A foaming agent widely used in personal care products such as shampoos, hair dyes, and bath products. It is also used in laundry and dishwashing detrgents. These products generally contain 1 to 5 percent DEA or DEA-related ingredients. DEA can also be found in some pesticide formulations, as a so-called inert ingredient. It can be found in some intravenous medications as solvent.
Products containing DEA may be contaminated with nitrosamines, some of which may cause cancer, if the product contains nitrites as a preservative. Nitrosamines may accidentally contaminate DEA-containing products as well.
Health Effects
Immediate Health Effects
If SWALLOWED, diethanolamine is Moderately Toxic
If ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN, diethanolamine is Moderately Toxic
If INHALED (SNIFFED OR BREATHED IN), diethanolamine is Not Available
Longterm or Delayed Health Effects
There is little evidence for carcinogenicity in animals studies and is not considered a carcinogen in humans.
Allergen
Animal studies have shown brain development problems in fetuses, but there is little evidence that the findings could apply to humans.
Other
Skin and eye irritation.
Some tests on laboratory animals suggest that DEA may cause liver or kidney tumors.
Tests on laboratory animals have shown damage to the testicles, reduced sperm activity, and effects on the liver, kidney, bone marrow, brain, spinal cord and skin from exposure to diethanolamine.
Immunotoxin
How Exposures Occur
Absorption Through Scalp and Skin
DEA in shampoos, conditioners, creams, cosmetics, hair dyes, bath products, and other personal care products may penetrate a child’s skin during normal use.
Inhalation
Children may breathe in DEA when pesticides containing DEA are sprayed near them.
Intraveneous (IV) Solutions
Diethanolamine solutions are used as solvents for numerous drugs that are administered intravenously.
Significant Statistics
DEA itself is not harmful, but it can react with other chemicals in the product or in the body to form a carcinogen called NDEA, nitrosodiethanolamine.
Read labels. On personal care products, look for DEA, diethanolamine, or DEA-related ingredients, including: Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, Triethanolamine (TEA), TEA-Lauryl Sulfate. These ingredients could also be contaminated with nitrosamines, a potentially cancer-causing byproduct of DEA.
As a precaution, discard products that contain DEA.
If you use products with DEA:
Rinse thoroughly after use
Use cold water when shampooing to reduce absorption
Alternatives
Natural shampoos and other personal care products are sold in natural foods stores. Some may contain DEA-related ingredients (see Detection), so check labels before purchasing. Shop for better personal care products using our CHEC List on Personal Care Products for Babies and Kids page.
Choose organic pest control methods for your home, garden and lawn.
Epstein, Samuel, and David Steinman. The Safe Shopper's Bible: A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics and Food. New York: Macmillan Publishers, 1995.
Other government agencies
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740-3835
888-INFO-FDA (888-463-6332)
