Is DICHLOROMETHANE safe in cosmetics?
DICHLOROMETHANE has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. 9 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
DICHLOROMETHANE
Also known as: Methane, dichloro-, Methylene chloride, 4-01-00-00035, BRN 1730800, Caswell No. 568 (+15 more)
DICHLOROMETHANE (CAS 75-09-2) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Perfuming, Solvent. Reported NOAEL 55 mg/kg bw/day in rat (COSMOS_DB); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max II/1389; GHS signal word DANGER. 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 75-09-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
DICHLOROMETHANE is classified GHS Danger (H302, H315, H319, H336, H341, H351, H373, H370) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max II/1389.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status/eu_max; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Perfuming, Solvent
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
dichloromethane
InChIKey
YMWUJEATGCHHMB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
II/1389
US US Status
Not specifically regulated
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Toxicological Studies
9 study endpoints found for DICHLOROMETHANE. 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 | 55 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Carcinogenicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | =0.2 mg/kg bw/day | oral: capsule | Dog | subchronic | EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx |
| NOAEL | =0.2 mg/kg bw/day | oral: capsule | Dog | subchronic | EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx |
| NOAEL | =12 mg/kg bw/day | oral: feed | Common pheasant | reproduction toxicity | EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx |
| NOAEL | =12 mg/kg bw/day | oral: feed | Common pheasant | reproduction toxicity | EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx |
| NOAEL | =166 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =185 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =209 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =226 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
SkullToxicCancerHealth haz
Hazard Statements
Harmful if swallowed Fatal if inhaled Causes skin and eye irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness Causes damage to central nervous system, blood, liver, the heart and lungs May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways Causes damage to the central nervous system through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled May cause cancer
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. If swallowed the substance may cause vomiting and could result in aspiration pneumonitis. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system, blood, liver, heart and lungs. Exposure could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. This may result in impaired functions. Exposure at high concentrations could cause lowering of consciousness and death. The effects may be delayed.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance may have effects on the central nervous system. This substance is probably carcinogenic to humans.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, by ingestion and through the skin.
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
cir
Number
6, 1988
Verdict: unknown
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cancer slope factor | =0.0035 (mg/kg-day)-1 | Human | inhalation | chronic | Cal OEHHA |
| cancer slope factor | =0.014 (mg/kg-day)-1 | Human | oral | chronic | Cal OEHHA |
| LEL | =451573 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | DOE Protective Action Criteria |
| LOAEL | =677.359 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | TX TCEQ |
| NOAEL | =691.254 mg/m3 | Rat | inhalation | chronic | TX TCEQ |
| OEL | =347.364 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | EU SCOEL |
| LOAEL | =677.359 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | acute | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| LOAEL | =138.945 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | Cal OEHHA REL derivations |
| MRL | =2.08418 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| MRL | =1.04209 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | ATSDR MRLs |
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
2A
Volume
Sup 7, 71, 110
Evaluation Year
2014
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Health Hazard
Hazard Class and Category
Carc. 2
Hazard Statements
- H351 Suspected of causing cancer
Inserted via ATP: CLP00
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Suspected
Evidence: Limited
(2022)
Health effects: Yes
Affected pathways: Thyroid, Estrogenic
Regulatory framework: REACH
Source list: II (former)
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100,000 - 1,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex II — Prohibited
Ref: 1389
(EU) 2019/831
CMR: Carcinogenic Cat. 2()
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (II - Prohibited)
ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (II)
Ref: A1138
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Prohibited): Must not be used
Korea (Prohibited): Must not be used
Japan (Prohibited): ; Category: General
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Prohibited (GNRAS)
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (4)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP | banned | - | All cosmetics |
| CN | banned | - | - |
