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CAS 1 record

CAS 120-47-8

CAS 120-47-8 matches 1 EU annex record across Annex II–VI of Regulation 1223/2009.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 120-47-8
CAS 120-47-8PubChem CID 8434

Ethylparaben

Ethylparaben is an ethyl ester resulting from the formal condensation of the carboxy group of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with ethanol. It has a role as an antifungal agent, an antimicrobial food preservative, a plant metabolite and a phytoestrogen. It is an ethyl ester and a paraben. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
Molecular formula
C9H10O3
Molecular weight
166.17 g/mol
Exact mass
166.062994177 Da
XLogP3
2.5
Topological polar surface area
46.5 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
3
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

Ethyl parabenEthyl p-hydroxybenzoateTegosept EMycoctenEthyl parasept4-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl esterAseptoform ENipagin A
16 more reported names
EaseptolEthyl butexNapagin ANipazin ASolbrol ASobrol AEthyl parahydroxybenzoatep-Hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl esterEthyl p-oxybenzoateBonomold OEBenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, ethyl esterp-CarbethoxyphenolEthyl-p-hydroxybenzoateMekkings EAseptin AEthyl hydroxybenzoate
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
External database identifiers

Evidence from additional scientific databases

NIH PubChem PUG-View
Exact identifier match8434

Attributed physical-property, hazard, environmental and use annotations.

  • Note: This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 60.7% (811 of 1336) of all reports. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Signal: Danger Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • GHS Hazard Statements: H304 (33.5%): May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways [Danger Aspiration hazard]; H315 (38.8%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]; H317 (34%): May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]; H319 (39.3%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation] Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Precautionary Statement Codes: P261, P264, P264+P265, P272, P280, P301+P316, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P321, P331, P332+P317, P333+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement) Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • ECHA C&L Notifications Summary: Aggregated GHS information provided per 1336 reports by companies from 10 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.; Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 811 of 1336 reports by companies.; There are 8 notifications provided by 525 of 1336 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).; Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Note: This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 100% (2 of 2) of all reports. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • GHS Hazard Statements: Not Classified; Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria by 2 of 2 companies. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • ECHA C&L Notifications Summary: Aggregated GHS information provided per 2 reports by companies from 1 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory.; Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 2 of 2 reports by companies.; There are 0 notifications provided by 0 of 2 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).; Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • GHS Hazard Statements: H401: Toxic to aquatic life [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard] Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Precautionary Statement Codes: P273, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement) Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Conclusion: The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the following 20 parabens are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment when the sum of the combined concentration of parabens in any given formulation does not exceed 0.8 %...Ehtylparaben.. Source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Finding(s): Safe for use in cosmetics, with qualifications Source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Toxicity Summary: IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Ethylparaben forms small colorless crystals, or white powder. Ethylparaben inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria and is used as a preservative for pharmaceuticals, adhesives, and various cosmetic preparations. HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: Ethylparaben was a skin irritant in man. It gave no evidence of sensitizing potential in a human study. The paraben esters as a generic class are rare sensitizers when applied to the intact skin of man. Application to the damaged skin is a more common cause of sensitization. A methyl:ethyl:propylparaben mixture has been shown on oral administration to exacerbate pre-existing skin complaints. ANIMAL STUDIES: Ethylparaben was an eye irritant in rabbits. A low acute oral toxicity has been demonstrated for ethylparaben in laboratory animals. Limited long-term studies in rats have also indicated a low toxicity and have generated no evidence of carcinogenic activity. Ethylparaben in the diet produced cell proliferation in the forestomach of rats. No evidence of mutagenicity was reported in limited Ames Bacterial tests. Ethylparaben did increase chromosomal aberrations in a Chinese Hamster ovary cell assay, but similar effects Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Environmental Bioconcentration: An estimated BCF of 20 was calculated for ethylparaben(SRC), using a log Kow of 2.47(1) and a regression derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Environmental Fate: TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), Koc values ranging from 119 to 209(2) indicate that ethylparaben is expected to have high to moderate mobility in soil(SRC). The pKa of ethylparaben is 8.34(3), indicating that this compound will partially exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(4). Volatilization of ethylparaben from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.8X10-9 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), using a fragment constant estimation method(5). Ethylparaben is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 9.3X10-5 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(6). Half-lives of about 14 days and 3.5 days were measured in aerobic screening tests conducted with phenol- and cresol-acclimated sludge over 7 day and 1 day incubation periods(7,8), respectively, suggesting that biodegradation may be an important fate process in soil(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Environmental Fate: AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), Koc values ranging from 119 to 209(2), indicate that ethylparaben is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.8X10-9 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(4). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 20(SRC), from its log Kow of 2.47(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Half-lives of about 14 days and 3.5 days were measured in aerobic screening tests conducted with phenol- and cresol-acclimated sludge over 7 day and 1 day incubation periods(8,9), respectively, suggesting that biodegradation may be an important fate process in water(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Environmental Fate: ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), ethylparaben, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 9.3X10-5 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(2), will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase ethylparaben is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be one day(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.3X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Particulate-phase ethylparaben may be removed from the air by wet and dry deposition(SRC). Ethylparaben contains chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and therefore may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Mapped by: Existing checksum-valid CAS to unique PubChem CID match. Retrieved: 2026-08-31. Open source record

Scientific classifications and hazard annotations provide context and do not replace the market-specific regulatory decision shown above.

Additional source coverage and match status
SourceResultChecked
NIH PubChem PUG-ViewExact match2026-08-31

A recorded no-match is useful evidence that the source was checked; it is not a claim that the substance does not exist elsewhere.

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-09-02 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Records for CAS 120-47-8

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How CAS 120-47-8 is used on this site

CAS 120-47-8 is the Chemical Abstracts Service identifier used to pin this page to a specific substance. In the current dataset, 1 EU annex record shares this identifier, which helps you cross-check whether the same substance appears under one regulatory context or several.

Use this page when a supplier specification, SDS or raw-material dossier gives you CAS 120-47-8 and you need to see every linked Annex II–VI record in one place. The entry cards above are the quickest route to concentration limits, warnings, annex placement and product-type conditions.