Baby Safety / Compounds / 2-4-Dichlorophenol

Is 2-4-Dichlorophenol safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-4-Dichlorophenol 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 2-4-dichlorophenol?

Also known as: 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOL, Phenol, 2,4-dichloro-, 4,6-Dichlorophenol, 2,4-DCP.

CAS number
120-83-2
Molecular formula
C6H4Cl2O
Molecular weight
163.00 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC(=C(C=C1Cl)Cl)O
PubChem CID
8449

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-4-Dichlorophenol 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

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified 2-4-Dichlorophenol.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment—Suspected endocrine disruptor

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-dichlorophenol

  • Consumer Products — personal care, industrial, food contact

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 2-4-Dichlorophenol:

  • N/A — exposure reduction
    Trade-offs: Exposure reduction does not eliminate the hazard but lowers risk to acceptable levels when alternatives are not available or practical. Requires ongoing monitoring and compliance.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is 2-4-dichlorophenol safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-4-Dichlorophenol 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 2-4-dichlorophenol?

2-4-Dichlorophenol appears in: personal care (Consumer products); industrial (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to 2-4-dichlorophenol?

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 2-4-Dichlorophenol in the baby app

Look up products containing 2-4-dichlorophenol, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (2026) — database

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 →