Baby Safety / Compounds / 2,3-Pentanedione

Is 2,3-Pentanedione safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to 2,3-Pentanedione than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is 2,3-pentanedione?

The IUPAC name is pentane-2,3-dione.

Also known as: pentane-2,3-dione, Acetylpropionyl, Acetyl propionyl, 2,3-Pentadione.

IUPAC name
pentane-2,3-dione
CAS number
600-14-6
Molecular formula
C5H8O2
Molecular weight
100.12 g/mol
SMILES
CCC(=O)C(C)=O
PubChem CID
11747

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are more vulnerable to 2,3-Pentanedione than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

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.

What to do: 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of 2,3-Pentanedione, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified 2,3-Pentanedione.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: None, 0 positive / 2 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 2,3-pentanedione

  • Consumer Products — E-cigarette liquids, Butter flavoring, Food flavoring
  • Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
    Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 2,3-Pentanedione:

  • Fragrance-free formulations
    Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented products
    Relative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
  • Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
    Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizers
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is 2,3-pentanedione safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to 2,3-Pentanedione than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain 2,3-pentanedione?

2,3-Pentanedione appears in: E-cigarette liquids (Consumer products); Butter flavoring (Consumer products); perfume (Fragrance); cologne (Fragrance).

What should I do if my child is exposed to 2,3-pentanedione?

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.

See 2,3-Pentanedione in the baby app

Look up products containing 2,3-pentanedione, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 11747 — database
  2. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DTXSID6051435 — epa
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 600-14-6 — reference

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 →