Baby Safety / Compounds / Adipic acid

Is Adipic acid safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Adipic acid, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is adipic acid?

The IUPAC name is hexanedioic acid.

Also known as: hexanedioic acid, Adipinic acid, 1,4-Butanedicarboxylic acid, Adilactetten.

IUPAC name
hexanedioic acid
CAS number
124-04-9
Molecular formula
C6H10O4
Molecular weight
146.14 g/mol
SMILES
C(CCC(=O)O)CC(=O)O
PubChem CID
196

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Adipic acid, 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Adipic acid, 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

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Adipic acid. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
FDA——
EMA——
ECHA——

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 adipic acid

  • nylon-6,6 production
  • food acidulant
  • polyurethane production

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Adipic acid:

  • Bio-based adipic acid (from glucose fermentation)
    Trade-offs: Identical product from renewable feedstock. Currently at pilot scale. Eliminates N₂O process emissions.
    Relative cost: 1.5-2× (expected to reach parity at scale)
  • Sebacic acid (from castor oil)
    Trade-offs: Higher carbon chain → different polymer properties. Lower melting point nylon. Fully bio-derived.
    Relative cost: 2-3×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain adipic acid?

Adipic acid appears in: nylon-6,6 production; food acidulant; polyurethane production.

See Adipic acid in the baby app

Look up products containing adipic acid, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 124-04-9 — 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 →