Product Safety Assessment

DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

Product Safety Assessment documents are available at www.dow.com/productsafety/finder/.

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Names
Product Overview
Manufacture of Product
Product Description
Product Uses
Exposure Potential
Health Information
Environmental Information
Physical Hazard Information
Regulatory Information
Additional Information
References

Names
 CAS No. 9036-19-5  TRITON™ nonionic surfactants  DOW™ octylphenyl
 Octylphenol ethoxylate  Octylphenyl polyethylene glycol ethoxylate surfactants
 OPE  Octylphenol polyoxyethylene  Polyethoxylate
 Alkylaryl polyether alcohols ether surfactants  Polyoxyethylene
 Octylphenoxypolyethoxy-  α-[(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl) octylphenyl ether
ethanol phenyl]-ω-hydroxy  Polyethylene glycol
 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)  Polyoxyethylene octylphenol octylphenyl ether
 Octoxynol

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Product Overview
 Octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEs) are surfactants commonly used in paints, emulsions and
wetting agents and are a type of alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE). The Dow Chemical Company
(“Dow”) and affiliated companies of Dow sell OPEs under the trade name TRITON™ X
octylphenol ethoxylate surfactants. This product family has various molecular weights and
properties. The properties of a particular OPE surfactant depend on the number of ethoxylate
groups that are attached (the number of ether linkages along the chain), which can vary from
just a few up to about one hundred. See Product Description, Product Uses, and Manufacture
of Product. NOTE: The trade name TRITON X surfactants is used for surfactants having
different chemistry and hazards than TRITON X octylphenol ethoxylate surfactants.
Please consult the relevant Safety Data Sheet for hazard and handling information specific
to these materials.
 Occupational exposure is possible because OPE is used in a wide variety of industrial and
agricultural products; however, exposure is limited during use due to end-use applications.
Consumer exposure is also possible but to a lesser extent since OPEs are primarily used in
industrial applications. See Exposure Potential.

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Product Safety Assessment: DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

 The results of numerous mammalian toxicity studies conducted on octylphenol (OP) and
octylphenol ethoxylates (OPE), along with an understanding of their occupational and
consumer uses support the conclusion that human safety should not be a concern for these
compounds. Trace levels of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) found in recent household
monitoring studies do not represent a toxicological concern and are significantly below
concentrations considered to be safe. Trace levels of octylphenol have been detected in
recent human biomonitoring studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The CDC report emphasizes “the measurement of an environmental chemical in a person’s
blood or urine is an indication of exposure; it does not by itself mean that the chemical
causes disease or an adverse effect” and “research studies, separate from these data, are
required to determine which blood or urine levels are safe.” The CDC report notes “orally
administered 4-tert-octylphenol was well absorbed, did not bioaccumulate, and was quickly
eliminated from the blood” in rat studies.1 Some screening level tests have shown that OP
and some low-mole (lower molecular weight) OPEs bind weakly to the estrogen receptor in
cell cultures, but high-mole (higher molecular weight) OPEs do not. Because the properties of
individual TRITON™ X surfactants vary, consult the specific Safety Data Sheet for the
material of interest, or see Health Information.
 Octylphenol ethoxylates are inherently biodegradable and can be effectively removed in well
functioning sewage treatment plants. They are unlikely to bioaccumulate in the food chain,
and range from moderately toxic to toxic to fish and aquatic organisms on an acute basis.
See Environmental Information.
 These materials are normally non-reactive; however, prolonged, excessive heat may cause
some products to decompose.2,3 For further details, see Physical Hazard Information.

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Manufacture of Product
 Capacity – Global consumption of alcohol ethoxylates in 2009 was estimated to be 612,000
metric tons (1.35 billion pounds).4 Dow sells alkylphenol ethoxylates globally and has a U.S.
production site in Hahnville, Louisiana.
 Process – OPE is produced by reacting ethylene oxide and octylphenol with sodium
hydroxide as a catalyst. The ratio of ethylene oxide to octylphenol determines the molecular
weight of the product, or the length of the molecule produced (see figure below). Sometimes
water is added to the product for ease in handling (i.e., liquid versus solid).

