Is Carbon tetrachloride safe for babies and kids?
Very high risk for kidsInfants are vulnerable to Carbon tetrachloride through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.
What is carbon tetrachloride?
The IUPAC name is tetrachloromethane.
Also known as: tetrachloromethane, Perchloromethane, Tetrasol, Benzinoform.
- IUPAC name
- tetrachloromethane
- CAS number
- 56-23-5
- Molecular formula
- CCl4
- Molecular weight
- 153.8 g/mol
- SMILES
- C(Cl)(Cl)(Cl)Cl
- PubChem CID
- 5943
Risk for babies
Very high riskInfants are vulnerable to Carbon tetrachloride through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.
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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentOccupational and household exposure to Carbon tetrachloride during pregnancy is associated with developmental toxicity. Solvents readily cross the placenta and can cause fetal growth restriction.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
20 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Carbon tetrachloride. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 1999 | Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) | IARC Monograph 71 (1999). Sufficient evidence in animals (hepatocellular carcinoma in rats and mice); inadequate evidence in humans. Metabolized by CYP2E1 to trichloromethyl radical (CCl3•) and trichloromethyl peroxy radical — initiates lipid peroxidation cascade causing centrilobular hepatic necrosis. |
| US EPA | 2010 | likely to be carcinogenic to humans | EPA IRIS final assessment (2010). Primarily hepatocellular carcinoma via oral route. Oral slope factor 0.07 per mg/kg-day; inhalation unit risk 6.0 × 10⁻⁶ per μg/m³. Phased out of consumer products under Montreal Protocol as ozone-depleting substance; residual industrial uses regulated under TSCA. |
| EPA CTX / NIOSH | — | potential occupational carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | Likely to be carcinogenic to humans | |
| EPA CTX / NTP RoC | — | Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans | |
| EPA CTX / Health Canada | — | Group III: CEPA (possibly carcinogenic to humans) | |
| EPA CTX / EPA OPP | — | Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / CalEPA | — | Known human carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 4 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 4 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Skin sensitization - Category 1B (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin irritation: in vivo: Moderate or Mild Irritation (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | eye irritation: in vivo: Moderate or Mild Irritation (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): Low to Moderate Frequency of Sensitization (score: moderate) |
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 carbon tetrachloride
- 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 Carbon tetrachloride:
-
Water-based formulations where feasible
Trade-offs: Longer drying time. May not achieve same performance in all applications.Relative cost: 0.8-1.5×
-
Bio-based solvents (d-limonene, ethyl lactate)
Trade-offs: Higher cost. Flammability concerns with some bio-solvents.Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
Is carbon tetrachloride safe for kids?
Infants are vulnerable to Carbon tetrachloride through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.
What products contain carbon tetrachloride?
Carbon tetrachloride 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 carbon tetrachloride?
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 carbon tetrachloride?
Carbon tetrachloride has been classified by 20 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 Carbon tetrachloride in the baby app
Look up products containing carbon tetrachloride, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (3)
- IARC Monographs Volume 71: Carbon Tetrachloride (1999) — regulatory
- US EPA IRIS: Carbon Tetrachloride — Toxicological Review (Final) (2010) — regulatory
- ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Carbon Tetrachloride (2005) — 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 →