Acute, Subchronic, and Reproductive Toxicity of a Linear Alcohol Ethoxylate Surfactant in the Rat

Abstract

The mammalian toxicity of a C9–11 linear primary alcohol 6-mole ethoxylate, used in aqueous cleaning formulations, has been evaluated. The rat acute oral LD50 was 1.4 g/kg, and the rabbit acute dermal LD50 was greater than 2 g/kg. Undiluted material was severely irritating to the skin, but a 1% w/v aqueous dilution was not a skin sensitizer. There was no evidence of mutagenicity in the Ames assay. In a rat dermal subchronic study, there were no treatment-related effects at 1% and 10% aqueous concentrations, but at 25%, there was flaking of the skin and microscopic evidence of hyperkeratosis at the treatment site as the only compound-related effect. Potential reproductive toxicity was evaluated in a two-generation study in Fischer rats exposed similarly to the subchronic study. No compound-related effects on the reproductive performance or on the growth and development of the offspring were detected. It is concluded that this ethoxylate is typical of the more widely used alcohol ethoxylates with alkyl chains in the C12–18 range, being moderately acutely toxic by the oral route. By the dermal route—the relevant route of human exposure—it is not expected to produce skin irritation or systemic or reproductive toxicity at concentrations used in formulated cleaning products.