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Benzoyl peroxide
Last updated: 18/05/2024
(Also known as: diphenylglyoxal peroxide; benzoyl superoxide; benzoic acid peroxide)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
A topically applied antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
1929, first used for wounds
Examples of veterinary uses
Used as an antibacterial agent to treat burns and as a dermatologic agent for skin infections and rashes
Examples of species treated
Dogs
Approval status
VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)
Approved
EU Regulatory approval status
Approved
Chemical structure
Isomerism
-
Chemical formula
C₁₄H₁₀O₄
Canonical SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=O)OOC(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2
Isomeric SMILES
No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)
OMPJBNCRMGITSC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
InChI=1S/C14H10O4/c15-13(11-7-3-1-4-8-11)17-18-14(16)12-9-5-2-6-10-12/h1-10H
2D structure diagram/image available?
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name Relationship Link
benzoyl peroxide -
General status
Veterinary substance type
Antibacterial, Antibiotic
Substance groups
Substituted benzene
Minimum active substance purity
-
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
Metabolises and so generates free radicals that oxidise proteins in bacterial cell membranes, exerting a bactericidal action.
Molecular targets
[Catalase, Inhibitor], [Glutathione peroxidase, Inhibitor], [Arginine decarboxylase, Activator], [Protein kinase C, Inhibitor], [Superoxide Dismutases, Inhibitor]
CAS RN
94-36-0
EC number
202-327-6
CIPAC number
-
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
-
Therapeutic Class
Dermatologicals: Other dermatological preparations
ATCvet Code
QD11AX90
Controlled Drug?
No
Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification
-
Molecular mass
242.23
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
-
IUPAC name
dibenzoyl peroxide
CAS name
benzoyl peroxide
Other status information
-
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
-
Physical state
White solid
Formulations
Property
Product
Manufacturer
Authorisation Route
Legal Class (GB/UK)
Example products (past and present) using this active
Paxcutol 2.5875 % w/v Shampoo Virbac UK National authorisation Prescription only medicine to be authorised by a veterinarian (POM-V)
Formulation and application details
Often supplied as shampoos and pour-on formulations
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
9.1
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
 Low
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
250000
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
Carbon disulphide		 -
Melting point (°C)
104
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Boiling point (°C)
Explodes before boiling
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Degradation point (°C)
- - -
Flashpoint (°C)
176
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Autoignition		 -
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
2.88 X 1003 Calculated -
Log P
3.46
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
 High
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
- - -
Data type
- - -
Density (g ml⁻¹)
1.334
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
- - -
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
- - -
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
- - -
Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost
From plant surface
- - -
From soil surface
- - -
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
- - -
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
- - -
Refractive Index
1.543
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Environmental release
-
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
- - -
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₅₀ (field)
- - -
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₉₀ (field)
- - -
Note
-
Manure DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
- - -
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
- - -
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Air degradation
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.
Decay in stored produce DT₅₀
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd (mL g⁻¹)
-
V1 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
1 = Estimated data with little or no verification
 Slightly mobile
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
1800
Notes and range
Estimated
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
- - -
Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
- - -
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
- - -
CT₅₀ (days)
- -
Known soil and groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites
Metabolite name and reference
Aliases
Formation medium / Rate
Estimated maximum occurrence fraction
benzoic acid - Animals -
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 7710
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat		 Low
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL
(mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
(ppm diet)
- -
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)
- - -
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Soil micro-organisms
- - -
Collembola
Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Non-target plants
- - -
- - -
Honeybees (Apis spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Chronic
- - -
Notes
-
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
-
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
-
Mason bees (Osmia spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Other bee species (1)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
- - -
Mode of exposure
-
Other bee species (2)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
- - -
Mode of exposure
-
Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Lacewings)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)
- - -
Aquatic ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Mesocosm study data
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
Marine bivalves
- - -
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
General
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)
High (class III) - -
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 7710
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat		 Low
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
1000
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat		 -
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
12.2
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat		 -
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ = 250 mg kg⁻¹
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID )
3 = Unverified data of known source
Mouse		 -
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
Dermal penetration studies (%)
- - -
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464
- - -
Exposure Routes
Public
-
Occupational
-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
Excreted as the benzoate in the urine
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications )
5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
 -
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source)
0 = No data
 No data found
Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant
No data found No data found No data found
Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
Eye irritant Phototoxicant  
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
 No data found  
General human health issues
Moderately toxic
May cause blindness
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Potentially explosive, strong oxidant and highly flammable
Corrosive
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 5.2
CLP classification 2013
-
WHO Classification
Not listed (Not listed)
UN Number
UN3104
Waste disposal & packaging
Packaging Group II (moderate danger)
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity
-
TRANSLATIONS
Language
Name
English
benzoyl peroxide
French
peroxyde de benzoyle
German
Benzoylperoxid
Danish
-
Italian
perossido di benzoile
Spanish
-
Greek
-
Polish
-
Swedish
-
Hungarian
-
Dutch
benzoylperoxyde
Norwegian
-
Record last updated: 18/05/2024
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as: Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242