Baby Safety / Compounds / Aniline

Is Aniline 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 Aniline, 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 aniline?

Also known as: Benzenamine, Phenylamine, Aminobenzene, Aminophen.

IUPAC name
aniline
CAS number
62-53-3
Molecular formula
C6H7N
Molecular weight
93.13 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)N
PubChem CID
6115

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Aniline, 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 Aniline, 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

22 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Aniline. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1982Group 3
US EPA2000probable human carcinogen (Group B2)
EPA CTX / IRISB2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / IARCGroup 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / Health CanadaGroup III: CEPA (possibly carcinogenic to humans)
EPA CTX / EPA OPPGroup B2 Probable Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / CalEPAKnown human carcinogen
EPA CTX / GenetoxGenotoxicity: positive (Ames: negative, 20 positive / 14 negative reports)
EPA CTX / GenetoxGenotoxicity: positive (Ames: negative, 20 positive / 14 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeEye Irritation: Eye Dam. 1 (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Sensitization: Skin Sens. 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Sensitization: Sh (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeEye Irritation: Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2A (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Sensitization: Skin sensitization - Category 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeEye Irritation: Category 2A (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Irritation: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Sensitization: Category 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeEye Irritation: Eye Dam. 1 (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Sensitization: Skin Sens. 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeEye Irritation: Category 8.3A (Category 1) (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Sensitization: Category 6.5B (Category 1) (score: moderate)

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 aniline

  • Industrial FacilitiesManufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational EnvironmentsFactories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Aniline:

  • 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

What products contain aniline?

Aniline appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

Why do regulators disagree about aniline?

Aniline has been classified by 22 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / Health Canada, 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 Aniline in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

  1. IARC Monographs Volume 27: Some Aromatic Amines, Anthraquinones and Nitroso Compounds, and Inorganic Fluorides Used in Drinking-Water and Dental Preparations — Aniline Group 3; Methemoglobin-Forming Compound; Splenic Hemangiosarcomas in Rodents; MDI/Dye/Rubber Chemical Intermediate (1982) — iarc_monograph
  2. US EPA Aniline: Group B2 Probable Carcinogen; Skin Absorption Major Exposure Route; OSHA PEL 5 ppm Skin; Methemoglobinemia; Phenylhydroxylamine Metabolite; Hemoglobin Adduct Monitoring; Moderate Aquatic Toxicity; Aerobic Biodegradable (2000) — 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 →