Propylene Glycol is an organic alcohol. It is one of the most widely used ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products including fragrance formulations. Polypropylene Glycols (PPG), including PPG-9, PPG-12, PPG-15, PPG-17, PPG-20, PPG-26, PPG-30 and PPG-34 are polymers of Propylene Glycol and water. The number in the name represents that average number of units of Propylene Glycol in the compound.
The safety of Propylene Glycol, PPG-9, PPG-12, PPG-15, PPG-17, PPG-20, PPG-26, PPG-30 and PPG-34 has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Propylene Glycol and the Polypropylene Glycol polymers were safe for use in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 50%.CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel established a concentration limit of 50% for Propylene Glycol and the PPG ingredients based on the results of human irritation and sensitization tests. Comprehensive data were considered by the CIR Expert Panel and they noted that patients with diseased skin may be susceptible to developing irritation/sensitization reactions to Propylene Glycol. In predictive tests with subjects with normal skin, testing of Propylene Glycol under occlusive patches suggests it may be a skin irritant under these conditions and the skin irritation potential of this ingredient may be concentration dependent.
The National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risk to Human Reproduction (CERHR) Expert Panel in 2003 reviewed the reproductive and developmental effect of Propylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol. For both compounds, the CERHR Expert Panel concluded that there is “negligible concern for reproductive or developmental toxicity to humans.”
FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for Propylene Glycol and Polypropylene Glycol http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS... and http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
Propylene Glycol and PPGs may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives recommends a maximum daily oral intake of 25 mg Propylene Glycol/kg body weight/day.
http://jecfa.ilsi.org/evaluation.cfm?chemical=PROPYLENE%20GL...