Skip to content
CarCareTruth

4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated

  • Nonionic surfactants
  • CAS 127087-87-0
  • IUPAC: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(4-nonylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-, branched

4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated (CAS 127087-87-0) appears in 2 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026). It is readily biodegradable.

H302 (harmful if swallowed) and H319 (serious eye irritation Cat 2A) at ingredient level per SDS §3. Signal word WARNING at ingredient level. Not classified as a skin sensitizer. EPA Safer Choice exclusion list: not approved due to endocrine-disrupting degradation products (4-nonylphenol).

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)

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
yes
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
3/5
Purpose: Nonionic surfactant and emulsifier in cleaning formulations

Common questions about 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated

What is 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated used for in car care?
Nonionic surfactant and emulsifier in cleaning formulations
Is 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated a VOC?
No. 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated biodegradable?
Yes. 4-Nonylphenol, Branched, Ethoxylated has a confirmed biodegradable profile.

2 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.