Baby Safety / Compounds / Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME)

Is Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME) safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME) 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 bis(chloromethyl) ether (bcme)?

The IUPAC name is chloro(chloromethoxy)methane.

Also known as: chloro(chloromethoxy)methane, BIS(CHLOROMETHYL) ETHER, Bis(chloromethyl)ether, Chloromethyl ether.

IUPAC name
chloro(chloromethoxy)methane
CAS number
542-88-1
Molecular formula
C2H4Cl2O
Molecular weight
114.96 g/mol
SMILES
C(OCCl)Cl
PubChem CID
10967

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME) 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

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME), 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

10 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1987Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)IARC Supplement 7 (1987), originally Monograph 4 (1974). Extremely potent lung carcinogen (oat-cell/small cell carcinoma) in workers manufacturing ion-exchange resins. Sufficient evidence in humans and animals. Latency as short as 2–4 years from first exposure to cancer onset — among the shortest latencies of any occupational carcinogen.
US EPA2000known to be carcinogenic to humansOSHA carcinogen standard (29 CFR 1910.1008); manufacture and use prohibited except under extremely restricted conditions. Among the most potent chemical carcinogens identified — estimated inhalation unit risk in the range of 10⁻² per μg/m³. Technical-grade chloromethyl methyl ether (CMME) is often contaminated with BCME and has caused additional occupational lung cancers.
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—A (Human carcinogen)
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Known Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 1 - Carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 3 positive / 0 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 3 positive / 0 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 1 (score: very high)

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 bis(chloromethyl) ether (bcme)

  • 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 Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME):

  • Safer process chemistry; Green chemistry alternatives; Exposure controls
    Trade-offs: Requires R&D investment to redesign synthesis routes; may reduce yield or throughput initially; long-term benefits include reduced waste treatment costs, regulatory compliance, and worker safety; 12 Principles of Green Chemistry framework available.
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is bis(chloromethyl) ether (bcme) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME) 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 bis(chloromethyl) ether (bcme)?

Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME) 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 bis(chloromethyl) ether (bcme)?

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 bis(chloromethyl) ether (bcme)?

Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME) has been classified by 10 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, 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 Bis(chloromethyl) ether (BCME) in the baby app

Look up products containing bis(chloromethyl) ether (bcme), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 4: Bis(chloromethyl) Ether (updated Supplement 7, 1987) (1987) — regulatory
  2. OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1008: bis-Chloromethyl Ether (Carcinogen Standard) (1974) — regulatory
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Chloromethyl Ethers (1989) — report

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 →