Octylphenol Ethylene oxide Octylphenol ethoxylate,

(R = branched C8H17) where x varies by product
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Product Description3,5,6
TRITON™ X Series surfactants can be either solids or liquids depending on their molecular
weight and use temperatures. The solids are white to yellow in color and commonly diluted with
water to yield liquid products. Liquid products are transparent and slightly yellow at room
temperature.

TRITON X Series surfactants vary in molecular weight and the number of ether linkages in the
polyoxyethylene chain, causing some products to have different solubilities. For example,

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Product Safety Assessment: DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

TRITONTM X-114 and products of longer chain lengths are soluble in water at room temperature,
while TRITON X-45 is considered borderline in oil-water solubility. Increasing temperature makes
these surfactants become less soluble in water. Some products may form gels in certain solvents or
under the right conditions. Review the Safety Data Sheet for additional information or Contact Us.
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Product Uses7
TRITON™ X Series surfactants are primarily used in industrial and paint/emulsion applications.
However, TRITON X Series surfactants can be used for a wide variety of applications, including:
 Emulsifiers – in the manufacture of emulsion polymers and as stabilizers in latex polymers
 Coatings – for pigment wetting and stabilization in coatings
 Agriculture – as emulsifiers or dispersants
 Cleaning products (minor use) – as liquid, paste, or powdered cleaning compounds, and
heavy-duty industrial products
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Exposure Potential3,5,6
Octylphenol ethoxylates are used in the production of industrial, agricultural and a limited number of
consumer products. Based on the uses for these surfactants, the public could be exposed through:
 Workplace exposure – Exposure can occur either in an octylphenol ethoxylates manufacturing
facility or in the various industrial, agricultural or consumer product manufacturing facilities that
use these surfactants. Because the health risks associated with octylphenol ethoxylates vary,
consult the Safety Data Sheet for the product being used. Each manufacturing, commercial
service and consumer facility should have appropriate work processes and safety equipment
policies in place to limit exposure, including proper ventilation. See Health Information.
 Consumer exposure to products containing OPE – Dow does not sell OPE for direct
consumer use. However, they can be used as a component in paints, agricultural formulations
and other products, so there is a potential for consumers to come into contact with products
containing small amounts of these materials. Review product labels and follow all instructions
and guidelines for proper use to help prevent unnecessary exposure. See Health Information.
 Environmental releases – Most uses of OPEs result in their release to industrial or publicly-
owned wastewater treatment plants, where they have been shown to be highly treatable,
though trace levels of low mole OPEs (i.e., OPE1 and OPE2) and OP can be released to the
environment after treatment.8 Some uses of OPE (e.g. in formulated agricultural products) can
result in their release directly to the environment during use. OPEs are soluble in water and are
inherently biodegradable; they continue to degrade in aquatic and terrestrial environments, In
the event of a spill, the focus is on containing the spill to prevent contamination of soil, surface
or ground water. Use inert materials (e.g., sand, earth) to contain spills. To avoid gelling and
foaming problems, do not use a stream of water to flush away spills. Any water that is
contaminated with OPE should be sent to a wastewater treatment facility for appropriate
treatment to reduce OPE residues to concentrations that pose no harm to the environment. In
sufficient concentrations, OPEs can be toxic to aquatic organisms and animals. Consult the
relevant Safety Data Sheet for more information about protective equipment and procedures.
See Environmental Information, Health and Physical Hazard Information.
 Large release – Industrial spills or releases are infrequent and are generally contained. If a
large spill does occur, the material should be captured, collected and re-processed, or disposed
of according to applicable governmental requirements.

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Product Safety Assessment: DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

 In case of fire – If OPE is present in a fire situation, it can produce carbon monoxide (highly
toxic) and carbon dioxide (an asphyxiant at sufficient concentrations). Do not direct a solid
stream of water or foam into hot, burning pools; this may cause frothing and increase fire
intensity. Avoid accumulation of water. Emergency personnel should wear proper protective
equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and follow emergency
procedures carefully. When relevant in scale or risk, the community should be notified of the
hazards associated with the specific release event. See Environmental Information, Health and
Physical Hazard Information.
For more information, see the relevant Safety Data Sheet.
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Health Information9
The results of numerous mammalian toxicity studies conducted on octylphenol (OP) and
octylphenol ethoxylates (OPE), along with an understanding of their occupational and consumer
uses support the conclusion that human safety should not be a concern for these compounds.
Trace levels of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) found in recent household monitoring studies do
not represent a toxicological concern and are significantly below concentrations considered to be
safe10. Trace levels of octylphenol have been detected in recent human biomonitoring studies
conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC report emphasizes “the
measurement of an environmental chemical in a person’s blood or urine is an indication of
exposure; it does not by itself mean that the chemical causes disease or an adverse effect” and
“research studies, separate from these data, are required to determine which blood or urine levels
are safe.” The CDC report notes “orally administered 4-tert-octylphenol was well absorbed, did
not bioaccumulate, and was quickly eliminated from the blood” in rat studies.11 Some screening
level tests have shown that OP and some low-mole (lower molecular weight) OPEs bind weakly
to the estrogen receptor in cell cultures, but high-mole (higher molecular weight) OPEs do not.

NOTE: The trade name TRITON™ X surfactants is used for surfactants having different
chemistry and hazards than TRITON X octylphenol ethoxylate surfactants. Health information for
specific products is summarized on the relevant Safety Data Sheet. It is important to note that
health risks associated with individual products may vary based on their formulation or intended
use. The Safety Data Sheet is the preferred source for specific health information. These
materials may also contain minor components or additives that have additional health risks. An
overview of health information for octylphenol ethoxylate products appears below.

Eye contact – Although some products are essentially nonirritating, most range from moderately
to severely irritating with the potential for corneal injury.

Skin contact – Although brief contact with some products is essentially nonirritating, other
products range from slightly to moderately irritating. Prolonged skin contact for some products
may cause moderate irritation and possibly burns; however, prolonged contact is unlikely to result
in absorption of harmful amounts.

Ingestion –These products have low toxicity. Small amounts swallowed incidental to normal
handling operations are not likely to cause injury.

Inhalation – Prolonged exposure is not expected to result in adverse effects.

Other – In two-year feeding studies, animals that were fed up to 700 mg/kg/day of the 40-mole
ethoxylate of octylphenol (OPE40) – the equivalent of eating 48 grams (1.7 ounces) for a 68-kg
(150-pound) adult each day for two years – showed no adverse effects.

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Product Safety Assessment: DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

For more information, see the relevant Safety Data Sheet.

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Environmental Information
Octylphenol ethoxylates are extensively biodegraded in laboratory screening tests, but do not
meet the stringent criteria for classification as readily biodegradable. 12 These substances are
inherently biodegradable to carbon dioxide and water, and numerous studies have shown that
under conditions in which sufficient oxygen, nutrients, and microorganism concentrations occur,
such as in soils, surface waters, and well-functioning wastewater-treatment facilities, the
substances are extensively biodegraded. Treatment efficiencies vary, although most facilities
typically remove between 80 and 90% (through a combination of biodegradation and adsorption).
Small amounts of various metabolites have been detected in effluents from sewage treatment
facilities, including low molecular weight octylphenol ethoxylates, ether carboxylates, and
octylphenol. Octylphenol is a minor metabolite in aerated systems, although higher levels can be
formed during anaerobic treatment of sewage biosolids (sludges).13

Octylphenol ethoxylates are not expected to bioaccumulate in the food chain since similar
materials (nonylphenol ethoxylates) are metabolized and excreted by fish.12 This conclusion is
supported by an assessment of all commercially relevant alkylphenols and their ethoxylates
performed by Environment Canada, which stated that none of the substances met the criteria for
persistence or bioaccumulation.14 ™

Octylphenol ethoxylates vary in their toxicity, ranging from moderately toxic to toxic to fish and
aquatic organisms on an acute basis. The toxicity of octylphenol ethoxylates increases as the
length of the ethoxylate chain (molecular weight) decreases.

