ContaminantDB: 1,4-Dioxane

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (6)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-03-06 18:58:17 UTC

Update Date

2026-05-14 17:49:17 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000183

Identification

Common Name

1,4-Dioxane

Class

Small Molecule

Description

1,4-Dioxane (commonly referred to as simply ‘dioxane’) is used as a solvent in the manufacture of other chemicals and as a laboratory reagent. It is a trace contaminant of some chemicals used in cosmetics, detergents, and shampoos. (4)

Contaminant Sources

Clean Air Act Chemicals
HPV EPA Chemicals
IARC Carcinogens Group 2B
OECD HPV Chemicals
STOFF IDENT Compounds
T3DB toxins
ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals

Contaminant Type

Cosmetic Toxin
Ether
Household Toxin
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Lachrymator
Organic Compound
PMT
Pollutant
Solvent
Synthetic Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
1,4-DIETHYLENE dioxide	ChEBI
1,4-Dioxacyclohexane	ChEBI
1,4-Dioxan	ChEBI
Di(ethylene oxide)	ChEBI
Dioxan-1,4	ChEBI
Dioxane-1,4	ChEBI
Glycol ethylene ether	ChEBI
p-Dioxane	ChEBI
Tetrahydro-1,4-dioxin	ChEBI
Tetrahydro-p-dioxin	ChEBI
Tetrahydro-para-dioxin	ChEBI
Dioxane	MeSH
Diethylene ether	MeSH
Dioxan	MeSH

Chemical Formula

C₄H₈O₂

Average Molecular Mass

88.105 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

88.052 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

123-91-1

IUPAC Name

1,4-dioxane

Traditional Name

dioxane

SMILES

C1COCCO1

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/C4H8O2/c1-2-6-4-3-5-1/h1-4H2

InChI Key

RYHBNJHYFVUHQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 1,4-dioxanes. These are organic compounds containing 1,4-dioxane, an aliphatic six-member ring with two oxygen atoms in ring positions 1 and 4.

Kingdom

Organic compounds

Super Class

Organoheterocyclic compounds

Class

Dioxanes

Sub Class

1,4-dioxanes

Direct Parent

1,4-dioxanes

Alternative Parents

Substituents

Para-dioxane
Oxacycle
Ether
Dialkyl ether
Organic oxygen compound
Hydrocarbon derivative
Organooxygen compound
Aliphatic heteromonocyclic compound

Molecular Framework

Aliphatic heteromonocyclic compounds

External Descriptors

dioxane (CHEBI:47032 )
a small molecule (CPD0-1682 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

non-polar solvent

Biological Roles

carcinogenic agent

Chemical Roles

non-polar solvent

Physical Properties

State

Liquid

Appearance

1,4-Dioxane is a colorless volatile liquid with a faint pleasant odor and mixes easily with water. (4)

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	11.8°C
Boiling Point	101.1 °C
Solubility	1000 mg/mL at 20 °C [RIDDICK,JA et al. (1986)]

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	283 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	-0.23	ALOGPS
logP	-0.094	ChemAxon
logS	0.51	ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Basic)	-3.9	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	2	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	18.46 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	22.09 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	8.97 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	1	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - EI-B (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0570-9000000000-fdad6aa284c3554c651b	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-056u-9000000000-ecaeff4720923991aaf7	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-000i-9000000000-a45455298eba19de60ad	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-000i-9000000000-77a0261c34ff328faf53	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-08fu-9000000000-f3d10a4316418b32ed1d	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-000i-9000000000-7416375fa93c0232c2a5	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-000i-9000000000-cde6a647139e5c454cde	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-056r-9000000000-5654a8542422e5b26444	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-0002-9000000000-1cd14a6c0dba761ba726	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-0a4m-9000000000-633cab61fb801edbb652	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-052g-9000000000-4a133ce242a34983b4d0	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-052o-9000000000-65decf9e96649a33752e	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-06rf-9000000000-0632a2171f1de13ca240	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-0006-9000000000-06f5fc3dedd188a15fe9	Spectrum
MS	Mass Spectrum (Electron Ionization)	splash10-004i-9000000000-fabd529b7bd7382fe095	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Oral (4) ; inhalation (4) ; dermal (4)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Though the mechanism of toxicity of 1,4-dioxane has not yet been elucidated, it is known that its carcinogenic effects are caused by a non-genotoxic mechanism that is most likely cytotoxic in nature. (4, 6)

Metabolism

Exposure to 1,4-dioxane may occur by inhalation, ingestion, and to a lesser extent by dermal contact. 1,4-Dioxane is quickly absorbed and metabolized to beta-hydroxyethoxyacetic acid (HEAA) by mixed-function oxidase enzymes. HEAA can then be converted to 1,4-dioxane-2-one under acidic conditions. Both of these products are rapidly and extensively eliminated in the urine (>95%). Unchanged 1,4-dioxane can also be excreted in the urine and in exhaled air, but mainly after high-dose exposure. (4)

Toxicity Values

LD50: 1550 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rabbit) (1) LD50: 4350 mg/kg (Subcutaneous, Mouse) (1) LD50: >8300 mg/kg (Dermal, Rabbit) (1) LD50: 2100 mg/kg (Oral, Dog) (1) LD50: 799 mg/kg (Intraperitoneal, Rat) (7) LC50: 46 g/m3 over 2 hours (Inhalation, Rat) (1)

Lethal Dose

470 ppm for an adult human. (2)

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans. (3)

Uses/Sources

1,4-Dioxane is primarily used in solvent applications for the manufacturing sector; however, it is also found in fumigants and automotive coolant. 1,4-Dioxane is a byproduct of the ethoxylation process in cosmetics manufacturing, thus many products on the market today contain 1,4-dioxane in very small amounts. However, some cosmetics, detergents, and shampoos may contain 1,4-dioxane at levels higher than recommended by the FDA for other products. 1,4-Dioxane can also be found in tap water, so human exposure to 1,4-dioxane may also occur during activities such as showering, bathing, and laundering. (4, 5)

Minimum Risk Level

Not Available

Health Effects

1,4-Dioxane for short period of time cause eye and nose irritation at low levels, and severe kidney and liver effects and possibly death at very high levels. For long-term exposure, studies in animals have shown that breathing vapors of 1,4-dioxane, swallowing liquid 1,4-dioxane or contaminated drinking water, or having skin contact with liquid 1,4-dioxane affects mainly the liver and kidneys. Studies in workers did not indicate whether 1,4-dioxane causes cancer, but animal studies suggest that it is a probable human carcinogen. (4)

Symptoms

1,4-Dioxane causes eye and respiratory tract irritation. (5)

Treatment

Not Available

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

DB03316

HMDB ID

HMDB0244216

FooDB ID