Is Caprolactam safe for babies and kids?
Context-dependent for kids(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Caprolactam, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
What is caprolactam?
The IUPAC name is azepan-2-one.
Also known as: azepan-2-one, epsilon-Caprolactam, 2-Oxohexamethylenimine, 6-Caprolactam.
- IUPAC name
- azepan-2-one
- CAS number
- 105-60-2
- Molecular formula
- C6H11NO
- Molecular weight
- 113.16 g/mol
- SMILES
- O=C1CCCCCN1
- PubChem CID
- 7768
Risk for babies
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Caprolactam, 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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Caprolactam, 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.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Caprolactam. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 9 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 9 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 caprolactam
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Caprolactam:
-
Bio-based polymer alternatives where available
Trade-offs: Performance limitations. End-of-life complexity.Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
What products contain caprolactam?
Caprolactam appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Waste treatment sites (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
Why do regulators disagree about caprolactam?
Caprolactam has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / IARC, 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 Caprolactam in the baby app
Look up products containing caprolactam, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (3)
- PubChem Compound CID 7768 — database
- EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DTXSID4020240 — epa
- ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 105-60-2 — reference
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 →