Polyoxyethylene stearate SG-40 (CAS No.: 9004-99-3) is a non-ionic surfactant. According to GHS classification criteria, this product is not classified as a hazardous substance or mixture. Toxicological data indicate that its acute oral toxicity is extremely low (rat LD50 > 5000 mg/kg), placing it in the low toxicity category, and its health risks in routine industrial use are controllable. Under normal operating conditions, as long as basic safety practices are followed (wearing gloves, safety goggles, and ensuring adequate ventilation), it poses no harm to operators.
Regarding skin and eye irritation, this product has passed OECD 404 and OECD 405 standard tests, showing no irritation to skin or eyes. Additionally, OECD 406 testing indicates no skin sensitization. Furthermore, available data do not show mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, or specific target organ toxicity. Therefore, when used as an emulsifier in personal care products and cosmetics, it is safe for human health.
From an environmental perspective, this product exhibits low toxicity to aquatic organisms (fish LC50 > 100 mg/L), making it an environmentally friendly chemical for aquatic ecosystems. More importantly, it has good biodegradability, meeting OECD 301 standards, and can be effectively degraded by microorganisms once released into the environment, making it unlikely to accumulate in ecosystems over the long term. In terms of bioaccumulation potential, although its log Pow value is relatively high, due to its high molecular weight and low bioavailability, its bioaccumulation potential is expected to be low.
| Assessment Item | Test Method/Standard | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Oral Toxicity (Rat) | — | LD50 > 5000 mg/kg, Low toxicity |
| Skin Corrosion/Irritation | OECD 404 | Non-irritating |
| Serious Eye Damage/Irritation | OECD 405 | Non-irritating |
| Skin Sensitization | OECD 406 | Non-sensitizing |
| Mutagenicity | — | Does not cause genetic toxicity |
| Reproductive Toxicity | — | Not classified as a reproductive toxicant |
| Aquatic Toxicity (Fish) | — | LC50 > 100 mg/L, Low toxicity |
| Biodegradability | OECD 301 | Readily biodegradable |
| Bioaccumulation Potential | — | Expected to be low |
| GHS Classification | — | Not classified as a hazardous substance or mixture |
Based on its excellent safety profile, SG-40 is widely used in various industries: in cosmetics and personal care products as an O/W emulsifier and solubilizer for creams, lotions, shampoos, and body washes; in textile printing and dyeing as a softener and antistatic agent; and in pesticide formulations as an emulsifying and dispersing carrier. These applications all benefit from its low toxicity and non-irritating properties.