TRIACETIN
CASRN#
102-76-1
INCI Name
TRIACETIN
Alternate Names
1,2,3-Propanetriol triacetate; Acetic, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester; Triacetin; 1,2,3-Propanetriyl triacetate; Glycerin triacetate; Glycerol triacetate; Glyceryl triacetate; Triacetyl glycerine; Triacetylglycerol (ChemIDplus 2020)
Common Trade Names
Fungacetin; Enzactin; Glyped; Kesscoflex TRA; Kodaflex triacetin; Vanay (ChemIDplus 2020)
Molecular Weight
218.2 g/mol
Functional Uses
Triacetin functions as an antimicrobial, film forming agent, fragrance, plasticizer, and solvent in cosmetic products (EC 2020)., It is used as a plasticizer for cigarette filters and cellulose nitrate (OECD 2002a)., It is also used in photographic films and as a solvent in the manufacture of celluloid, a fixative in perfumery, and a food additive (OECD 2002a).
Common Impurities
Moisture and acetic acid
Is this a VOC?
No
Is this an exempt VOC?
No
Vapor Pressure
0.0025 mm Hg
Octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow)
0.21
Solubility at 25 C
5.8E+4 mg/l
Boiling Point
258 °C
Particle size range as aerodynamic diameter
- - - μm
Hazard Summary
C2C Chemical Rating
c/b
GHS Health
None
GHS Enviro
None
Assessed by
ToxServices LLC
Assessment Date
Nov 4, 2020
Assessment Expires
Nov 3, 2025
Verification Status
verified
Executive Summary
A ChemFORWARD chemical hazard assessment (CHA) comprises a comprehensive evaluation and hazard classification of 24 human health and environmental toxicity endpoints, based on criteria from the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Substances (GHS) and Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Material Health Assessment Methodology (C2C). As the evaluation includes assessment of oral, dermal, and inhalation routes of exposure, a ChemFORWARD CHA includes 51 written rationales and data summaries to support conclusions and hazard classifications. Triacetin (IUPAC name: 2,3-diacetyloxypropyl acetate) is an antimicrobial, film forming agent, fragrance, plasticizer, and solvent in cosmetic products. It is used as a plasticizer for cigarette filters and cellulose nitrate. It is also used in photographic films and as a solvent in the manufacture of celluloid, a fixative in perfumery, and a food additive. Triacetin is a clear, colorless liquid, is non-flammable, non-corrosive, non-explosive, and has high solubility in water. Based on its vapor pressure of 0.0025 mmHg, which is greater than the ChemFORWARD guidance value of 0.01 kPa (10 Pa or 0.075 mmHg), and its boiling point of 258 - 259ºC, which is greater than the ChemFORWARD guidance value of 250°C, it is not a VOC. Triacetin has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel and was determined to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations (CIR 2003). It is listed on the Chinese Food and Drug Administration’s Cosmetics Ingredient List. It has not been reviewed by the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), and is not listed on Annex II or III of the EC Cosmetics Regulation, California’s Safe Cosmetics Program’s Reportable Ingredients List, or Canada’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. No human health concerns are associated with triacetin. ToxServices used the metabolites glycerin and acetic acid to fill the oral carcinogenicity endpoint, and performed modeling where feasible and when no data were available. Despite the use of surrogates and modeling, there are a number of data gaps including carcinogenicity (dermal and inhalation), reproductive toxicity (dermal and inhalation), developmental toxicity (dermal and inhalation), systemic toxicity following single exposure (dermal and inhalation) and repeated exposure (dermal), and neurotoxicity following single and repeated exposure (oral, dermal, and inhalation). ToxServices did not identify any reasonable surrogates with relevant data to fill data gaps. Triacetin has low environmental concerns. It has low acute and chronic aquatic toxicities, is readily biodegradable, meeting the 10-day window, and is non-bioaccumulative based on its experimental log Kow of 0.21 and highest estimated BCF of 3.162 L/kg wet-wt. It does not contribute to global warming or deplete the ozone layer. This chemical hazard assessment was performed in accordance with the timeline of animal testing bans in Europe and California. Only studies that comply with in vivo testing timeline bans are used in this ChemFORWARD assessment to classify hazards and assign a point of departure. Endpoint-specific summaries in this assessment specify disclosed dates of animal testing. For purposes of performing a cosmetics ingredient safety assessment, a 333 mg/kg/day point of departure is recommended for triacetin, and is based on the NOAEL from a repeated dose toxicity and reproductive/developmental study with triacetin and a safety factor of 3.
