Baby Safety / Compounds / 4-Nitrobiphenyl

Is 4-Nitrobiphenyl safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to 4-Nitrobiphenyl 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 4-nitrobiphenyl?

The IUPAC name is 1-nitro-4-phenylbenzene.

Also known as: 1-nitro-4-phenylbenzene, P-NITROBIPHENYL, 4-Nitro-1,1'-biphenyl, p-Nitrodiphenyl.

IUPAC name
1-nitro-4-phenylbenzene
CAS number
92-93-3
Molecular formula
C12H9NO2
Molecular weight
199.2 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC=C(C=C2)[N+](=O)[O-]
PubChem CID
7114

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to 4-Nitrobiphenyl 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 4-Nitrobiphenyl, 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

6 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified 4-Nitrobiphenyl. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1987Group 2B — possibly carcinogenic to humans (4-nitrobiphenyl — IARC Monographs Volume 4, 1974; Supplement 7, 1987; bladder carcinogen in animal bioassays; metabolically reduced to 4-aminobiphenyl — an IARC Group 1 human bladder carcinogen)
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 9 positive / 2 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 9 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 4-nitrobiphenyl

  • 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 4-Nitrobiphenyl:

  • 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

Is 4-nitrobiphenyl safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to 4-Nitrobiphenyl 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 4-nitrobiphenyl?

4-Nitrobiphenyl 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 4-nitrobiphenyl?

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 4-nitrobiphenyl?

4-Nitrobiphenyl has been classified by 6 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, 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 4-Nitrobiphenyl in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 4 1974 Supplement 7 1987 4-Nitrobiphenyl Group 2B; 4-Aminobiphenyl 4-ABP IARC Group 1 Bladder Carcinogen; Metabolic Nitro Reduction Gut Flora CYP1A2 N-Hydroxylation; C8-dG-ABP DNA Adduct Urothelium GC-to-TA Transversion; EU CLP Carc 1B H350 SVHC; NTP Reasonably Anticipated; Dye Industry Rubber Chemical Historical Exposure; Nitrenium Ion Bladder Cancer (1987) — 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 →