Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Diss Factsheets
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 203-375-0 | CAS number: 106-22-9
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data

Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
Skin irritation:
As key study for skin irritation a publication of the ECETOC Task Force was chosen (Bagley, 1996). They developed a data bank for irritant and corrosive chemicals containing 176 chemicals. Pursuant to this publication, dl-Citronellol was tested according to OECD Guideline 404 and under GLP conditions in a single-patch test (three rabbits) as well as in two multi-patch tests (four rabbits for each experiment) by applying 0.5 ml of 98.7% dl-Citronellol to the skin under semiocclusive condition for 4 h. Readings of erythema and edema scores were done at 24, 48, 72 h and 7 days after start of exposure. Indications of skin irritation were found with mean erythema score of 2.0 (single- and multi-patch test) and edema score of 2.2 (single-patch test) and 2.0 (multi-patch test) calculated over all the animals tested. After 7 days, reversibility of irritation was not observed in any of the animals tested. Seven animals showed a slight improvement in erythema and edema scores, however three animals showed no improvement and one animal shows a worsening of the symptoms. Desquamation was apparent in 8 out of 11 animals.
In a comparative study with rabbits, guinea pigs and miniature swine, 0.1 g citronellol was applied to skin of twelve angora rabbits under occlusive condition for 24 h (Motoyoshi, 1979a). 30 min after evaluation of the application sites, a second application followed. As result severe irritant effects were noted and a primary irritation index (PII) of 3 was calculated. When the same protocol was used for a test with six guinea pigs, also a PII of 3 was found, reflecting the observed irritating effects (Motoyoshi, 1979b). In contrast, application of 0.05 g Citronellol to the clipped dorsal skin of six miniature swine under occlusion for 48 h did not result in irritant effects (Motoyoshi, 1979c).
Further in vivo studies from secondary source with limited documentation (reliability 4) confirm the irritant properties of Citronellol observed in the key study described above.
In addition to studies with animals, studies with human are also available for assessment.
In one study, a 24 hour closed patch test with undiluted test material was conducted with male and female volunteers and no irritant reactions were found (Katz, 1946).
In another study, citronellol was applied at a concentration of 32% in acetone to the back of volunteers (Motoyoshi, 1979). After 48 h the patch was removed and sites were evaluated, which was repeated at 72, 96, and 120 hours after patch removal if necessary. As result, citronellol at 32% was found to be moderately irritating, meaning 40%-70% of sites showed positive reactions.
When 0.2 ml citronellol was applied to the skin of the upper outer arm of 30 human volunteers for 4 h, no irritant effects were found (Basketter, 2004).
Further human studies from secondary source with limited documentation (reliability 4) reported irritant effects of Citronellol depending on test substance concentration.
In addition, in vitro studies with Citronellol were performed. A skin integrity function test (SIFT) showed no irritant effects (Heylings, 2003), whereas in studies with human skin models i.e. EpiDerm, Episkin and SkinEthic citronellol was found to be a skin irritant (Fentem, 2001; Portes 2002; Tornier 2006).
Overall in a weight of evidence, Citronellol is considered to be irritating to skin.
Eye irritation:
Eye irritation was evaluated performing a Draize-test similar to OECD guideline 405. In this study, six Vienna White rabbits received an application of 0.1 ml Citronellol into the conjunctival sac of the lower right eyelid. Readings were done at 24, 48, 72 h and 8 days after start of exposure (BASF, 1979). As result, scores for cornea, iris, conjunctivae and chemosis were found to be 1.0, 0.28, 1.72 and 1.44, respectively. Iris and chemosis were reversible at the end of the observation period of 8 days in all animals, whereas conjunctival redness and corneal opacity were not fully reversible within this period. However, it can be assumed that these effects would be reversible if the observation period would have been extended up to 21 days.
An in vivo study with New Zealand rabbits from secondary source with limited documentation (reliability 4) confirms the eye irritant properties of Citronellol observed in the key study described above.
Justification for classification or non-classification
Skin irritation:
The present data fulfill the criteria laid down in 67/548/EEC and 1272/2008/EEC, and a classification "irritating to skin" (R38) and "skin irritant" (Category 2) is warranted.
Eye irritation: The present data on eye irritation do not fulfill the criteria laid down in 67/548/EEC. According to 1272/2008/EEC, a classification as "irritating to eyes" (Category 2) is warranted.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.

EU Privacy Disclaimer
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our websites.