Baby Safety / Compounds / Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate)

Is Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) 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 catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate)?

The IUPAC name is benzene-1,2-diol.

Also known as: benzene-1,2-diol, catechol, pyrocatechol, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene.

IUPAC name
benzene-1,2-diol
CAS number
120-80-9
Molecular formula
C6H6O2
Molecular weight
110.11 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C(=C1)O)O
PubChem CID
289

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) 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 Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate), 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

5 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1999Group 2B — possibly carcinogenic to humans (catechol — IARC Monographs Volume 71, 1999; forestomach tumors in rodents; inadequate human evidence; co-carcinogen in tobacco smoke)
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 25 positive / 18 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 25 positive / 18 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 catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate)

  • 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 Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate):

  • Bio-based polymer alternatives where available
    Trade-offs: Performance limitations. End-of-life complexity.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) 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 catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate)?

Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) 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 catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate)?

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 catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate)?

Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) has been classified by 5 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, 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 Catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate) in the baby app

Look up products containing catechol (tobacco smoke pyrolysate), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 71 1999 Catechol Group 2B; Forestomach Tumors Rodents; Co-Carcinogen Tobacco Smoke PAH Synergy; o-Quinone DNA Adducts; COMT Oxidation; ACGIH TLV-TWA 5 ppm Skin; Skin Sensitizer; Pyrocatechol 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene; Coal Tar Phenolic (1999) — 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 →