Cocamide DEA; Coconut Diethanolamide(in 3,808 products)
Potential Risk Index®:
About:
Functions:
1. Emulsifier - Allows water and oils to remain mixed together to form an emulsion.
2. Surfactant - Reduces the surface tension to allow mixtures to be formed evenly. Emulsifier is a specific type of surfactant which allows two liquids to mix together evenly
3. Viscosity Controlling Agent - Maintains or alters the thickness of a liquid, mostly used in cosmetics
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists coconut oil diethanolamine condensate (cocamide DEA) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen, which identifies this chemical as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
In June 2012, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment added cocamide DEA to the California Proposition 65 (1986) list of chemicals known to cause cancer.
Recent Findings:
- Cocamide DEA (cocamide diethanolamide) has a high potential to cause an allergic reaction due to diethanolamide as an impurity. A study on the occupational allergic contact dermatitis potential of cocamide DEA involving approximately 2500 patients, 1% of them had an allergic reaction. The worst being those who use hand cleansers which account for 68% of all allergic reactions. [2]
- A patch test study conducted on approximately 1700 patients also showed that 1% of them had an allergic reaction. The main sources of exposure came from shampoos and liquid hand soap cleansers. [3]
- Cutaneous allergies were present in patients who use personal care products containing cocamide DEA. It is also hypothesized that cocamide DEA will exacerbate patients who already suffer from multiple skin allergies. [4]
Overall, it is evident that cocamide DEA has the potential to cause allergic skin reactions in approximately 1% of the population. Those who already suffer from skin allergies should take precautionary steps by only purchasing personal care products which are free of cocamide DEA.
Scientific References:
2. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide (Contact Dermatitis. 2014, Mar; 70(3):169-74)
3. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by cocamide diethanolamine (Contact Dermatitis. 2016, Jul; 75(1):20-4)
4. Allergy to cocamide DEA (Am J Contact Dermat. 1998, Mar; 9(1):40-1)
Regulatory References:
1. US California Proposition 65, Chemicals known to the State to Cause Cancer
- Coconut oil diethanolamine condensate (cocamide diethanolamine)
2. WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Group 2B [2018]
- Coconut oil diethanolamine condensate
3. EU CosIng Annex III, SUBSTANCES WITH RESTRICTIONS IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS [2018]
- Ref: III/60
Safety and Hazards (UN GHS):
1. Causes skin irritation (H315)
2. Causes serious eye damage (H318)
3. Causes serious eye irritation (H319)
4. Suspected of causing genetic defects (H341)
5. Suspected of causing cancer (H351)
6. Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (H373)
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