Is 17β-Estradiol safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsInfants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of 17β-Estradiol poses heightened risk.
What is 17β-estradiol?
The IUPAC name is (8R,9S,13S,14S,17S)-13-methyl-6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,17-diol.
Also known as: (8R,9S,13S,14S,17S)-13-methyl-6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,17-diol, estradiol, beta-Estradiol, 17beta-Estradiol.
- IUPAC name
- (8R,9S,13S,14S,17S)-13-methyl-6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3,17-diol
- CAS number
- 50-28-2
- Molecular formula
- C18H24O2
- Molecular weight
- 272.4 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC12CCC3C(C1CCC2O)CCC4=C3C=CC(=C4)O
- PubChem CID
- 5757
Risk for babies
Moderate riskInfants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of 17β-Estradiol poses heightened risk.
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
Moderate risk17β-Estradiol is an endogenous pregnancy hormone essential for implantation and early pregnancy maintenance. Exogenous estrogen supplementation in early pregnancy (beyond physiological levels) is not recommended due to historical evidence from DES (diethylstilbestrol) — a more potent synthetic estrogen that caused vaginal clear cell adenocarcinoma and reproductive tract abnormalities in daughters of treated women. While 17β-estradiol is less potent than DES, the principle of minimal exogenous estrogen exposure during pregnancy applies. Environmental E2 exposure during pregnancy is generally far below levels of concern given the extremely high endogenous estrogen production during pregnancy. Fetal development may be affected by significant exogenous estrogen perturbations during critical windows of sex differentiation and reproductive organ development.
Regulatory consensus
5 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified 17β-Estradiol. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC (Group 2B for steroidal estrogens as individual compounds in Vol 72, 1999; Group 1 for estrogen-only menopausal therapy as a pharmaceutical class in Vol 100A, 2012) | 2012 | IARC Group 2B (individual compound); Group 1 applies to the pharmaceutical class (estrogen-only menopausal therapy); endogenous sex hormone; environmental endocrine disruptor; feminization of fish at ng/L concentrations; breast cancer and endometrial cancer risk with long-term HRT; not classified for carcinogenicity by NTP (as individual compound), US EPA, or EFSA | |
| EPA CTX / NTP RoC | — | Known Human Carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / CalEPA | — | Known human carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 3 positive / 9 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 3 positive / 9 negative reports) |
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 17β-estradiol
- 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 17β-Estradiol:
-
Ester quats (diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride)
Trade-offs: Slightly different performance feelRelative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is 17β-estradiol safe for kids?
Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of 17β-Estradiol poses heightened risk.
What products contain 17β-estradiol?
17β-Estradiol 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 17β-estradiol?
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 17β-estradiol?
17β-Estradiol has been classified by 5 agencies including IARC (Group 2B for steroidal estrogens as individual compounds in Vol 72, 1999; Group 1 for estrogen-only menopausal therapy as a pharmaceutical class in Vol 100A, 2012), EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 17β-Estradiol in the baby app
Look up products containing 17β-estradiol, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (1)
- IARC Monographs Vol 100A 2012: Estrogen-Only Menopausal Therapy Group 1; 17β-Estradiol Group 2B Vol 72 1999; Environmental Aquatic Feminization Fish 1-10 ng/L; Vitellogenin Intersex; WWTP Removal; Population Decline Fathead Minnow (2012) — regulatory
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 →