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
Negative results were identified in rats and mice studies using the surrogate glycerin. Additionally, the long history of use of acetic acid as a food additive and negative results in repeated dose toxicity studies in rats and rabbits indicate that it is non-carcinogenic. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on experimental data on glycerin and a long history of safe use for acetic acid.
CNP
Rationale
Classification is not possible because no experimental data are available and the VEGA and Danish QSAR modeling results are equally reliable and contradictory.
CNP
Rationale
Classification is not possible because no experimental data are available and the VEGA and Danish QSAR modeling results are equally reliable and contradictory.
NC
Rationale
Triacetin was negative in bacterial reverse mutation assays at concentrations up to 5,000 µg/plate in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Because an increase of chromosomal aberrations in an in vitro study was reported only at the highest concentration (2.2 mg/mL) in the presence of metabolic activation and due to the high cytotoxicity (75%) and low pH (4.9), ToxServices did not consider it to be biologically relevant. Triacetin was also negative in a suspension test in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in a mutation assay using Drosophila melanogaster. Therefore, ToxServices did not classify triacetin as there is no evidence of genotoxicity. Confidence in the conclusion is high as it is based on reliable experimental data.
NC
Rationale
There were no adverse reproductive effects in a GLP-compliant OECD Guideline 422 study conducted in rats and the NOAEL was 1,000 mg/kg/day. Based on the absence of adverse effects, triacetin does not warrant classification. Confidence in the conclusion is low because it is based on a screening assay.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
NC
Rationale
There were no adverse developmental effects identified in a GLP-compliant OECD Guideline 422 study conducted in rats and the NOAEL was 1,000 mg/kg/day. Based on the absence of adverse effects, triacetin does not warrant classification. Confidence in the conclusion is low because it is based on a screening assay.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
NC
Rationale
The weight of evidence indicates that the oral LD50 is > 2,000 mg/kg, the GHS guidance value. Although OECD reported LD50 values of 1,800 mg/kg in male mice and 1,100 mg/kg in female mice, no details were provided an all other LD50 values, including in well reported studies, exceed the guidance value. Therefore, ToxServices did not classify triacetin. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on experimental data.
NC
Rationale
Triacetin is not an acute dermal toxicant based on LD50 values > 2,000 mg/kg, which is the GHS cutoff. Confidence in the conclusion is high as it is based on multiple animal studies.
NC
Rationale
In an acute inhalation toxicity study an LC50 of > 1.7 mg/L triacetin (aerosol) was identified in rats. No additional acute toxicity studies were identified; however, no deaths or adverse systemic effects were reported in rats exposed to 53 mg/L/day triacetin (vapor) in a 64-day study. As 53 mg/L/day is greater than the guidance value of 20 mg/L (vapor), triacetin is not classified. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on well-conducted studies.
NC
Rationale
No evidence of systemic toxicity was reported at up to 2,000 mg/kg (the GHS guidance value) in a GLP-compliant acute oral toxicity study conducted according to OECD Guideline 401 in rats. Therefore, triacetin was not classified and confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on a well-conducted study.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
NC
Rationale
An acute inhalation toxicity study in rats found that treatment caused no irritation of the mucous membranes, and there was no evidence of clinical signs indicative of respiratory irritation; therefore, ToxServices did not classify triacetin as a respiratory irritant. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on a well-conducted study.
NC
Rationale
Clinical studies indicate that triacetin is well-tolerated in infants (≥ 6 months old) at up to 4,500 mg/kg for 4.5 months. A GLP-compliant repeated dose toxicity study with a reproductive and developmental toxicity screening assay conducted according to OECD Guideline 422 identified no adverse systemic effects in animals treated with up to 1,000 mg/kg/day triacetin. As GHS guidance values are based on 90 days studies, they were multiplied by 2.2 (90 days / 41 days = 2.2) in order to account for study duration (i.e., 10 – 100 mg/kg/day adjusted to 22 – 220 mg/kg/day). Based on the NOAEL of 1,000 mg/kg/day triacetin is not classified because the NOAEL is greater than 220 mg/kg/day. Confidence in this classification is high because it is based on a well-conducted study. Additional repeated dose toxicity studies were identified; however, limited study details were provided and the U.S. EPA (2012) noted many study deficiencies.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
NC
Rationale
No evidence of systemic toxicity has been reported in repeated dose toxicity studies with triacetin at up to 53 mg/L/day in a 64-day study and 1.59 mg/L/day in 90-day studies. As 1.59 mg/L/day is greater than the GHS guidance value of 1 mg/L/day (vapor), triacetin was not classified. Confidence is low because the inhalation studies provided limited details and do not comply with current guidelines.
