Frequently asked questions

 

Which products contain propylene glycol?
 Propylene glycol is used in a large variety of every day convenience and care products, such as in cosmetics and toiletries, food, animal feed, and pharmaceuticals, as well as in a number of industrial applications.

How can I know that propylene glycol is in a product: Is it labelled?
When propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is used in food, you will find it labelled as “E 1520”, and in feed applications as “E 490”. In cosmetics there is no requirement for an "E"-number, you will find propylene glycol listed as such in the ingredient list. In industrial products, there is no requirement for propylene glycol to be labelled.

How can I come in contact with propylene glycol?
Most consumers will get in contact with propylene glycol during their normal everyday life, when consuming personal care articles like creams, sprays, lotions, when enjoying soft drinks, sweets and other foods, or when taking a medicine or being vaccinated against a severe disease.

What happens with propylene glycol in the body?
In the body, under conditions of normal low exposure, propylene glycol is quickly metabolised and excreted. Its metabolic pathway is comparable to that of sugar: propylene glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, just like what happens with the sugar (energy) in the muscles when being exercised during sports. The lactic acid is then excreted via the urine.

Is there any maximum safety level for ingestion?
Propylene glycol is used professionally by manufacturers of consumer and industrial products, but it is not available to consumers as pure substance. Under normal conditions it is therefore impossible to ingest propylene glycol in large amounts, and consumer exposure to propylene glycol via products is extremely low. In addition, studies have shown that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity. Actually, from a toxicological point of view, alcohol is more toxic than propylene glycol. European legislation limits the presence of propylene glycol as food additive to 1-3 g/kg in the final foodstuff (0.1-0.3%). A full acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0 – 25 mg/kg bodyweight has been assigned for propylene glycol by the European Commission´s Scientific Committee on Food.

Can propylene glycol have negative health effects when consuming it over a long period/time in small amounts?
Propylene glycol has been used safely for more than 50 years in a large variety of applications. Studies have shown that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity. No negative health effects from exposure to small amounts of propylene glycol have ever been observed. The authorities have approved the use of propylene glycol in sensitive applications such as in pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics, and thus confirm its safety.

Is the safety of propylene glycol regularly re-assessed?
The companies producing and using propylene glycol apply rigorous standards to ensure the highest level of quality and hygiene, and they regularly control their processes. In addition, the European Chemical Industry Council and the European Federation of Chemical Distributors have initiated a uniform assessment system throughout the whole value chain. Under this scheme, independent auditors regularly assess authorised partners on the basis of an agreed set of quality criteria.

Who controls the safety of propylene glycol in Europe?
The European Council´s Pharmacopoeia document issued by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM) defines strict rules for the identification, analytical testing and quality specifications of chemicals used in pharmaceutical applications, such as propylene glycol. This document is regularly updated, recently in 2008. In addition, the European authorities responsible for consumer safety have assessed propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) and approved it to be safe for use in direct and indirect food contact. For cosmetics applications, it is the Personal Care Products Council that monitors and approves the use of substances in cosmetics, such as propylene glycol USP/EP.

Can I be sure that industrial propylene glycol will not be used for pharmaceutical applications?
In fact, the quality and purity of both industrial propylene glycol and propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is very high. In addition, for propylene glycol USP/EP intended for use in pharmaceutical applications, utmost care is placed on fulfilling the specific strict rules for the production, transport and hygiene of propylene glycol USP/EP to be used in sensitive applications like in food or cosmetics. All members of the Cefic Propylene Oxide / Propylene Glycol business group do not support the use of industrial propylene glycol for use in pharma, food, animal feed and cosmetic/personal care applications.

How can a de-icer be used in food or in cosmetics?
It is not the “de-icer” that is used; the different “natural” functionalities of propylene glycol make it the preferred substance in both applications. In the de-icer it is the ability to reduce the freezing point, in cosmetics the ability to dissolve, emulsify, or carry active ingredients in substances. In the de-icer industrial propylene glycol is used, in the cosmetic it is of course propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade). It is the multifunctionality of propylene glycol that offers this wide variety of uses.

How pure is pharmaceutical propylene glycol?
Propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) has a very high purity (i.e. absence of impurities) of more than 99,5% – which is extremely high for a chemical. Most important, though, is respecting hygiene regulations and Good Manufacturing Practice standards in the production, transport and further processing of propylene glycol.

How is the seamless distribution chain controlled?
The companies producing and using propylene glycol apply rigorous standards to ensure the highest level of quality and hygiene. The companies organised in Cefic have committed themselves to acting under the voluntary industry initiative “Responsible Care”, where they work together to continuously improve their health, safety and environmental performance. In addition, the European Chemical Industry Council and the European Federation of Chemical Distributors have initiated a uniform assessment system throughout the whole distribution chain. Under this scheme, independent auditors regularly assess authorised partners on the basis of an agreed set of criteria for food, pharma and cosmetic type products, including propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade).

Does propylene glycol cause any abnormalities to inner organs?
No, propylene glycol does not have any negative effects on the human body when entering the metabolism. In the body, under conditions of normal low exposure, propylene glycol is quickly metabolised and excreted. Its metabolic pathway is comparable to that of sugar: propylene glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, just like what happens with the sugar (energy) in the muscles when being exercised during sports. The lactic acid is then excreted via the urine.

Is propylene glycol safe for human health? Can it for example give me a migraine, cause erythema or other allergic reactions?
There might be very individual personal conditions in a body that result in a highly sensitive reaction to any kind of chemical substance. However, propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) has been safely used for decades in a large variety of consumer products, including more than 4000 cosmetics and toiletry products. Over this long period of time and large of variety of products there has been no evidence of such effects.

Is propylene glycol used in pet food safe for all animals?
The European authorities have approved propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) for use in animal feed ("E 490") for specified animals, such as dairy cows, meat cattle, calves, lambs, pigs, poultry and dogs, with the exception of cat feed. The reason is that high doses of propylene glycol cause a type of anaemia in cats which is not seen in dogs, cattle or humans. Propylene glycol is therefore not used in cat feed.

Is propylene glycol one of the „softeners“ in everyday products which are under discussion regarding alleged carcinogenic effects?
No, propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is used as emulsifier, solvent, carrier of flavours, thickener, clarifier or stabiliser, not as softener. In addition, animal-studies have shown that propylene glycol does not have carcinogenic effects.

Is propylene glycol safe for babies and small children?
From over 50 years of safe use, and from existing studies, there is no indication that propylene glycol has any negative effects on the health of humans, including that of babies and small children.

 

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Propylene glycol