPHENOL · single chemical substance
o-Phenylphenol is the substituted aromatic compound that conforms to the formula:
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
- Restricted
- China · South Korea
- Allowed preservative
- United Kingdom
Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · Japan Standards for Cosmetics · Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
Argentina · Brazil
- Maximum concentration permitted at final product : 0.2% (expressed as phenol)
ASEAN
- Maximum authorised concentration in the finished cosmetic product : Rinse‐off products; 0.2% (as phenol) Leave‐on products; 0.15% (as phenol)
- Other limitations and requirements : Indonesia: Under Review
- Conditions of use and warning which must be printed on the labels : Avoid contact with eyes.
Taiwan
- 0.2%
Japan
- Maximum amount per 100 g (Cosmetics not used for mucosa and not to be washed away) : 0.30 g
- Maximum amount per 100 g (Cosmetics that may be used for mucosa) : 0.30 g
European Union
- Product Type, body parts : a) Rinse-off Products b) Leave-on products
- Maximum concentration in ready for use preparation : a) 0,2 % (as phenol) b) 0,15 % (as phenol)
- Wording of conditions of use and warnings : Avoid contact with eyes
Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information
Korea’s toxic-substance GHS classification: Warning · H319 (category 2) · H410 (category 1) · H315 (category 2) · +2 more
Restriction V/7 The use of o-phenylphenol as a preservative should be allowed with a maximum concentration of 0,15 % (as phenol) in leave-on and 0,2 % (as phenol) in rinse-off cosmetic products. Contact with eyes should be avoided. The use of sodium o-phenylphenate, potassium o-phenylphenate and MEA o-phenylphenate as preservatives should not be allowed. · Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer · SCCS opinion: ADDENDUM to the scientific opinion on o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-phenylphenate and Potassium o-phenylphenate (SCCS/1555/15)
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name フェニルフェノール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される芳香族化合物である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
JCIA labelling name ｏ－フェニルフェノール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される芳香族化合物である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 90-43-7
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 201-993-5
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID2021151
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID201151
- IUPAC
- [1,1'-Biphenyl]-2-ol
- Molecular formula
- C12H10O
- Molecular weight
- 170.211 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- solid
- Melting/freezing point
- 59 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 286 ℃
- Flash point
- 124 ℃(c.c.)
- Vapour pressure
- 2.7 ㎜Hg (163℃)
- Water solubility
- 0.07 g/100㎖ (25℃)
- Relative density
- 1.2
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 3.09
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 530 ℃
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 172 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.
- Biocide163
- Preservative7
- Surfactant (surface active agent)1
- Processing aids not otherwise specified1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
11 skin studies and 6 eye studies are on record.
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 17 studies
- Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) - Corrosive
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) 1981 according to - Severe Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · other guideline: MAFF Primary Dermal Irritation Study (1985) according to OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) (1987) according to EU Method B.4 (Acute Toxicity: Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) (1988) according to other guideline: EPA Pesticide Assessment Guidelines, Section 81-5 (1984) according to - Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) according to other guideline: US-EPA FIFRA Guideline 81-6 (1984) - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Not classified
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Moderate or Mild Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) (1981) according to - Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) (1981) according to - Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Irritation · Authoritative - Corrosive or Irritation Persists for > 21 days
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to - Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening - Corrosive or Irritation Persists for > 21 days
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to - Category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across - Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Authoritative
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Simple determination of o-phenylphenol in skin lotion by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection after pre-column derivatization with 4-(N-chloroformylmethyl-N-methylamino)-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. · 2015
- Analysis of isothiazolinones and other preservatives in leather, synthetic leather, and textile products available in Japan · 2026
- Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) - Revision of the opinion on o-Phenylphenol, Sodium o-phenylphenate and Potassium o-phenylphenate (OPP), in cosmetic products. · 2016
- A Simple Determination of the o-Phenylphenol in Cosmetic Samples by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography · 2010
- Depigmenting action of phenylhydroquinone, an O-phenylphenol metabolite, on the skin of JY-4 black guinea-pigs. · 2002
Linked databases 28
- ASEAN Cosmetic Directive
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- EU Cosmetics Regulation
- IARC carcinogen classification
- Japan Standards for Cosmetics
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information 2 3 4
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem
- Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- US National Toxicology Program reports
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · English · Japanese · Chinese