Is Adipic Acid safe in cosmetics?
Adipic Acid has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 5 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Adipic Acid
Also known as: 1,4-Butanedicarboxylic acid, 4-02-00-01956, BRN 1209788, EINECS 204-673-3, FEMA No. 2011 (+13 more)
INCI: ADIPIC ACID
Adipic Acid (CAS 124-04-9) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Buffering. NOAEL 750 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 124-04-9 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Adipic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H319, H318, H335, H316, H333, H372, H402) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Buffering
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
hexanedioic acid
InChIKey
WNLRTRBMVRJNCN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
FDA GRAS; CIR Expert Panel concluded safe in present practices of use and concentration
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Adipic Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
5 study endpoints found for Adipic Acid. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | 205 mg/kg bw/day | oral | hamster | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 263 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 440 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 2400 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Inhalation of the aerosol may cause asthmatic reactions. See Notes.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization. Repeated or prolonged inhalation may cause asthma.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Adipic Acid across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
Eye Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000,000 - 10,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
ICSC Safety Card
0369
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
Dust: Irritating to eyes, nose, and throat. Solid: Irritating to skin and eyes.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (3)
JECFA Number
623
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
ADIPIC ACID | 2025 | 0-5 mg/kg bw | Considered for exposure only. | TRS 1058-JECFA 100/7 | FAS 91-JECFA 100/3
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
EU Food Improvement
Food additives
Source: EU Food Improvement Agents
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Leavening agent
Other
Plasticizer
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Softener and conditioner
pH regulating agent
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Adipic Acid.
Regulatory Flags
epa_safer_alternative
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Adipic Acid by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
5
Lowest NOAEL
205 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
2400 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS_DB
Known Synonyms
1,4-Butanedicarboxylic acid
4-02-00-01956
BRN 1209788
EINECS 204-673-3
FEMA No. 2011
FEMA Number 2011
Kyselina adipova
UNII-76A0JE0FKJ
1,6-Hexanedioate
Adi-pure
Adipate
Adipinate
E 355
E-355
E355
INS No. 355
Molten adipate
Molten adipic acid
Chemical Function
Deodorizer
pH regulating agent
Fragrance
Flavouring and nutrient
Plasticizer
Regulatory Lists
pharmaceutical
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
animal_products
Europe
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
ADIPIC ACID
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1157
Max Phase
-1
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Adipic Acid allowed in the EU?
Adipic Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Adipic Acid do in cosmetics?
Adipic Acid functions as: Buffering. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 124-04-9.
What is the NOAEL for Adipic Acid?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Adipic Acid is 205 mg/kg bw/day based on a Developmental study via oral route in hamster. A total of 5 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is Adipic Acid used outside cosmetics?
Adipic Acid also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Adipic Acid have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Adipic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H319, H318, H335, H316, H333, H372, H402) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Adipic Acid compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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