Ethyl acetate on your skin: a safety profile
Low risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Ethyl acetate (EtOAc; acetic acid ethyl ester; CH₃COOC₂H₅) is an ester solvent with a characteristic fruity odor (present naturally in many fruits and wines as a fermentation byproduct) and is one of the most widely used polar aprotic solvents in organic chemistry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, food flavoring, and consumer products. FDA GRAS: ethyl acetate is GRAS as a food additive, flavoring agent, and solvent for extracting food components; it is approved for use in food processing and as a natural and artificial flavoring. Natural occurrence: ethyl acetate is produced naturally during fermentation by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces species) — wines, beers, and spirits contain 10–100 mg/L ethyl acetate; it is responsible for the 'nail polish remover' off-flavor in wines produced under certain conditions (acetobacter contamination or excessive yeast production). Industrial and consumer applications: nail polish remover (either alone or with acetone), paint thinner, glue solvent (model glue, contact cement), coffee decaffeination (preferred over methylene chloride for GRAS status), tea extraction, pharmaceutical tablet coating, printing inks, and laboratory solvent. Acute toxicity: very low — NIOSH IDLH: 2000 ppm; OSHA PEL: 400 ppm; ACGIH TLV: 400 ppm TWA; oral LD50 rat ~5600 mg/kg; ethyl acetate is rapidly hydrolyzed by esterases to ethanol + acetic acid (both normal metabolites). No carcinogen classification. Metabolism: absorbed ethyl acetate is hydrolyzed by blood and tissue esterases to ethanol and acetic acid; both products enter normal metabolism (ethanol via ADH, acetic acid via TCA cycle).
What is ethyl acetate?
Also known as: Ethyl ethanoate, Acetic acid ethyl ester, Vinegar naphtha, Acetoxyethane.
- IUPAC name
- ethyl acetate
- CAS number
- 141-78-6
- Molecular formula
- C4H8O2
- Molecular weight
- 88.11 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCOC(=O)C
- PubChem CID
- 8857
Risk for people
Low riskEthyl acetate (EtOAc; acetic acid ethyl ester; CH₃COOC₂H₅) is an ester solvent with a characteristic fruity odor (present naturally in many fruits and wines as a fermentation byproduct) and is one of the most widely used polar aprotic solvents in organic chemistry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, food flavoring, and consumer products. FDA GRAS: ethyl acetate is GRAS as a food additive, flavoring agent, and solvent for extracting food components; it is approved for use in food processing and as a natural and artificial flavoring. Natural occurrence: ethyl acetate is produced naturally during fermentation by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces species) — wines, beers, and spirits contain 10–100 mg/L ethyl acetate; it is responsible for the 'nail polish remover' off-flavor in wines produced under certain conditions (acetobacter contamination or excessive yeast production). Industrial and consumer applications: nail polish remover (either alone or with acetone), paint thinner, glue solvent (model glue, contact cement), coffee decaffeination (preferred over methylene chloride for GRAS status), tea extraction, pharmaceutical tablet coating, printing inks, and laboratory solvent. Acute toxicity: very low — NIOSH IDLH: 2000 ppm; OSHA PEL: 400 ppm; ACGIH TLV: 400 ppm TWA; oral LD50 rat ~5600 mg/kg; ethyl acetate is rapidly hydrolyzed by esterases to ethanol + acetic acid (both normal metabolites). No carcinogen classification. Metabolism: absorbed ethyl acetate is hydrolyzed by blood and tissue esterases to ethanol and acetic acid; both products enter normal metabolism (ethanol via ADH, acetic acid via TCA cycle).
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Ethyl acetate. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSHA | — | Occupational exposure limit | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 14 positive / 12 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 14 positive / 12 negative reports) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter ethyl acetate
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
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Fragrance
— perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Ethyl acetate:
-
Fragrance-free formulations
Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented productsRelative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
-
Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizersRelative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
What products contain ethyl acetate?
Ethyl acetate appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); perfume (Fragrance).
Why do regulators disagree about ethyl acetate?
Ethyl acetate has been classified by 3 agencies including OSHA, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Ethyl acetate in the body app
Look up products containing ethyl acetate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in body View raw API dataSources (2)
- NIOSH Pocket Guide: Ethyl Acetate — IDLH 2000 ppm; PEL 400 ppm; ester hydrolysis to ethanol+acetate; fruity odor; nail polish remover; pharmaceutical ICH Class 3; LD50 5600 mg/kg (2019) (2019) — regulatory
- FDA GRAS: Ethyl Acetate — food flavoring; coffee decaffeination; natural fermentation byproduct in wine/beer; ADI not restricted; low toxicity; pharmaceutical solvent; glue sniffing behavioral concern (2021) (2021) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →