Is Caprolactam safe in cosmetics?
Caprolactam has a safety rating of "POOR" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Caprolactam
Also known as: 2H-Azepin-2-one, hexahydro-, 5-21-06-00444, 6-Aminocaproic acid lactam, 6-Aminohexanoic acid cyclic lactam, 2H-Azepin-7-one, hexahydro- (+15 more)
INCI: CAPROLACTAM
Caprolactam (CAS 105-60-2) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Not a standard cosmetic active — primarily an industrial monomer (Nylon-6. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; GHS signal word WARNING. 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 105-60-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Caprolactam is classified GHS Danger (H302, H315, H319, H332, H335, H312, H316, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Not a standard cosmetic active — primarily an industrial monomer (Nylon-6 precursor). If present in cosmetics, it would be as a residual monomer from Nylon-based polymers.
Safety Rating
POOR
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
azepan-2-one
InChIKey
JBKVHLHDHHXQEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Not established for cosmetic use. OECD SIDS assessment available. Would require full tox dossier if claimed as intentional ingredient.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Caprolactam.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
Excl markWarn
Hazard Statements
Harmful if swallowed Causes skin and eye irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis. The substance may have effects on the nervous system and liver.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol.
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
3
Volume
39, Sup 7, 71
Evaluation Year
1998
Moved to Group 3 following 2019 update to the IARC Monographs Preamble
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
Acute Tox. 4 *; Acute Tox. 4 *; STOT SE 3; Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H332 Harmful if inhaled
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H315 Causes skin irritation
- 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 (5)
Carcinogen Classification
Caprolactam | Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | Volume 39: (1986) Some Chemicals Used in Plastics and Elastomers | Volume Sup 7: Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, 1987; 440 pages; ISBN 92-832-1411-0 (out of print) | Volume 71: (1999) Re-evaluation of Some Organic Chemicals, Hydrazine and Hydrogen Peroxide (Part 1,
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Carcinogen Classification
Caprolactam | TR-214: Carcinogenesis Bioassay of Caprolactam (CASRN 105-60-2) in F344 Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Study) (1982 ) | 06/27/80 | No Evidence | No Evidence | No Evidence | No Evidence | Under the conditions of this bioassay, caprolactam was not carcinogenic for F344 rats or B6C3F1 mice.
Source: NTP Technical Reports
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
Evaluation: No epidemiological data relevant to the carcinogenicity of caprolactam were available. There is evidence suggesting a lack of carcinogenicity of caprolactam in experimental animals. Overall evaluation: Caprolactam is probably not carcinogenic to humans (Group 4). | A5; Not suspected as a human carcinogen.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
ICSC Safety Card
0118
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
On direct contact, vapors irritate eyes, nasal passages, and skin. | A skin and eye irritant.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (2)
JECFA Number
1594
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
JECFA Evaluation
1,6-HEXALACTAM | 2008 | No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent | ">TRS 952-JECFA 69/155 | ">FAS 60-JECFA 69/630
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Degradant/impurity
Filler
Flavouring and nutrient
Monomers
No specific technical function
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Caprolactam.
Regulatory Flags
fda_food_additive
Known Synonyms
2H-Azepin-2-one, hexahydro-
5-21-06-00444
6-Aminocaproic acid lactam
6-Aminohexanoic acid cyclic lactam
2H-Azepin-7-one, hexahydro-
BRN 0106934
Caprolactam monomer
Cyclohexanone iso-oxime
EINECS 203-313-2
1,6-Hexalactam
Hexamethylenimine, 2-oxo-
Hexanoic acid, 6-amino-, lactam
Hexanone isoxime
1,6-Hexolactam
Kapromine
NCI-C50646
2-Oxohexamethyleneimine
Caprolattame
e-Kaprolaktam
Epsylon kaprolaktam
Chemical Function
Flavouring and nutrient
Filler
Degradant/impurity
Monomers
No specific technical function
Regulatory Lists
Europe
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected
CEDI
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; detected; Europe
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
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
CAPROLACTAM
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL276218
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caprolactam allowed in the EU?
Caprolactam EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Caprolactam do in cosmetics?
Caprolactam functions as: Not a standard cosmetic active — primarily an industrial monomer (Nylon-6 precursor). If present in cosmetics, it would be as a residual monomer from Nylon-based polymers.. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 105-60-2.
Is Caprolactam classified as hazardous under GHS?
Caprolactam carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed Causes skin and eye irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.
Is Caprolactam used outside cosmetics?
Caprolactam 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 Caprolactam have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Caprolactam is classified GHS Danger (H302, H315, H319, H332, H335, H312, H316, H336) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Caprolactam compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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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
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