Toluene can cause developmental toxicity according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts.
- Korean limit
- 25%
Definition
Toluene can cause developmental toxicity according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts. It can cause female reproductive toxicity according to California Labor Code.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 3FPU23BG52 · registered name Toluene · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
- Banned
- International fragrance standard (IFRA)
- Restricted
- South Korea · Taiwan · United Kingdom
Source: IFRA fragrance standards · ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients · Taiwan FDA cosmetic regulations · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
Argentina · Brazil
- Field of application and/or use : Nail product
- Maximum concentration permitted at final product : 25%
- Other limitations and requirements : Keep out of reach of children. Adults only
ASEAN
- Field of application and/or use : Nail products
- Maximum authorised concentration in the finished cosmetic product : 25%
- Conditions of use and warning which must be printed on the labels : Keep out of reach of children To be used by adults only
European Union
- Product Type, body parts : Nail products
- Maximum concentration in ready for use preparation : 25%
- Wording of conditions of use and warnings : Keep out of reach of children. To be used by adults only
Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information
Korea’s toxic-substance GHS classification: Danger · H304 (category 1) · H361 (category 2) · H315 (category 2) · +3 more
EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III (restricted substances), entry 185 · maximum concentration 25% · applies to Nail products
Restriction III/185
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
Reviewed by CIR: Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments - 2004/2005
Reviewed by CIR: Final Report: Amended Safety Assessment of Toluene as Used in Cosmetics
Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Toluene
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name トルエン: 本品は、次の化学式で表される芳香族炭化水素である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 108-88-3
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 203-625-9
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID7021360
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID501360
- IUPAC
- Toluene
- Molecular formula
- C7H8
- Molecular weight
- 92.141 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- liquid
- Colour
- colourless
- Odour threshold
- 2.14 ppm
- Melting/freezing point
- -94.9 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 110.6 ℃
- Flash point
- 4 ℃
- Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits
- 7.8 / 1.0 %
- Vapour pressure
- 28.4 ㎜Hg(25℃)
- Water solubility
- 0.526 g/100㎖(25 ℃)
- Vapour density
- 3.1
- Relative density
- 0.8623 (g/cu cm at 20℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 2.73
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 480 ℃
- Viscosity
- 0.56 cP(25℃)
- Molecular weight
- 92.14
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 120 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.
- Solvent50
- Solubility enhancer14
- Processing aids not otherwise specified6
- Fuel5
- Adhesion/cohesion promoter4
- Intermediate4
- Anti-adhesive/cohesive3
- Antioxidant2
21 other uses
- Defoamer2
- Catalyst2
- Opacifer2
- Plasticizer2
- Corrosion inhibitor2
- Cleaning agent2
- Fuel agents2
- Sealant (barrier)2
- Lubricating agent2
- Monomers2
- Diluent2
- Dispersing agent1
- Surfactant (surface active agent)1
- Degradant/impurity (EPA)1
- Chemical reaction regulator1
- Propellants, non-motive (blowing agents)1
- Surface modifier1
- Photosensitive agent1
- Fragrance1
- Wetting agent (non-aqueous)1
- Viscosity modifier1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
8 skin studies and 4 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 12 studies
- Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Irritation · Authoritative - Skin Irrit. 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Severe Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to - Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to EU Method B.6 (Skin Sensitisation) - Category 2
Skin Irritation · Screening - Not classified
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across - Moderate or Mild Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to - Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to - Category 2B
Eye Irritation · Screening
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- [A new method for determination of toluene-2,4-diamine and toluene-2,6-diamine in workplace air]. · 2017
- Measurement of Toluene Emanating from the Surface of Human Skin in Relation to Toluene Inhalation · 2019
- Experimental and advanced numerical characterization of toluene fires · 2025
- Toluene · 2024
- Recommedation for an occupational exposure limit for toluene. · 2023
Linked databases 32
- ASEAN Cosmetic Directive
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- EU Cosmetics Regulation
- EU restricted substances (Annex III)
- EU SCCS safety opinions
- IARC carcinogen classification
- IFRA fragrance standards
- 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
- Taiwan FDA cosmetic regulations
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) 2 3 4
- 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 · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese