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Toxicological Evaluation and Limit Values for Nonylphenol, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Tricresyl, Phosphates and Benzoic Acid

3. Human toxicity

3. Human toxicity
3.1 Short term toxicity
3.2 Long term toxicity
3.3 Reproductive / Developmental effects
3.4 Genotoxic effects
3.5 Carcinogenic effects

3.1 Short term toxicity

Inhalation

No data have been found.

Oral intake

No data have been found.

Dermal contact

Cosmetic formulations containing NPEs with 4, 9, or 12 ethylene oxide units in varying concentrations have been tested for skin irritation in human volunteers (CIR 1983). The results show a range of effects from no to mild skin irritation.

NPEs with 4, 9, 15, or 50 ethylene oxide units were non-sensitising in human test subjects (CIR 1983).

Mucous membrane contact

A 10% NPE spermicidal film caused mild local vaginal irritation in 2 out of 30 women (CIR 1983).

3.2 Long term toxicity

No data have been found.

3.3 Reproductive / developmental effects

APEs and NPEs (of ethoxylate chain length 9 and 11) are used as spermicides. The results of three large-scale epidemiological studies do not indicate a relationship between use of spermicides and delivery of malformed infants (IPCS 1998).

3.4 Genotoxic effects

No data have been found.

3.5 Carcinogenic effects

No data have been found.

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