Benzoyl peroxide

RTECS #
DM8575000
CAS #
94-36-0
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods
Updated
March 2019
Molecular Weight
242.24
Molecular Formula
C14H10O4
Synonyms
Acnegel
Aztec BPO
Benzoperoxide
Benzoyl peroxide (ACGIH:OSHA)
Benzoyl superoxide
Benzoylperoxid (German)
Benzoylperoxyde (Dutch)
BZF-60
Cadat BPO
Cadox B-CH 50
Cadox BS
Debroxide
Dibenzoyl peroxide
Dibenzoylperoxid (German)
Dibenzoylperoxyde (Dutch)
Diphenylglyoxal peroxide
Fostex
Garox
Incidol
Loroxide
Lucidol
Luperco AA
Luperco AST
Luperox FL
Nayper B and BO
Norox bzp-250
Norox bzp-C-35
Novadelox
Oxylite
Panoxyl
Perossido di benzoile (Italian)
Peroxide, dibenzoyl
Peroxyde de benzoyle (French)
Persadox
Quinolor compound
Superox 744
Theraderm
Topex
Vanoxide
Xerac

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
eye /rabbit 500 mg/24H mild85JCAE -,324,1986
skin /human 5%/48HADVEA4 34,68,1996
skin /human 5%/8W- intermittent severeADVEA4 62,458,1982
skin /human 0.5%CODEDG 61,209,2009
skin /woman 1% moderateCODEDG 57,386,2007

Mutation Data and Reference

System TestRoute/Organism/TissueDoseReference
DNA Damageother cell types/human100 µmol/LCNREA8 45,2522,1985
DNA Damageother cell types/mouse1 µmol/LPAACA3 24,108,1983
DNA Damageskin/mouse242 mg/kg/4W- intermittentCRNGDP 25,431,2004
DNA inhibitionother cell types/human56 µmol/LCNREA8 45,2522,1985
DNA repair/Escherichia coli250 µg/wellMUREAV 133,161,1984
morphological transformfibroblast/mouse0.1 µmol/L/21D (-enzymatic activation step)EMMUEG 37,231,2001
mutation in mammalian somatic cellskidney/human300 µmol/LCRNGDP 13,1783,1992
other mutation test systemsother cell types/human56 µmol/LCNREA8 45,2522,1985
specific locus testfibroblast/mouse25 µmol/L/5WMUREAV 577S,1,2005
Unscheduled DNA Synthesisliver/rat100 pmol/LCRNGDP 5,1547,1984

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
skin/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 24 gm/kg/30W- intermittentTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Skin and Appendages: Tumors
SCIEAS 213,1023,1981
skin/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 64000 mg/kg/40W- intermittentTumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria

Skin and Appendages: Tumors

Tumorigenic: Facilitates action of known carcinogens
CRNGDP 21,811,2000
skin/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 28800 mg/kg/18W- intermittentTumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria

Skin and Appendages: Tumors

Tumorigenic: Facilitates action of known carcinogens
ARTODN 78,139,2004

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
In Vitro/Human, leukemia cells Inhibitor Concentration (5 percent kill): 15.5 mg/L/30MIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell countingTIVIEQ 27,857,2013
In Vitro/Human, leukemia cells Inhibitor Concentration Low: 3.5 mg/L/30MIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assaysTIVIEQ 27,857,2013
In Vitro/Human, leukemia cells Inhibitor Concentration (25 percent kill): 41.0 mg/L/24HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (dye exclusion): trypan blue assay etc.TIVIEQ 26,1150,2012
In Vitro/Human, lymphocyte Inhibitor Concentration (30 percent kill): 64 mg/L/45HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (dye exclusion): trypan blue assay etc.TIVIEQ 29,901,2015
In Vitro/Human, lymphocyte Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 28 mg/L/45HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assaysTIVIEQ 29,901,2015
In Vitro/Human, monocyte Inhibitor Concentration Low: 33.3 mg/L/2HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assaysTIVIEQ 27,1233,2013
In Vitro/Human, skin Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 567.6 µmol/L/48HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.TXAPA9 245,281,2010
In Vitro/jrdInhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 11.2 mg/L/24HIn Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assaysTIVIEQ 28,626,2014
intraperitoneal/mouse lethal dose (50 percent kill): 147 mg/kgVCVGK* -,542,1994
intraperitoneal/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 372.8 mg/kgVCVGK* -,543,1994
oral/mouse lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1200 mg/kgVCVGK* -,542,1994
oral/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 6400 mg/kgVCVGK* -,542,1994
oral/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 7710 mg/kgLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cyanosis

Liver: Other changes

Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes in urine composition
ARCOC* JUN1982
skin/mammal (species unspecified) lethal dose (50 percent kill): >1 gm/kgKODAK* #900713

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
skin/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 121120 µg/kg/4W- intermittentBiochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammationCRNGDP 25,431,2004

Reviews

OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 5 mg/m3DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-Not classifiable as a human carcinogenDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Limited EvidenceIMEMDT 71,345,1999
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Inadequate EvidenceIMEMDT 36,267,1985
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Inadequate EvidenceIMEMDT 36,267,1985
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Inadequate EvidenceIMEMDT 71,345,1999
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Group 3IMEMDT 71,345,1999
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWCMTVAS 10(3),49,1973
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 488,151,2001
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWEMMUEG 43,143,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWBPCEM* 17,237,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 533,153,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWDERCL* 27,289,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWTXAPA9 243,239,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWRTOPDW 61,1,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWVETOX* ,339,2018
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWVETOX* ,357,2018

Standards and Regulations

OrganizationStandardReference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-airtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3DTLVS* 3,23,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIAMAK-TMW 5 mg/m3;KZW 10 mg/m3, inhal, sen, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARKtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 10 mg/m3, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCEVME 5 mg/m3, FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANYMAK 5 mg/m3, inhal, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 5 mg/m3, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELANDtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPANs1 sen, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICOtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAYtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLANDMAC(time-weighted average) 5 mg/m3, MAC(short term exposure limit) 10 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDSMAC-TGG 5 mg/m3, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINEStime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 5 mg/m3, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m3CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m3CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m3CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m3CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

OrganizationStandardReference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO BENZOYL PEROXIDE-air10H time-weighted average 5 mg/m3NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code 11280; Number of Industries 62; Total Number of Facilities 7331; Number of Occupations 75; Total Number of Employees Exposed 87420; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 11192
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code 11280; Number of Industries 47; Total Number of Facilities 5255; Number of Occupations 42; Total Number of Employees Exposed 32909

Status in Federal Agencies

OrganizationReference
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Inconclusive: E coli polA without S9
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Benzoyl peroxide, 5009
Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018