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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Good

Polyethylene

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

SEARCH PRODUCTS

Other Concerns

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)

SYNONYMS

● DEUTEROETHYLENE
● ETHENE-D (9CI)
● 2680-00-4
● (1-2H)ETHENE
● DEUTERIOETHENE
● ETHYLENE-D1, 98 ATOM % D
● DTXSID20181305
● ETHENE-D
● ETHYLENE-D1
● CH2=CHD

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Polyethylene is a polymer of ethylene monomers; may contain potentially toxic manufacturing contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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exfoliant/scrub33 products
eye liner943 products
shampoo5 products
facial cleanser30 products
baby lotion1 products
diaper cream1 products
mascara204 products
tooth whitening3 products
toothpaste17 products
bronzer/highlighter358 products
foundation651 products
facial powder82 products
eye shadow755 products
lip balm268 products
lipstick2515 products
lip gloss354 products
anti-aging20 products
facial moisturizer/treatment44 products
antiperspirant/deodorant154 products
moisturizer20 products
foot moisturizer1 products
concealer350 products
serums & essences25 products
nail polish16 products
depilatory2 products
blush368 products
makeup primer60 products
setting powder/spray7 products
hair spray4 products
BB cream23 products
body firming lotion6 products
lip liner466 products
oil controller2 products
eye makeup remover3 products
makeup remover20 products
brow liner535 products
cuticle treatment2 products
around-eye cream27 products
body art12 products
glitter11 products
recreational sunscreen47 products
body wash/cleanser5 products
Exfoliants1 products
lip plumper47 products
hair color and bleaching16 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)45 products
daily use with SPF20 products
lip balm with SPF9 products
Oils & Serums1 products
other eye makeup7 products
baby wipes2 products
mask15 products
baby sunscreen8 products
Novelty Makeup1 products
bath oil/salts/soak1 products
shaving cream (men's)1 products
Under Eye Concealers5 products
tanning oil1 products
hand cream3 products
hair styling aid5 products
conditioner2 products
hair treatment/serum4 products
hair removal waxes2 products
Lip Stain1 products
bar soap1 products
toners/astringents1 products
liquid hand soap1 products
nail glue19 products
bubble bath1 products
beard care1 products
Facial Cleansing Water1 products
exfoliant/scrub - large particle1 products
Facial Sun Care2 products
mouthwash1 products
nail treatment1 products
CC cream1 products

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humansInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Considered safe based on assumption of low absorptionCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry reviewCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Human any irritant - strong evidenceCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergiesUS. National Library of Medicine,
  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environment Canada
  • US. National Library of Medicine,

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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