Baby Safety / Compounds / Camphor

Is Camphor safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Camphor 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 camphor?

The IUPAC name is 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one.

Also known as: 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, DL-Camphor, 2-Camphanone, 2-Bornanone.

IUPAC name
1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one
CAS number
76-22-2
Molecular formula
C10H16O
Molecular weight
152.23 g/mol
SMILES
CC1(C2CCC1(C(=O)C2)C)C
PubChem CID
2537

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Camphor 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 Camphor, 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 2 positive / 4 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 2 positive / 4 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2B (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 6.3B (Category 3) (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Category 6.5B (Category 1) (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—eye irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—skin irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low)

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 camphor

  • 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 Camphor:

  • Fragrance-free formulations
    Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented products
    Relative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
  • Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
    Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizers
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is camphor safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Camphor 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 camphor?

Camphor 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 camphor?

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 camphor?

Camphor has been classified by 9 agencies including EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, 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 Camphor in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US FDA: Camphor — OTC External Analgesic Drug Products; Final Monograph (21 CFR 348) and Camphorated Oil Ban (>11%) (1983) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Camphor Toxicosis in Dogs and Cats — Clinical Presentation, Management, and Product Sources (2022) — veterinary

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 →