Baby Safety / Compounds / BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether)

Is BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) 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 bde-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether)?

The IUPAC name is 2,4-dibromo-1-(2,4-dibromophenoxy)benzene.

Also known as: 2,4-dibromo-1-(2,4-dibromophenoxy)benzene, 2,2',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether, BDE-47, PBDE 47.

IUPAC name
2,4-dibromo-1-(2,4-dibromophenoxy)benzene
CAS number
5436-43-1
Molecular formula
C12H6Br4O
Molecular weight
485.79 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC(=C(C=C1Br)Br)OC2=C(C=C(C=C2)Br)Br
PubChem CID
95170

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are more vulnerable to BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) 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

High risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether), potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

Known reproductive toxicant (GHS H360) or confirmed endocrine disruptor. Placental transfer is presumed. Fetal exposure during critical developmental windows may cause structural malformations, growth restriction, or functional deficits.

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 BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / IRIS—Inadequate information to assess carcinogenic potential
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 1 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 bde-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether)

  • 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 BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether):

  • Inherently flame-resistant materials (wool, modacrylic, Nomex)
    Trade-offs: Higher material cost. Limited color/texture options.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Barrier fabric technology
    Trade-offs: Adds manufacturing step and cost
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is bde-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) 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 bde-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether)?

BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) 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 bde-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether)?

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 bde-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether)?

BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) in the baby app

Look up products containing bde-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 107: Some Chemicals Used as Solvents and in Polymer Manufacture — Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) Group 2B; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane evaluated as persistent halogenated flame retardants (2016) (2016) — regulatory
  2. US EPA: Contaminant Candidate List 5 (CCL5) — Final List of Unregulated Contaminants for Regulatory Evaluation under SDWA (2022); includes nickel, cobalt, vanadium, PFAS, and 97 additional chemical and microbial contaminants (2022) — 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 →