Stearic Acid Polyoxyethylene Ether SG-10 (CAS No.: 9004-99-3) is a classic fatty acid polyoxyethylene ester nonionic surfactant widely used in cosmetics, textiles, detergents, and many other industries. Its toxicological safety performance is excellent: acute oral toxicity rat LD50 >5,000 mg/kg, classified as low toxicity; 5% dilution is non-irritating to skin; no sensitization reaction observed; Ames test and in vitro mammalian chromosome aberration test are both negative, indicating no genotoxicity. Under normal use conditions, the risk to human health is extremely low.
It is particularly noteworthy that the pure product may cause mild reversible irritation to the eyes, so eye protection should not be overlooked. In addition, although the 5% dilution is non-irritating to the skin, prolonged or repeated contact with the pure product may cause skin dryness or discomfort. It is recommended to wear impermeable gloves during operation. This product is readily biodegradable (over 60% degradation in 28 days under OECD 301B conditions), making it environmentally friendly, but large discharges into water bodies or soil should still be avoided.
| Safety Category | Specific Requirements |
|---|---|
| Personal Protection | Wear protective clothing, impermeable gloves, and chemical safety goggles; maintain good ventilation in the workplace; no eating, drinking, or smoking during operation |
| Storage Conditions | Cool, dry, well-ventilated, temperature not exceeding 40°C; keep container tightly closed, away from heat sources and open flames; store separately from strong oxidizers and acids |
| Skin Contact | Immediately remove contaminated clothing, rinse with plenty of running water and soap for at least 15 minutes; if discomfort persists, seek medical attention |
| Eye Contact | Separate eyelids, rinse thoroughly with running water or saline for at least 15 minutes; pure product may cause mild irritation, seek medical attention if discomfort persists after rinsing |
| Inhalation/Ingestion | Inhalation: Move to fresh air, keep airway clear; Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly and drink plenty of warm water, do not induce vomiting, seek medical attention immediately |
| Leak Treatment | Small spills: absorb with inert material and collect; Large spills: contain and transfer with explosion-proof pump; prevent entry into drains and water bodies |
| Firefighting Measures | Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, or carbon dioxide; firefighters must wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus |
| Waste Disposal | Incineration or landfill in accordance with regulations; empty containers must be emptied and rinsed, collect rinse water for treatment |
In cosmetic and personal care formulations, SG-10, due to its non-irritating nature to the skin (PII index 0–0.5 for 5% dilution), can be safely used in products that come into direct contact with skin, such as creams, lotions, makeup removers, and facial cleansers. In textile dyeing and finishing, where it is used as a leveling agent and softener, operators are mostly exposed to diluted working solutions, further reducing risk, but it is still recommended to wear gloves to prevent skin dryness from prolonged repeated contact.
In industrial applications such as metalworking fluids and pesticide formulations, it is recommended to install eyewash stations and emergency shower equipment to handle accidental splashes of the pure product. This product has low aquatic toxicity (fish 96h LC50 >100 mg/L), but spill containment measures should still be in place during large-scale industrial use to avoid local accumulation affecting water bodies.