4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated

4-Nonylphenol, branched, ethoxylated (4-NPE-b) is a nonionic alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactant. It provides wetting, emulsification, and detergency in cleaning products. It is NOT approved by the EPA Safer Choice program because it degrades to 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), a persistent endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and is hazardous to aquatic life. In the EU, nonylphenol ethoxylates are restricted under REACH (Annex XVII) for many consumer cleaning applications due to their environmental persistence and estrogenic activity after biodegradation. US regulations are less restrictive, but many formulators are voluntarily replacing NPEs with linear alcohol ethoxylates. ## Regulatory status - Not CA Prop 65 listed - EU REACH Annex XVII restricted for consumer cleaning applications - EPA Safer Choice: excluded (endocrine-disrupting degradation products) - EPCRA Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory: CAS 127087-87-0 listed (reportable)