Chemical Properties
clear colorless liquid
General Description
Colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Density 1.02 g/cm3. An irritant.
Reactivity Profile
ETHYLENE GLYCOL PHENYL ETHER(122-99-6) may react violently with strong oxidizing agents. May generate flammable and/or toxic gases with alkali metals, nitrides, and other strong reducing agents. May initiate the polymerization of isocyanates and epoxides.
Air & Water Reactions
Oxidizes in air to form unstable peroxides that may explode spontaneously [Bretherick, 1979 p.151-154, 164]. Water soluble.
Health Hazard
May cause moderate eye irritation and moderate corneal injury. Excessive exposure may cause skin irritation and hemolysis.
Fire Hazard
This chemical is combustible.
Characteristics
Phenoxyethanol is a tried-and-tested preservative, which is welltolerated by the skin and has a low allergy risk. It can be used over a wide pH range. This means that other preservatives can lose their effectiveness if the product is not within the right pH range. It does not smell unpleasant or change the color of the product, which can be the case when using natural antimicrobial substances.
Definition
ChEBI: 2-phenoxyethanol is an aromatic ether that is phenol substituted on oxygen by a 2-hydroxyethyl group. It has a role as an antiinfective agent and a central nervous system depressant. It is a primary alcohol, a glycol ether and an aromatic ether. It is functionally related to a phenol.
Production Methods
Phenoxyethanol is prepared by treating phenol with ethylene oxide
in an alkaline medium.
Flammability and Explosibility
Notclassified
Pharmaceutical Applications
Phenoxyethanol is an antimicrobial preservative used in cosmetics
and topical pharmaceutical formulations at a concentration of
0.5–1.0%; it may also be used as a preservative and antimicrobial
agent for vaccines.Therapeutically, a 2.2% solution or 2.0%
cream has been used as a disinfectant for superficial wounds, burns,
and minor infections of the skin and mucous membranes.
Phenoxyethanol has a narrow spectrum of activity and is thus
frequently used in combination with other preservatives,
Industrial uses
2-Phenoxyethanol is used as a preservative in cosmetic formulations at a maximum concentration of 1.0%.
2-Phenoxyethanol is a broad spectrum preservative which has excellent activity against a wide range of Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria, yeast and mould. It is also used as a solvent and, because of its properties as a solvent, it is used in many blends and mixtures with other preservatives.
2-Phenoxyethanol is not registered as a food additive in the EU.
Scognamiglio et al. (ref. 105) reported that 2-phenoxyethanol is a fragrance ingredient used in many fragrance mixtures (see discussion). An ester of 2-Phenoxyethanol, 2-Phenoxyethyl isobutyrate and 2-Phenoxyacetic acid, the main metabolite of 2-Phenoxyethanol, were mentioned in a WHO publication where 43 flavouring agents in food were evaluated (WHO 2003, AR4), however at intakes assessed to be very low in Europe (around 1 µg/kg bw/day).
References
[1] Almut Khler, Karin Finger-Baier, Luis Antunes. "Chapter 16 - Anesthesia, restraint and analgesia in laboratory fishes." Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals (Third Edition) (2023): 393-409.
Side effects
2-phenoxyethanol is a colorless or straw-colored oily liquid with slight solubility in water but soluble in ethanol and is used as an immersion anesthetic. This agent has bactericidal and fungicidal properties and has been used as a topical anesthetic. This agent can provide deep stages of anesthesia and is relatively inexpensive. Nevertheless, it has no other significant advantages over other drugs. Using 2-phenoxyethanol can elicit several side effects, such as decreased respiratory and heart rate, reduced blood pressure and blood oxygenation, alterations of blood parameters, and elevated plasma levels of adrenaline, glucose, and cortisol, as shown in bighead carp. In addition, sustained and prolonged exposure to 2-phenoxyethanol can cause neuropsychological syndrome in handlers[1].
Safety
Phenoxyethanol produces a local anesthetic effect on the lips, tongue, and other mucous membranes. The pure material is a moderate irritant to the skin and eyes. In animal studies, a 10% v/v solution was not irritant to rabbit skin and a 2% v/v solution was not irritant to the rabbit eye.Long-term exposure to phenoxyethanol may result in CNS toxic effects similar to other organic solvents.Safety issues related to preservatives used in vaccines, including 2-phenoxyethanol have been reviewed.Contact urticaria has been reported upon exposure to 2-phenoxyethanol-containing cosmetics.
The US FDA has recommended avoiding at least one topical product containing phenoxyethanol due to concerns over inadvertant exposure to nursing infants.
LD50 (rabbit, skin): 5 g/kg
LD50 (rat, oral): 1.26 g/kg
storage
Aqueous phenoxyethanol solutions are stable and may be sterilized
by autoclaving. The bulk material is also stable and should be stored
in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place.
Incompatibilities
The antimicrobial activity of phenoxyethanol may be reduced by
interaction with nonionic surfactants and possibly by absorption by
polyvinyl chloride.The antimicrobial activity of phenoxyethanol
against Pseudomonas aeruginosa may be reduced in the presence of
cellulose derivatives (methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose,
and hypromellose (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose)).
Regulatory Status
Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (topical
preparations). Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the
UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal
Ingredients.
Under European regulations for cosmetics (76/768/EEC), the
maximum authorized concentration (MAC) of 2-phenoxyethanol is
1.0%.
