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EC number: 201-939-0 | CAS number: 89-78-1
- 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
Menthol is not considered to have sensitizing properties.
This is in agreement with the OECD SIDS initial assessment that concluded: “All studied isomers of menthol are moderately irritating to the skin and slightly irritating to the eye. The skin sensitization potency of menthol isomers in animals and humans is low.” (OECD SIDS 2003)
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Skin sensitisation
Link to relevant study records
- Endpoint:
- skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA)
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: well documented and scientifically acceptabl
- Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
- read-across: supporting information
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- The sensitisation potential of a test material, HR 90/000102 (= L-menthol), was investigated by means of the Buehler Test for sensitisation in guinea pigs.
Following dose ranging a concentration of 25% w/v in ethanol:DEP was selected for induction and challenge. - GLP compliance:
- yes
- Type of study:
- Buehler test
- Justification for non-LLNA method:
- The study was conducted in 1991. At this time an OECD guideline for a LLNA was not available.
- Specific details on test material used for the study:
- - Source and lot/batch No.of test material: HR 90/000102
- Species:
- guinea pig
- Strain:
- Dunkin-Hartley
- Sex:
- female
- Route:
- epicutaneous, occlusive
- Vehicle:
- other: 25% wv in ethanol:diethylphthalate (1:1)
- Concentration / amount:
- 25 %
- Route:
- epicutaneous, occlusive
- Vehicle:
- other: 25% wv in ethanol:diethylphthalate (1:1)
- Concentration / amount:
- 25 %
- No. of animals per dose:
- test grup: 20 guine pigs
control group: 20 guinea pigs - Reading:
- 1st reading
- Hours after challenge:
- 24
- Group:
- test chemical
- Dose level:
- 25% in ethanol:DEP (vehicle)
- No. with + reactions:
- 0
- Total no. in group:
- 20
- Remarks on result:
- other: Reading: 1st reading. . Hours after challenge: 24.0. Group: test group. Dose level: 25% in ethanol:DEP (vehicle). No with. + reactions: 0.0. Total no. in groups: 20.0.
- Reading:
- 1st reading
- Hours after challenge:
- 24
- Group:
- negative control
- Dose level:
- ethanol:DEP (vehicle)
- No. with + reactions:
- 0
- Total no. in group:
- 20
- Remarks on result:
- other: Reading: 1st reading. . Hours after challenge: 24.0. Group: negative control. Dose level: ethanol:DEP (vehicle). No with. + reactions: 0.0. Total no. in groups: 20.0.
- Reading:
- 2nd reading
- Hours after challenge:
- 48
- Group:
- test chemical
- Dose level:
- 25% in ethanol:DEP (vehicle)
- No. with + reactions:
- 0
- Total no. in group:
- 20
- Remarks on result:
- other: Reading: 2nd reading. . Hours after challenge: 48.0. Group: test group. Dose level: 25% in ethanol:DEP (vehicle). No with. + reactions: 0.0. Total no. in groups: 20.0.
- Reading:
- 2nd reading
- Hours after challenge:
- 48
- Group:
- negative control
- Dose level:
- ethanol:DEP (vehicle)
- No. with + reactions:
- 0
- Total no. in group:
- 20
- Remarks on result:
- other: Reading: 2nd reading. . Hours after challenge: 48.0. Group: negative control. Dose level: ethanol:DEP (vehicle). No with. + reactions: 0.0. Total no. in groups: 20.0.
- Group:
- positive control
- Remarks on result:
- other: The sensitivity of this strain of guinea pig to a known sensitiser, ,4-dinitro-chlorobenzene (DNCB), 1s checked regularl . The most recent positive control test ith DNCB was co pleted on 29 December 1989 when 52% of the test group reacted positively.
- Interpretation of results:
- GHS criteria not met
- Executive summary:
The sensitisation potential of a test material, HR 90/000102 (L-menthol), was investigated by means of the Buehler Test for sensitisation in guinea pigs.
Following dose ranging a concentration of 25% w/v in ethanol:DEP was selected for induction and challenge.
At challenge, none of the test and control group animals treated with HR 90/000102 at a concentration of 25% w/v in ethanol:DEP showed a positive response.
There is no evidence from the test results that HR 90/000102 (L-menthol) is a sensitiser in guinea pigs.
Reference
Induction
No irritation was noted in any of the test group animals in Weeks 1, 2 or 3 of induction.
No irritation was noted in the control group animals at any time during induction.
Challenge
No positive responses were noted in any of the animals in the test group or the control group after challenge
with HR 90/000102 at a concentration of 25% w/v in ethanol :DEP.
There were no reactions to challenge with the vehicle in the test or control groups.
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed (not sensitising)
- Additional information:
The sensitisation potential of L-menthol (CAS 2216-51-5) was investigated by means of the Buehler Test for sensitisation in guinea pigs. The test procedure followed the OECD guideline 406. A concentration of 25% w/v of the test substance in ethanol:DEP (1:1) was selected for induction and challenge and no sensitization potential was identified (Cutbert 1991). A LLNA with L-menthol (CAS 2216-51-5) is available as a secondary source evaluated within the OECD SIDS initial assessment on the menthols and showed also no skin sensitization potential. In addition a limited skin sensitisation study using a modified Draize procedure reported no sensitization potential for brasilian methol ( racemic, l-enthol, d-menthol) (Hopf, 1974).
The OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report 2003 evaluated L, D, and racemic L/D menthols together and gives the rational for a menthol category as follows: "Category Rationale: The menthols category is comprised of the isomers L-menthol, D-menthol, the racemate and menthol (unspecified isomers). The menthols can be considered as a category because of their similarity in physico-chemical, toxicological, ecotoxicological and environmental fate properties....In summary, the available toxicity data indicate very similar toxicity profiles for all of the menthol isomers investigated." The category justification is documented in a comprehensive 15 page annex to the SIDS Assessment report (Annex 1: Menthols Category Justification). The annex is attached to the study record entry on the OECD SIDS evaluation in the chapter “Toxicokinetics) as attached background material.
Respiratory sensitisation
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no study available
- Additional information:
no data
Justification for classification or non-classification
In a Buehler test the test material is judged to be non-sensitising when topically applied to Hartley guinea pigs. The LLNA was also negative. Based on the available human data a sensitisation potential of the menthol isomers is considered to be low. Therefore a classification is not justified.
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