ChemForward Alternatives

Tetracosane, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-

CASRN#

111-01-3

INCI Name

SQUALANE

Alternate Names

2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane; Hexamethyl tetracosane; Tetracosane,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-; Squalane (Polyquaternium-39); Cosbiol; Perhydrosqualene; Dodecahydrosqualene

Common Trade Names

Evoil; Neossance; Robane; Spinacane, Vitabiosol

Molecular Weight

423 g/mol

Functional Uses

lubricant, lubricant additive, processing

Common Impurities

Is this a VOC?

Is this an exempt VOC?

Vapor Pressure

3.6E-10 mm Hg

Octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow)

5.49

Solubility

Boiling Point

350 °C

Particle size range as aerodynamic diameter

- - - μm

Hazard Summary

C2C Chemical Rating

grey/c

GHS Health

None

GHS Enviro

None

Assessed by

U.S. EPA Low Priority Chemical report.

Assessment Date

Jul 10, 2020

Assessment Expires

Jul 10, 2025

Verification Status

verified

Executive Summary

Squalene is a saturated hydrocarbon oil that is formed by the hydrogenation of squalene. Its structure is composed of a 24-carbon chain substituted with six methyl groups in the 2, 6, 10, 15, 19, and 23 positions. Squalane can be found in small quantities in sebum, a natural substance that acts as an antioxidant and protects the skin from bacteria while keeping it hydrated. Squalene is most commonly found in nature as a lipid in both plants and animals, most notably in shark livers, olive oil, rice, and sugar cane. NOTE: The data provided in this assessment came primarily from the US EPA final designation report, Supporting Information for Low-Priority Substance Tetracosane, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl- (Squalene) (https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0125-0009). According to US EPA, “low-priority substance designations give the public notice of chemical substances for which the hazard and/or exposure potential is anticipated to be low or nonexistent and provides some insight into which chemical substances are likely not to need additional evaluation and risk management under TSCA.”

Hazard Tables

How to read the GHS Hazard Summary Table

	Carcinogenicity	Mutagenicity	Reproductive Toxicity	Developmental Toxicity	Acute Toxicity	STOT-Single	STOT-Repeated	STOT- Neurotoxicity-Single	STOT- Neurotoxicity-Repeated	Skin Sensitizer	Respiratory Sensitizer	Skin Corrosion/Irritation	Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation	Acute Aquatic Toxicity	Chronic Aquatic Toxicity	Ozone Depletion
Oral Dermal Inhalation	NC Rationale Available data is insufficient for GHS classification: squalane’s limited absorption, transformation profile, a lack of structural alerts, and experimental genotoxicity results provide sufficient information to indicate this chemical is unlikely to be carcinogenic. NC Rationale Available data is insufficient for GHS classification: squalane’s limited absorption, transformation profile, a lack of structural alerts, and experimental genotoxicity results provide sufficient information to indicate this chemical is unlikely to be carcinogenic. NC Rationale Available data is insufficient for GHS classification: squalane’s limited absorption, transformation profile, a lack of structural alerts, and experimental genotoxicity results provide sufficient information to indicate this chemical is unlikely to be carcinogenic.	NC Rationale Negative results in a range of species provide sufficient information to indicate low concern for squalane to cause genotoxicity.	NC Rationale Lower confidence due to combined repeated dose toxicity study with reproduction toxicity screening. No reproductive effects on mating, fertility, and estrus cycle provide sufficient evidence to indicate low concern for reproductive toxicity. CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available.	NC Rationale Lower confidence due to combined repeated dose toxicity study with developmental toxicity screening. No rdevelopmental effects on pup examination, and pup weight gain provide sufficient evidence to indicate low concern for developmental toxicity. CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available.	NC Rationale Several studies provide sufficient information to indicate low concern for acute toxicity from oral exposure. CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available.	CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available.	NC Rationale A combined repeated dose, reproductive, and developmental study provides sufficient information to indicate low concern for toxicity resulting from repeated oral exposures. CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available.	CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available.	NC Rationale Relevant endpoints measured in a repeat dose toxicity study provide sufficient information to indicate squalane is of low concern of neurotoxicity. Lower confidence due to no traditional neurotoxicity studies available. CNP Rationale Data not available. CNP Rationale Data not available.	NC Rationale These studies in humans provide sufficient information to indicate low concern for skin sensitization.	NC Rationale No structural alerts identified provides sufficient information to indicate low concern for respiratory sensitization. Lower confidence because a lack of structural alerts is insufficient for establishing a GHS classification	NC Rationale Studies in humans and rabbits provide sufficient information to indicate low concern for squalane to cause skin irritation.	CNP Rationale Given the endogenous nature of this chemical and overall low hazard profile, including negative results for skin sensitization and skin irritation, EPA has sufficient information to anticipate low concern for eye irritation	NC Rationale An LC50 exceeding the maximum water solubility for squalene provides sufficient information to indicate squalane is low concern for acute exposures to invertebrates in the aquatic environment.	NC Rationale Acute-to-chronic ratio extrapolation and weight of evidence approach provide sufficient information to indicate squalane is low concern for chronic exposures invertebrates in the aquatic environment.	NC Rationale Chemical is not on Montreal Protocol or IPCC List.

