Baby Safety / Compounds / 2-Naphthol

Is 2-Naphthol safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-Naphthol 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-naphthol?

Also known as: naphthalen-2-ol, 2-Naphthalenol, beta-naphthol, Betanaphthol.

CAS number
135-19-3
Molecular formula
C10H8O
Molecular weight
144.17 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C2C=C(C=CC2=C1)O
PubChem CID
8663

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-Naphthol 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-Naphthol.

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-naphthol

  • Consumer Products — personal care, cleaning, industrial

Safer alternatives

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

  • N/A — industrial intermediate
    Trade-offs: Industrial process alternative; requires compatibility testing with existing equipment and processes; regulatory compliance verification needed; cost and availability may vary by region.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is 2-naphthol safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to 2-Naphthol 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-naphthol?

2-Naphthol appears in: personal care (Consumer products); cleaning (Consumer products).

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

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-Naphthol in the baby app

Look up products containing 2-naphthol, 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 →