Baby Safety / Compounds / 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH)

Is 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants accumulate 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What is 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 ftoh)?

The IUPAC name is 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctan-1-ol.

Also known as: 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctan-1-ol, 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluoro-1-octanol, 2-(Perfluorohexyl)ethanol, 1-Octanol, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluoro-.

IUPAC name
3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctan-1-ol
CAS number
647-42-7
Molecular formula
C8H5F13O
Molecular weight
364.1 g/mol
SMILES
OCCC(F)(F)C(F)(F)C(F)(F)C(F)(F)C(F)(F)C(F)(F)F
PubChem CID
69537

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants accumulate 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

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

Elevated risk

6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) persists in maternal adipose tissue and is mobilized during pregnancy and lactation. Lipophilic pollutants concentrate in breast milk and cross the placenta during critical developmental windows.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

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 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 9 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 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 ftoh)

  • Consumer Products — Stain-resistant textiles, Food packaging, Waterproof coatings

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH):

  • Bio-based polymer alternatives where available
    Trade-offs: Performance limitations. End-of-life complexity.
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 ftoh) safe for kids?

Infants accumulate 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What products contain 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 ftoh)?

6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) appears in: Stain-resistant textiles (Consumer products); Food packaging (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 ftoh)?

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 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) in the baby app

Look up products containing 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 ftoh), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 69537 — database
  2. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DTXSID5044572 — epa
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 647-42-7 — 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 →