| BR | restricted | 35 | Only when mixed with 1,1,1-trichloroethane; 1,1,1-trichloroethane max 0.2% as impurity |
| ASEAN | banned | - | All cosmetic products prohibited |
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (7)
Carcinogen Classification
2A, probably carcinogenic to humans. (L135)
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
Carcinogen Classification
Dichloromethane (Methylene chloride) | Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans | 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, Part 2, Part 3) | Volume 110: (2017) Some Chemicals Used as So
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Carcinogen Classification
Methylene Chloride | TR-306: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) (CASRN 75-09-2) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies) (1986 ) | 03/29/85 | Some Evidence | Clear Evidence | Clear Evidence | Clear Evidence | Under the conditions of these inhalation studies, there was some evidence of carcinogenicity of dichloromethane for male F344/N
Source: NTP Technical Reports
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
CLASSIFICATION: B2; probable human carcinogen. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Based on inadequate human data and sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals; increased incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms and alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms in male and female mice, and increased incidence of benign mammary tumors in both sexes of rats, salivary gland sarcomas in male rats and leukemia in female r
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Regulatory (1)
JECFA Evaluation
METHYLENE CHLORIDE | 1992 | Should be limited to current uses (as an extraction solvent for spice oleoresins and the decaffeination of coffee and tea, and for food additives in which previous specifications drawn up by the Committee included residues of dichloromethane) | TRS 828-JECFA 39/18 | FAS 18-JECFA 27/59 (1983)
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Dye
Flavouring and nutrient
Solvent
Regulatory List Membership (4)
California Proposition 65 (OEHHA)
EU Banned in Cosmetics
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for DICHLOROMETHANE.
Regulatory Flags
cosing-sourced
eu-restricted
fragrance
needs-enrichment
endocrine_disruptor
prop65
eu_banned_cosmetics
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to DICHLOROMETHANE by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
9
Lowest NOAEL
0.2 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
226 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS_DB
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
EFSA_OpenFoodTox_EFSA_ReferencePoints.xlsx
Known Synonyms
Methane, dichloro-
Methylene chloride
4-01-00-00035
BRN 1730800
Caswell No. 568
EINECS 200-838-9
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 042004
Methylenum chloratum
NCI-C50102
RCRA waste number U080
UNII-588X2YUY0A
Aerothene
Bichloride, methylene
CH2Cl2
Chloride, methylene
DCM
Dichloride, methylene
Dichloro-Methane
Dichloromethane, NF
Dichloromethane, acs
Chemical Function
Solvent
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Flavouring and nutrient
Dye
Regulatory Lists
air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; emissions; Europe
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
detected; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
OEHHA Proposition 65 (3/2019)
OEHHA Proposition 65 (1/2023)
banned; Europe; Personal care
consumer_product; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; Europe
CEDI
consumer_product; detected
consumer_product; Europe; nondetect
air; detected; emissions; Personal care
air; detected; emissions; Packaging (non-food contact)
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
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
METHYLENE CHLORIDE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL45967
Max Phase
-1
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DICHLOROMETHANE allowed in the EU?
DICHLOROMETHANE EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: II/1389. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does DICHLOROMETHANE do in cosmetics?
DICHLOROMETHANE functions as: Perfuming, Solvent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 75-09-2.
What is the NOAEL for DICHLOROMETHANE?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for DICHLOROMETHANE is 55 mg/kg bw/day based on a Carcinogenicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 9 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is DICHLOROMETHANE classified as hazardous under GHS?
DICHLOROMETHANE carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed Fatal if inhaled Causes skin and eye irritation May cause drowsiness or dizziness Causes damage to central nervous system, blood, liver, the heart and lungs May be harmful if swallowed and enters airways Causes damage to the central nervous system through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled May cause cancer. 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 DICHLOROMETHANE used outside cosmetics?
DICHLOROMETHANE 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 DICHLOROMETHANE have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
DICHLOROMETHANE is classified GHS Danger (H302, H315, H319, H336, H341, H351, H373, H370) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max II/1389.
Compliance Tools
Check DICHLOROMETHANE 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
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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