Baby Safety / Compounds / Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)

Is Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are exposed to Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.

What is bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)?

The IUPAC name is 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol.

Also known as: 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, bronopol, 2-Bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, Bronosol.

IUPAC name: 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
CAS number: 52-51-7
Molecular formula: C3H6BrNO4
Molecular weight: 199.99 g/mol
SMILES: C(C(CO)([N+](=O)[O-])Br)O
PubChem CID: 2450

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

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

Elevated risk

Prenatal exposure to Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) through personal care products and food is a concern. Some preservatives (parabens) exhibit weak estrogenic activity that may affect fetal endocrine development.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

14 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol). The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification
US EPA	2000	not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (Group D)
EFSA	2010	not evaluated for carcinogenicity as standalone; nitrosamine formation in bronopol-containing cosmetic formulations regulated under EU Cosmetics Regulation Article 15 which prohibits placing cosmetics containing nitrosamines on the market; SCCS opinion notes that bronopol's genotoxicity concern derives from nitrosamine formation in the finished product, not intrinsic carcinogenicity of bronopol itself; maximum 0.1% in cosmetics (Annex V No. 34)
EPA CTX / EPA OPP	—	Group E Evidence of Non-carcinogenicity for Humans
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Eye Dam. 1 (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Skin Irrit. 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Sensitization: Sh (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Category 1 (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Category 8.3A (Category 1) (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (score: high)
EU BPR	—	Approved active substance for multiple biocidal product types
EU Cosmetics	—	Allowed in cosmetics at ≤0.1%. Must be labeled. Cannot be used with amines (nitrosamine concern)

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 bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)

Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Personal Care — shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cosmetics, sunscreen
Pharmaceutical — Ophthalmic solutions, Topical medications
Industrial — Paper mill slimicide, Oil field biocide, Metalworking fluid preservative, Latex paint preservative

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol):

Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.

Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Phenoxyethanol
Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Organic acids
Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
Ethylhexylglycerin
Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.

Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) safe for kids?

What products contain bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)?

Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); shampoo (Personal care).

What should I do if my child is exposed to bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)?

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 bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)?

Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) has been classified by 14 agencies including US EPA, EFSA, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, 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 Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) in the baby app

Look up products containing bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

US EPA Bronopol: Group D Not Classifiable; FIFRA Antimicrobial; Nitrosamine Formation with Amines; NDELA IARC 2B; FDA 1992 Guidance Minimize Amine Co-formulation; Contact Sensitizer; Aquaculture Parasite Treatment (2000) — regulatory
EFSA/SCCS Bronopol: EU Cosmetics Regulation Annex V No. 34 Maximum 0.1%; Nitrosamine Prohibition <50 ppb; Article 15 N-Nitroso Restriction; Aquatic LC50 2–10 mg/L; Aquaculture Biocide Environmental Concern; Algal EC50 <1 mg/L (2010) — 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 →