Diethanolamine is considered to cause cancer

Diethanolamine (DEA) is used to synthesize kinds of fatty acid amines in various personal care products such as cocamide DEA. But DEA and its derivatives have been categorized known carcinogen with the latest update "the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity" from California's Ministry of Environment on Jun 19, 2015. The bill attracted a lot of attentions and concerns from the industry while some companies already started to reduce or stop the using of diethanolamine and its derivatives now. Monoethanolamine (MEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) are also warned because of containing diethanolamine even in a small percentage.

Ethanolamines are widely used in medicine, pesticide, dyestuff, rubber, corrosion inhibitors and surfactant and so on. As a new generation of Alkylol Amines product, isopropanolamines and ethanolamines shared many similarities in terms of performance and with many superior physical and chemical characteristics to meet environmental and safety regulations. Ethanolamines will be widely replaced by isopropanolamines.

For details please refer to California Proposition 65. If you need any further help, please contact HBL.