Question

Is castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-90 harmful to the human body? Does it have an impact on the environment?

Answer
2026-06-06 官方文档 蓖麻油聚氧乙烯醚EL-90

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-90 is a low-toxicity substance, non-irritating to the skin, non-sensitizing, and under normal use conditions poses no significant harm to humans. It also exhibits excellent biodegradability, making it a green adjuvant with low environmental load.

Effects on human health

According to the safety data of Guoli Chemical products, castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-90 is not classified as a hazardous chemical under normal use conditions and has very low health hazards. Toxicological studies show: its acute oral toxicity is extremely low, with a rat oral LD₅₀ > 5,000 mg/kg, classifying it as a low-toxicity substance; standard Draize skin irritation tests indicate no irritation; it may cause only mild reversible eye irritation, with conjunctival irritation scores typically below 15, and full recovery usually within 24 hours; based on available data, no clinically significant sensitization has been found; its volatility at room temperature is very low, posing minimal risk of inhaling aerosols or vapors during routine operations. Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin dryness, but this is common with surfactant products and can be effectively avoided by wearing gloves.

Effects on the ecological environment

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-90 performs excellently in environmental protection. Its ecotoxicological data shows low acute toxicity to fish (96-hour LC₅₀ > 100 mg/L), indicating low toxicity to aquatic organisms. More importantly, this product is biodegradable and does not easily persist or accumulate in the natural environment. Due to its strong hydrophilicity and low octanol/water partition coefficient, its bioaccumulation potential is extremely low, and it will not accumulate through the food chain. However, despite its low ecotoxicity, direct discharge of undiluted large quantities into water bodies should still be prevented to avoid local environmental load.

Technical parameters (Summary of toxicology and ecotoxicology)

ItemIndexEvaluation
Acute oral toxicity (rat LD₅₀)> 5,000 mg/kgLow toxicity
Skin irritation (Draize test)No irritationSafe
Eye irritationMild reversible irritation, recovery within 24 hoursLow risk
Skin sensitizationNo clinically significant sensitization foundSafe
Inhalation riskVery low volatility at room temperature, minimal riskNo special protection required for routine operations
Acute fish toxicity (96h LC₅₀)> 100 mg/LLow aquatic toxicity
BiodegradabilityBiodegradableEnvironmentally friendly
Bioaccumulation potentialVery lowNon-accumulative

Application and safe handling recommendations

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-90 is widely used in agrochemicals, textile fibers, industrial emulsification, daily chemicals, metalworking fluids, leather auxiliaries, and other fields. Under normal industrial operating conditions, this product is highly safe, but it is still recommended to follow these basic protective measures:

  • Hand protection: It is recommended to wear nitrile rubber gloves during operations that may involve continuous contact.
  • Eye protection: Chemical safety goggles should be worn during operations to prevent splashes into the eyes.
  • Ventilation requirements: Keep the operating area well ventilated; no special exhaust equipment is required.
  • Hygiene practices: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after operation. Eating, drinking, or smoking is prohibited in the workplace.

Precautions

Although this product is relatively safe, the following points should still be noted: In case of eye contact, immediately rinse with running water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention. In the event of a large spill, immediately construct a dike to prevent the spill from entering drainage systems or surface water bodies. Disposal of waste should be entrusted to a qualified professional waste treatment company and handled in compliance with regulations; do not discard into the natural environment. The product may solidify or become turbid at low temperatures; this is a normal physical change and does not affect performance after slow warming and mixing. Do not use open flames to directly heat the container.