Baby Safety / Compounds / 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA)

Is 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA) safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (tca)?

The IUPAC name is 2,3,4-trichlorophenol.

Also known as: 2,3,4-trichlorophenol, Phenol, 2,3,4-trichloro-, 8JWE1AV71F, DTXCID806207.

IUPAC name
2,3,4-trichlorophenol
CAS number
15950-66-0
Molecular formula
C6H3Cl3O
Molecular weight
197.4 g/mol
SMILES
OC1=CC=C(Cl)C(Cl)=C1Cl
PubChem CID
27582

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), 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

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / GenetoxGenotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / GenetoxGenotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 1 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 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (tca)

  • Industrial FacilitiesManufacturing plants, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational EnvironmentsFactories, Warehouses

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA):

  • Safer process chemistry; Green chemistry alternatives; Exposure controls
    Trade-offs: Requires R&D investment to redesign synthesis routes; may reduce yield or throughput initially; long-term benefits include reduced waste treatment costs, regulatory compliance, and worker safety; 12 Principles of Green Chemistry framework available.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (tca)?

2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Waste treatment sites (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

See 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA) in the baby app

Look up products containing 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (tca), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)

  1. PubChem Compound CID 27582 — database
  2. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DTXSID5026207 — epa
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 15950-66-0 — 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 →