Is Glucono Delta-Lactone safe in cosmetics?
Glucono Delta-Lactone has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 8 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Glucono Delta-Lactone
Also known as: Glucono delta lactone, Deltagluconolactone, EINECS 202-016-5, Gluconic delta-lactone, D-Gluconic delta-lactone (+14 more)
INCI: GLUCONOLACTONE
Glucono Delta-Lactone (CAS 90-80-2) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as pH adjuster, chelating agent, humectant, exfoliant (PHA). NOAEL 560 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 90-80-2 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
pH adjuster, chelating agent, humectant, exfoliant (PHA)
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
GRAS status as food additive; widely used in cosmetics as PHA exfoliant; no concentration restrictions
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Glucono Delta-Lactone.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
8 study endpoints found for Glucono Delta-Lactone. 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 | 500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 560 mg/kg bw/day | oral | hamster | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 594 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 695 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 780 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rabbit | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | =560 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Hamster | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =594 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =695 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Glucono Delta-Lactone across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Glucono Delta-Lactone, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
2-5%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
178.1 Da
Log P
-2.1
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
1-3%
Safety Margin Factor
minimal
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: Dermatol Surg 2004
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "90-80-2", "anti_acne_mechanism": "keratolytic/anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0", "acne_type_efficacy": "non_inflammatory", "p_acnes_mic_ug_per_ml": "No direct antibacterial", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "5-8", "keratolytic_strength": "mild", "exfoliation_mechanism": "chemical", "optimal_ph_for_efficacy": "3.5-4.5", "peel_depth": "superficial", "prescriptio…
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "2.0", "max_concentration_pct": "8.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "4.0", "product_type": "Moisturizer", "function_at_concentration": "Gentle exfoliation, hydration", "source": "Supplier TDS"}
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "178.1", "log_p_value": "-2.1", "skin_penetration_level": "surface", "penetration_depth": "stratum corneum", "absorption_pct": "2-5", "systemic_absorption": "minimal", "penetration_enhancer": "no", "occlusion_effect": "no", "vehicle_dependent": "yes", "skin_barrier_effect": "strengthens", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "1-3", "safety_margin_factor": "minimal", "source": "De…
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "14-28", "bioaccumulative": "no", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "yes", "marine_toxicity": "low aquatic toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "minimal impact", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environmental": "no", "pa…
exfoliant
{"cas_number": "90-80-2", "ingredient_class": "PHA", "chemical_subclass": "polyhydroxy_acid", "molecular_weight_Da": "178.14", "pKa_value": "3.70", "pH_dependent_activity": "yes", "optimal_pH_range": "3.5-5.0", "penetration_depth": "stratum_corneum", "mechanism_of_action": "desmolysis", "target_bonds": "desmosomal", "onset_of_action": "hours", "peak_effect_timeline": "10-14 weeks", "cell_turnover_…
interactions
{"ingredient_2": "Preservatives (general)", "interaction_type": "synergistic", "severity": "beneficial", "effect": "PHA chelates metals, enhances preservative stability", "recommendation": "Compatible; gluconolactone acts as preservative booster", "data_source": "Formulation science literature, dermatological research, cosmetic chemistry best practices", "last_updated": "2026-03-05"}
microbiome_impact
{"microbiome_effect": "positive", "prebiotic": "yes", "probiotic_compatible": "yes", "antimicrobial_spectrum": "selective", "preservative_effect_on_microbiome": "Polyhydroxy acid; gentle preservative booster; supports beneficial bacteria", "gut_microbiome_risk": "low", "microbiome_recovery_time": "<3 days", "selective_antimicrobial": "yes", "beneficial_bacteria_support": "S. epidermidis, Lactobaci…
pediatric_safety
{"safe_for_newborn_0_6m": "yes", "safe_for_infant_6_12m": "yes", "safe_for_toddler_1_3y": "yes", "safe_for_child_3_12y": "yes", "safe_for_teen_12_18y": "yes", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "10.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "10.0", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "normal", "immature_skin_barrier_risk": "low", "oral_ingestion_risk": "low", "eye_irritation_risk": "low", "diaper_area_s…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Chelating agent
Chemical reaction regulator
Flavouring and nutrient
Food preservative
Fragrance
Humectant
Leavening agent
Preservative
Processing aids not otherwise specified
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 Glucono Delta-Lactone.
Regulatory Flags
pha
ecocert
cosmos
chelating
exfoliant
epa_safer_alternative
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Glucono Delta-Lactone by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
8
Lowest NOAEL
500 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
780 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS_DB
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
Glucono delta lactone
Deltagluconolactone
EINECS 202-016-5
Gluconic delta-lactone
D-Gluconic delta-lactone
delta-Gluconolactone
UNII-WQ29KQ9POT
(3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-one
(3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-2-one
(3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methylol-tetrahydropyran-2-one
(3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one
1,5-D-gluconolactone
1,5-delta-Gluconolactone
3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-pyran-2-one
D-(+)-Gluconic acid D-lactone
D-(+)-Gluconic acid-delta lactone
D-Gluconic acid D-lactone
D-Gluconic acid-1,5-lactone
D-Gluconic acid-delta-lactone
Chemical Function
Humectant
Softener and conditioner
Chelating agent
Solvent
Fragrance
Antioxidant
Preservative
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Regulatory Lists
animal_products
animal_products
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
SCIL (9/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
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
GLUCONOLACTONE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1200829
Max Phase
4
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glucono Delta-Lactone allowed in the EU?
Glucono Delta-Lactone EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Glucono Delta-Lactone do in cosmetics?
Glucono Delta-Lactone functions as: pH adjuster, chelating agent, humectant, exfoliant (PHA). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 90-80-2.
What is the NOAEL for Glucono Delta-Lactone?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Glucono Delta-Lactone is 500 mg/kg bw/day based on a Chronic study via oral route in rat. A total of 8 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is Glucono Delta-Lactone used outside cosmetics?
Glucono Delta-Lactone 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.
Compliance Tools
Check Glucono Delta-Lactone 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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