Is 1,3-Butadiene safe for babies and kids?
Very high risk for kidsInfants may be exposed to 1,3-Butadiene through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal exposure.
What is 1,3-butadiene?
The IUPAC name is buta-1,3-diene.
Also known as: buta-1,3-diene, Divinyl, Biethylene, Vinylethylene.
- IUPAC name
- buta-1,3-diene
- CAS number
- 106-99-0
- Molecular formula
- C4H6
- Molecular weight
- 54.09 g/mol
- SMILES
- C=CC=C
- PubChem CID
- 7845
Risk for babies
Very high riskInfants may be exposed to 1,3-Butadiene through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal exposure.
Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPrenatal exposure to residual 1,3-Butadiene from food-contact materials is a concern due to potential developmental toxicity. Monomers may leach from plastics at elevated temperatures.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
11 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified 1,3-Butadiene. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 2012 | Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) | Leukemia and lymphoma in rubber manufacturing workers; genotoxic via epoxide metabolites (BMO, BDO, DEB); Monograph 100F |
| US EPA | 2002 | known to be carcinogenic to humans | EPA IRIS; leukemia primary endpoint; inhalation unit risk 3.0 × 10⁻² per ppm; metabolized to mutagenic di-epoxide (DEB); the most potent leukemogen among common air pollutants per EPA |
| EPA CTX / NIOSH | — | potential occupational carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | Carcinogenic to humans | |
| EPA CTX / NTP RoC | — | Known Human Carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 1 - Carcinogenic to humans | |
| EPA CTX / CalEPA | — | Known human carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 16 positive / 6 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 16 positive / 6 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where kids encounter 1,3-butadiene
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 1,3-Butadiene:
-
Bio-based polymer alternatives where available
Trade-offs: Performance limitations. End-of-life complexity.Relative cost: 2-5×
Frequently asked questions
Is 1,3-butadiene safe for kids?
Infants may be exposed to 1,3-Butadiene through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal exposure.
What products contain 1,3-butadiene?
1,3-Butadiene appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
What should I do if my child is exposed to 1,3-butadiene?
Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.
Why do regulators disagree about 1,3-butadiene?
1,3-Butadiene has been classified by 11 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See 1,3-Butadiene in the baby app
Look up products containing 1,3-butadiene, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (4)
- IARC Monographs Volume 100F: 1,3-Butadiene — Chemical Agents and Related Occupations (2012) — regulatory
- US EPA IRIS: 1,3-Butadiene — Carcinogenicity Assessment (2002) — regulatory
- NIOSH: Occupational Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene — Current Intelligence Bulletin 41 (1990) — regulatory
- ATSDR Toxicological Profile for 1,3-Butadiene (2012) — report
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →