Human health risk assessment of long chain alcohols

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2009 May;72(4):1016-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2008.07.012. Epub 2009 Feb 23.

Abstract

Representative chemicals from the long chain alcohols category have been extensively tested to define their toxicological hazard properties. These chemicals show low acute and repeat dose toxicity with high-dose effects (if any) related to minimal liver toxicity. These chemicals do not show evidence of activity in genetic toxicity tests or to the reproductive system or the developing organism. These chemicals also are not sensitizers. Irritation is dependant on chain length; generally, alcohols in the range C(6-)C(11) are considered as irritant, intermediate chain lengths (C(12-)C(16)) alcohols are considered to be mild irritants and chain lengths of C(18) and above are considered non-irritants. These chemicals are broadly used across the consumer products industry with highest per person consumer exposures resulting from use in personal care products. Margins of exposure adequate for the protection of human health are documented for the uses of these chemicals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Dogs
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Fatty Alcohols / chemistry
  • Fatty Alcohols / pharmacokinetics
  • Fatty Alcohols / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Health
  • Household Products
  • Humans
  • Inhalation Exposure
  • Irritants / toxicity
  • Male
  • Models, Statistical
  • Mutagens / toxicity
  • Pregnancy
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Rats
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Risk Assessment
  • Skin Absorption
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Carcinogens
  • Fatty Alcohols
  • Irritants
  • Mutagens