CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel considered these ingredients to be similar in that they are large copolymers and polymers, uniformly produced in chemical reactions that leave very little residual monomer. Typical levels of residual acrylic acid were less than 20 ppm, although levels of 1000 ppm are found occasionally. Odor from residual monomers causes producers of these ingredients to keep levels as low as possible.

The CIR Expert Panel noted that these very large copolymers and polymers exhibited little toxicity. Acrylates Copolymer did produce skin irritation, but no evidence of sensitization was found.

Although there appears to be a large variation in the mix of monomers used in the synthesis of these copolymers and polymers, they are similar in that the polymers, except for dermal irritation, are not significantly toxic. Residual monomer levels are kept as low as possible. Although the monomers may produce adverse effects under some circumstances, the levels found in cosmetics and personal care products are not considered to present a safety risk.

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Acrylics and their copolymers
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...

Acrylates Copolymer and all related ingredients may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/sectors/cosmetics/documents/di...

Ingredients in the Acrylates Copolymer group are copolymers and polymers comprised of acrylic acid andother monomeric building blocks. Nonetheless, they are all uniformly large molecules and are produced in chemical reactions that leave very little residual monomer.