Is Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) safe for babies and kids?
High risk for kidsInfants are exposed to Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal absorption.
What is cetrimonium chloride (ctac)?
The IUPAC name is hexadecyl(trimethyl)azanium chloride.
Also known as: hexadecyl(trimethyl)azanium chloride, Hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, Cetrimonium chloride, N-Hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride.
- IUPAC name
- hexadecyl(trimethyl)azanium chloride
- CAS number
- 112-02-7
- Molecular formula
- C19H42ClN
- Molecular weight
- 320.0 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC[N+](C)(C)C.[Cl-]
- PubChem CID
- 8154
Risk for babies
High riskInfants are exposed to Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal 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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPrenatal exposure to Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) through consumer products may affect fetal development. Surfactant compounds can enhance dermal absorption of co-occurring chemicals during pregnancy.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
1 regulatory bodyhas classified Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC).
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | — | — |
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 cetrimonium chloride (ctac)
- Personal Care — conditioner, hair mask
- Consumer Products — fabric softener, dryer sheets, cleaning products
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC):
-
Behentrimonium chloride
Trade-offs: Alternative surfactant; performance characteristics (foaming, emulsification, wetting) vary; biodegradability and aquatic toxicity should be assessed; formulation adjustment may be needed.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
-
Cetrimonium chloride (lower conc)
Trade-offs: Alternative surfactant; performance characteristics (foaming, emulsification, wetting) vary; biodegradability and aquatic toxicity should be assessed; formulation adjustment may be needed.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is cetrimonium chloride (ctac) safe for kids?
Infants are exposed to Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal absorption.
What products contain cetrimonium chloride (ctac)?
Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) appears in: conditioner (Personal care); hair mask (Personal care); fabric softener (Consumer products); dryer sheets (Consumer products).
What should I do if my child is exposed to cetrimonium chloride (ctac)?
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.
See Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC) in the baby app
Look up products containing cetrimonium chloride (ctac), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (1)
- PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database
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 →