Baby Safety / Compounds / 6PPD

Is 6PPD safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

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

What is 6ppd?

The IUPAC name is 4-N-(4-methylpentan-2-yl)-1-N-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine.

Also known as: 4-N-(4-methylpentan-2-yl)-1-N-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine, N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine, Santoflex 13, Wingstay 300.

IUPAC name
4-N-(4-methylpentan-2-yl)-1-N-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine
CAS number
793-24-8
Molecular formula
C18H24N2
Molecular weight
268.4 g/mol
SMILES
CC(C)CC(C)NC1=CC=C(C=C1)NC2=CC=CC=C2
PubChem CID
13101

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants accumulate 6PPD 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

Context-dependent

6PPD 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

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified 6PPD. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 6 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 6 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 6ppd

  • 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 6PPD:

  • Tocopherol (Vitamin E) based antioxidants
    Trade-offs: Lower thermal stability than synthetic BHT/BHA for some polymer applications.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is 6ppd safe for kids?

Infants accumulate 6PPD 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 6ppd?

6PPD 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 6ppd?

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 6PPD in the baby app

Look up products containing 6ppd, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. Tire Antioxidants (6PPD and Related Compounds) in Environmental and Toxicological Context (2021) — journal
  2. US EPA — 6PPD-quinone Precursor and Tire Wear Pollution Assessment (2022) — government
  3. Tire Wear Particle Composition and Environmental Release Rates (2020) — journal

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 →