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EC number: 200-289-5 | CAS number: 56-81-5
- 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
The acute oral LD50 was determined in three species, rat, mice and guinea pigs. In all three species the oral LD50 was >/= 11,500 mg/kg.
The acute dermal toxicity of glycerin was examined in guinea pigs.
The dermal LD50 was determined to be 45 ml/kg (56,750 mg/kg) in guinea pigs.
In an inhalation study, rats were exposed to aerosol from test material at targeted concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mg glycerol/L for 6 hours. The 4 h inhalation LC50 was determined to be above 5.85 mg/L in rats.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Acute toxicity: via oral route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 11 500 mg/kg bw
Acute toxicity: via inhalation route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Value:
- > 5.85 mg/L air
- Physical form:
- inhalation: aerosol
Acute toxicity: via dermal route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 56 750 mg/kg bw
Additional information
Glycerol is essentially non-toxic following acute administration.
In the available evaluations performed by official bodies (MAK 2007, OECD 2002, EFSA 2017) a number of additional acute toxicity studies were evaluated and summarised.
All considered glycerol to be of low acute toxicity to mammals. The range of acute oral LD50 values derived from studies in experimental animals is between >4,000 and < 38,000 mg/kg, with the majority of values being between 23,000 and 38,000 mg/kg. For acute dermal toxicity a single LD50 of >18,700 mg/kg for rabbits was summarised by the OECD. The low level of acute toxicity in rodents is further supported by the results of the Danish (Q)SAR Database (LD50 rat oral 7500 mg/kg, LD50 mouse oral 13,000 mg/kg). There was no new relevant information identified up to and including 2021 (most recent literature research).
(Q)SAR predicted profile for glycerol CAS -Nr 56-81-5, Danish (Q)SAR Database, http://qsar.food.dtu.dk Date: 09-02-2021
Glycerin [MAK Value Documentation in German language, 2007]
Re-evaluation of glycerol (E 422) as a food additive, EFSA Journal 2017;15(3):4720
Glycerol, CAS Number 56-81-5, OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report For SIAM 14 Paris, France, 26-28 March 2002
Justification for classification or non-classification
There is no justification for classification based on data from available studies.
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.

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