Is Super Glue Toxic?
Super glues are cyanoacrylate adhesives. New Jersey's Department of Health describes methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, also called Super Glue, as a thick clear liquid with an irritating odor used in adhesives and in dentistry. NIOSH notes that contact with moisture causes rapid polymerization, and lists irritation of the eyes, skin and nose, blurred vision, tearing and rhinitis as symptoms of exposure to methyl-2-cyanoacrylate.
New Jersey's health department says methyl 2-cyanoacrylate may cause a skin allergy, and that once an allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a skin rash.
For skin contact, the department says to flush with plenty of water, then remove cured adhesive with hot soapy water, and not to pull or scrape it off because skin can also come off. For the eyes, it says to flush immediately with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower lids, and to seek medical attention immediately.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceNew Jersey's Department of Health describes methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, also called Super Glue, as a thick clear liquid with an irritating odor used in adhesives and in dentistry. New Jersey Department of Health ↗
- Government sourceNew Jersey's Department of Health says methyl 2-cyanoacrylate may cause a skin allergy, and if allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a skin rash. New Jersey Department of Health ↗
- Government sourceFor skin contact with methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, New Jersey's Department of Health says to flush with water, remove cured adhesive with hot soapy water, and not to pull or scrape it off as skin can also come off. New Jersey Department of Health ↗
- Government sourceFor eye contact with methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, New Jersey's Department of Health says to flush immediately with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately. New Jersey Department of Health ↗
- Government sourceNIOSH notes that contact with moisture causes rapid polymerization of methyl-2-cyanoacrylate, and lists irritation of the eyes, skin and nose, blurred vision, tearing and rhinitis as symptoms of exposure. NIOSH, CDC ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.