1: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Hydroxyethylcellulose,Hydroxypropylcellulose,Methylcellulose,Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose,and Cellulose Gum

Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, and Cellulose Gum are modified cellulose polymers that are used in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 10%. The cellulose derivatives pass essentially unchanged through the gastrointestinal tract following oral administration. They are practically nontoxic when administered by inhalation or by oral, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, or dermal routes. Subchronic and chronic oral studies indicate that the cellulose derivatives are nontoxic when administered to laboratory animals. No significant teratogenic or reproductive effects have been demonstrated. Ocular and dermal irritation studies show that the cellulose derivatives are, at most, minimally irritating to rabbit eyes and nonirritating to slightly irritating to rabbit skin when tested at concentrations up to 100%. No mutagenic activity of theseingredients was demonstrated. The cellulose derivatives at concentrations up to 100% were nonirritating to mildly irritating, nonsensitizing, and nonphotosensitizing when evaluated in clinical studies. It is concluded that theingredients reviewed are safe as cosmeticingredients in the present practices of use and concentration.