Other

Explosives: Not classified
Flammable Gases: Not classified
Aerosols: Not classified
Oxidizing Gases: Not classified
Flammable Liquids: Not classified
Flammable Solids: Not classified
Self-reactive substances and mixtures: Not classified
Pyrophoric Liquids: Not classified
Pyrophoric Solids: Not classified
Self-heating Substances and Mixtures: Not classified
Substances and Mixtures which in contact with water, emit flammable gases: Not classified
Oxidizing Liquids: Not classified
Oxidizing Solids: Not classified
Organic Peroxides: Not classified
Corrosive to Metals: Not classified
Desensitized Explosives: Not classified
Lactation Toxicity: Classification not possible (Data gap or insufficient data)
Aspiration: Classification not possible (Data gap or insufficient data)

How to read the C2CC Hazard Summary Table

Human Health											Environmental							Other
	Carcinogenicity	Mutagenicity	Reproductive & Developmental Toxicity	Endocrine Activity / Disruption	Oral Toxicity	Dermal Toxicity	Inhalation Toxicity	Neurotoxicity	Skin, Eye, and Respiratory Corrosion/Irritation	Sensitization of Skin and Airways	Fish Toxicity	Daphnia Toxicity	Algae Toxicity	Terrestrial Toxicity	Persistence	Bioaccumulation	Climatic Relevance	Other (Human Health)	Organohalogens	Toxic Metals	Other (Environmental Health)
Oral Dermal Inhalation	- - -	G	G - -	- Rationale Data not available.	G	-	-	G - -	G	G	G	G	-	-	G Rationale Multiple biodegradation studies provide sufficient information to indicate low concern for persistence.	G Rationale Based on the reasonably available information and weight of scientific evidence including the endogenous nature of squalene, excretion in mammals, and low experimental biomagnification factor in fish, sufficient information is available to indicate a low potential concern for bioaccumulation of squalene.	G	G Rationale No additional data available.	G	G	G Rationale No additional data available.

The Cradle to Cradle Material Health Assessment Methodology assigns hazard ratings to 24 individual human and environmental health endpoints. The system is largely based on GHS with the addition of endpoints including but not limited to Persistence, Bioaccumulation Potential and Endocrine Activity/Disruption. The possible C2C Chemical Ratings that can result from ChemForward’s simplified C2C chemical rating logic are:

C2C Chemical Rating	Color	Short Definition	Rules Summary
a	green	preferred in all applications	Chemical has no YELLOW or RED hazards or Cancer data gaps.
b	green	preferred in all applications	Chemical has no YELLOW hazards but lacks long-term cancer studies.
c/b	yellow/ green	acceptable in all applications	Chemical has one or more YELLOW risk flags before considering application. Applications where exposure is possible would result in a ‘c’ rating. Applications where exposure is unlikely or expected to be negligible would result in a ‘b’ rating.
grey/c	grey/ yellow	insufficient information available	Chemical has one or more GREY risk flags before considering application. Applications where exposure is possible would result in a ‘grey’ rating. Applications where exposure is unlikely or expected to be negligible would result in a ‘c’ rating.
x/c	red/ yellow	may be acceptable or problematic depending on application	Chemical has one or more RED risk flags before considering application. Applications where exposure is possible would result in a ‘x’ rating. Applications where exposure is unlikely or expected to be negligible would result in a ‘c’ rating.
N/A	red	problematic in all applications	Chemical is on a regulatory concern list, is climatically active, and/or is an organohalogen.
x-PBT	red	problematic in all applications	Chemical has a RED hazard for Persistence, Bioaccumulation, and another endpoint.
N/A	red	problematic in all applications	Chemical is a toxic metal, all of which have a RED hazard for Cancer, Mutagenicity, or Reproductive toxicity.
N/A	red	problematic in all applications	Chemical is on a regulatory concern list and has a RED hazard for Cancer, Mutagenicity, or Reproductive toxicity.
N/A	purple	banned in all applications	Chemical is on the C2C Certified banned list.

Tetracosane, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-

Hazard Summary

Hazard Tables

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C2C Chemical Ratings

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Verification Status

How to read the GHS Hazard Summary Table

How to read the C2CC Hazard Summary Table