CNP
Rationale
Ataxia and weakness were reported in an acute oral toxicity study in rats; however, no information on the reversibility of the effects was provided. GHS criteria state that if narcotic effects (Category 3) are not transient in nature, they should be considered for classification as Category 1 or 2 (UN 2019). As it is unknown if the effect are transient and if the effects were reported in animals that survived the study (i.e., they did not occur immediately before death), insufficient information is available for classification.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
CNP
Rationale
No data.
NC
Rationale
Undiluted triacetin was not sensitizing in a maximization test in humans or in multiple tests in guinea pigs. Therefore, it is not classified as a skin sensitizer. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on experimental data.
NC
Rationale
Triacetin is not expected to be a respiratory sensitizer based on extrapolation from negative skin sensitization studies and lack of structural alerts for respiratory sensitization, which indicates that GHS classification is not warranted (ECHA 2017). Confidence in the conclusion is low as this evaluation does not include non-immunologic mechanisms of respiratory sensitization, and no specific data are available for respiratory sensitization.
NC
Rationale
In a well-conducted GLP-compliant guinea pig skin irritation test, triacetin caused mild skin irritation that was fully reversible within 24 hours. The mean (24, 48, and 72 hour) erythema and edema scores were 0. Two additional guinea pig studies reported that triacetin caused mild skin irritation; however, very limited study details were provided. In one human patch test, triacetin caused no skin irritation and in a Dehring-chamber test it caused very mild skin reactions in humans. Very limited details were provided for the clinical studies. GHS criteria (UN 2019) state that chemicals should be classified as a mild skin irritant (Category 3) when they cause a “mean score of ≥ 1.5 and < 2.3 for erythema/eschar or edema in at least 2 of 3 tested animals from gradings at 24, 48, and 72 hours or, if reactions are delayed, from grades on 3 consecutive days after the onset of skin reactions”. As the GLP-compliant skin irritation study in guinea pigs reported mean erythema and edema scores of 0 and additional studies with very limited details reported no irritation to mild irritation, ToxServices did not classify triacetin. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on experimental data.
NC
Rationale
Triacetin was not irritating to the eyes of rabbits in a well-conducted study conducted in a manner similar to OECD Guideline 405. Additional animal studies reported that triacetin caused no irritation to mild irritation; however, limited study details were provided. One case report stated that a commercial product containing triacetin caused eye discomfort and redness of the conjunctiva; however, the authors claimed that the product also contains diacetin which causes more discomfort than triacetin. As triacetin was not irritating to the eyes of rabbits in a GLP-compliant study conducted in a manner similar to OECD Guideline 405, ToxServices did not classify triacetin. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on a well-conducted study.
NC
Rationale
The 72 hr EC50 for triacetin was > 940 mg/L in algae, and therefore exceeds the criteria for GHS classification. Confidence is high because it is based on high quality data.
NC
Rationale
The 72 hr NOEC values for growth rate and biomass in algae are 460 mg/L. This exceeds the criteria for GHS classification for substances with adequate chronic toxicity data that are rapidly degradable. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on experimental data.
NC
Rationale
Triacetin is not listed in the Annexes to the Montreal Protocol (and therefore is not classified as GHS Category 1 for ozone layer hazards), as a greenhouse gas in the IPCC report, or as an EPA ozone depleting substance with global warming potential. Confidence is high based on list search.
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

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
G
-
-
-
Rationale
The weight of evidence indicates that triacetin is not endocrine active based on TOX21 screening of estrogen, androgen, and thyroid activity screening. There are no indications of endocrine activity or disruption based on gross pathology in reproductive and repeated dose toxicity studies. However, ToxServices identified no in vivo data specifically examine hormone levels. Therefore, insufficient data are available to draw a conclusion for this endpoint.
G
G
G
-
-
-
G
G
G
G
G
-
G
Rationale
Triacetin is readily biodegradable based on the results of OECD Guideline 301B and 201C studies. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on high quality data.
G
Rationale
The estimated BCF is estimated to be 3.162 L/kg wet-wt (regression-based) and 0.9241 (Arnot-Gobas), based on the measured log Kow of 0.21. Therefore, the bioaccumulation potential is low based on the estimated BCF of < 500. Confidence in the conclusion is high because it is based on a measured partition coefficient.
Y
G
Rationale
Triacetin has no absorption in the UV region; therefore, it is not expected to be phototoxic. Triacetin is not flammable, explosive, or oxidizing, and it is not a VOC and is not known to enhance skin penetration. Therefore, green hazard rating was assigned.
G
G
G
Rationale
No other environmental concerns were identified based on data or physicochemical properties. Triacetin is not mobile in soil, is not a chelator, and is classified as having a low hazard to waters under WGK.