Baby Safety / Compounds / Bromodichloromethane (BDCM)

Is Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) 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 bromodichloromethane (bdcm)?

The IUPAC name is bromo(dichloro)methane.

Also known as: bromo(dichloro)methane, BROMODICHLOROMETHANE, Dichlorobromomethane, Methane, bromodichloro-.

IUPAC name
bromo(dichloro)methane
CAS number
75-27-4
Molecular formula
CHBrCl2
Molecular weight
163.83 g/mol
SMILES
C(Cl)(Cl)Br
PubChem CID
6359

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) 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 Bromodichloromethane (BDCM), 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

7 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Bromodichloromethane (BDCM). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC—Group 2
EPA CTX / IRIS—B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 6 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 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 bromodichloromethane (bdcm)

  • 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 Bromodichloromethane (BDCM):

  • Process controls to minimize degradant formation
    Trade-offs: Additional manufacturing cost
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is bromodichloromethane (bdcm) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) 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 bromodichloromethane (bdcm)?

Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) 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 bromodichloromethane (bdcm)?

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 bromodichloromethane (bdcm)?

Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) has been classified by 7 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, 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 Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) in the baby app

Look up products containing bromodichloromethane (bdcm), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 52: Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) — Group 2A Probable Human Carcinogen, Kidney and Liver Tumors in F344 Rats, Reproductive Epidemiology Studies, Trihalomethane Class (1991) (1991) — regulatory
  2. US EPA: Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (40 CFR Parts 141 and 142) — TTHM MCL 80 μg/L, HAA5 MCL 60 μg/L, Locational Running Annual Average, BDCM Cancer Risk Assessment, Bladder Cancer Epidemiology (2006) (2006) — 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 →