Alkylphenols and their ethoxylates, like nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates – similar
materials to the octylphenol and its ethoxylates – have been the subject of considerable
regulatory attention due to concerns about their aquatic toxicity and weak endocrine activity. 15

Risk assessments for alkylphenols and their ethoxylates have been conducted by regulatory
authorities around the world, including octylphenol ethoxylates (United Kingdom Environment
Agency, 2005).

For more information, see the relevant Safety Data Sheet.

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Physical Hazard Information16,3

These materials are normally non-reactive; however, avoid strong bases at high temperatures,
strong acids, strong oxidizing agents and materials reactive with hydroxyl compounds. Prolonged,
excessive heat may cause some products to decompose.

For more information, see the relevant Safety Data Sheet.

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Product Safety Assessment: DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

Regulatory Information
Governmental requirements may exist that govern the manufacture, sale, transportation, use
and/or disposal of OPEs. These requirements may vary by city, state, country or geographic
region. Information may be found by consulting the relevant Safety Data Sheet or Contact Us.

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Additional Information
 Safety Data Sheet (www.dow.com/webapps/msds/msdssearch.aspx)
 Dow’s Surfactant web site (www.dowsurfactants.com)
 Alkylphenol Ethoxylates Research Council (www.aperc.org/)
 European Council for Alkylphenols and Derivatives (www.cepad.eu/index.asp)
 United Kingdom Environment Agency, Environmental Risk Evaluation Report: 4-tert-
Octylphenol, 2005
 Melcer, H., et al., Wastewater Treatment of Alkylphenols and Their Ethoxylates: A State of
the Science Review, Water Environment Federation, 2007

For more business information about TRITON X™ surfactants, visit Dow’s Surfactant web site at
www.dow.com/surfactants/.

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References

1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
The Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, 2009:
http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/FourthReport.pdf.
2 Nonionic Octylphenol Polyether Alcohols, The Dow Chemical Company, Form No. UC-1458,

April 1997, page 2.

3 TRITON™ X-15 Safety Data Sheet, The Dow Chemical Company.
4Janshekar, Hossein, Rizvi, Syed, Inoguchi, Yoshio, “CEH Marketing Research Report:

Surfactants, Household Detergents and Their Raw Materials,” Chemical Economics Handbook,
SRI Consulting, June 2010, page 11.
5 TRITONTM X-100 Safety Data Sheet, The Dow Chemical Company.
6 TRITONTM X-405 Safety Data Sheet, The Dow Chemical Company.
7 Dow Surfactants website: www.dow.com/surfactants/products/octyl.htm.
8 Melcer, H, et al., “Wastewater Treatment of Alkylphenols and Their Ethoxylates,” Water

Environment Research, 2007.

9 The Dow Chemical Company, Internal Document “Questions & Answers on Alkylphenol

Ethoxylates and Product Safety,”.

10 Osimitz, Thomas G., Droege, Wiebke, Driver, Jeffrey H. 2015. Human Risk Assessment for

Nonylphenol. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal. Vol. 21, Iss. 7.
11 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

The Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, 2009:

http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/FourthReport.pdf.
12 Klecka, G.M., Staples, C.A., Naylor, C.G., and Losey, B.S., “C8- and C9-Alkylphenols and

Ethoxylates: II. Assessment of Environmental Persistence and Bioaccumulation Potential,”

2008, Human Ecol. Risk Assess., 14:1025–1055.
13 Melcer, H., et al., Wastewater Treatment of Alkylphenols and Their Ethoxylates: A State of the

Science Review, Water Environment Federation, 2007.

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Product Safety Assessment: DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

14 “Response to APERC’s Proposal Regarding Environment Canada’s Preliminary Categorization

of Nonylphenol, Octylphenol and their Ethoxylates,” Environment Canada, November 21, 2005.
15 The United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Nonylphenol, 71 FR 9337,” National

Recommended Water Quality Criteria, 2006.

16 Nonionic Octylphenol Polyether Alcohols, The Dow Chemical Company, Form No. UC-1458,

April 1997, page 2.

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Product Safety Assessment: DOW™ Octylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants

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