Sources of Exposure :
Description :
Phenoxyethanol exhibits a wide range of antimicrobial activity and has been widely used as a preservative in cosmetic products for decades.
Sources of Exposure: Personal care products, cosmetics, home cleaning products
Health Impacts: A safety review published by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology in 2019 says that concentrations up to 1% are safe. However, phenoxyethanol has also been linked to allergic reactions and is linked with organ system toxicity.
Health Concerns
Contaminants:
Banned/restricted lists:
Dréno, B. et al., 2019
Chasset, F. et al., 2015
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Phenoxyethanol (Accessed December 2020) EWG: Phenoxyethanol