Is Chloral hydrate safe for babies and kids?
Elevated risk for kidsInfants are more vulnerable to Chloral hydrate 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 chloral hydrate?
The IUPAC name is 2,2,2-trichloroethane-1,1-diol.
Also known as: 2,2,2-trichloroethane-1,1-diol, Noctec, Trichloroacetaldehyde hydrate, Tosyl.
- IUPAC name
- 2,2,2-trichloroethane-1,1-diol
- CAS number
- 302-17-0
- Molecular formula
- C2H3Cl3O2
- Molecular weight
- 165.4 g/mol
- SMILES
- C(C(Cl)(Cl)Cl)(O)O
- PubChem CID
- 2707
Risk for babies
Elevated riskInfants are more vulnerable to Chloral hydrate 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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Elevated riskPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Chloral hydrate, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.
Regulatory consensus
13 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Chloral hydrate. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | C (Possible human carcinogen) | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | Carcinogenic potential cannot be determined | |
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans | |
| EPA CTX / CalEPA | — | Known human carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 11 positive / 8 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 11 positive / 8 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Eye Irrit. 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Skin Irrit. 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 1 (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 1 (score: very 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 sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (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 chloral hydrate
- 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 Chloral hydrate:
-
Point-of-use filtration; Alternative disinfection (UV, ozone)
Trade-offs: Powerful oxidant; effective for taste/odor and micropollutants; decomposes to oxygen (no residual); forms bromate in bromide-containing water; capital cost moderate; operational complexity higher than chlorination.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is chloral hydrate safe for kids?
Infants are more vulnerable to Chloral hydrate 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 chloral hydrate?
Chloral hydrate 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 chloral hydrate?
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 chloral hydrate?
Chloral hydrate has been classified by 13 agencies including EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, 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 Chloral hydrate in the baby app
Look up products containing chloral hydrate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (2)
- IARC Monographs Volume 84: Some Drinking-water Disinfectants and Contaminants, Including Arsenic — Dichloroacetic Acid Group 2A, Trichloroacetic Acid Group 3, MX Group 2B (2004) (2004) — regulatory
- WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (4th edition, incorporating the 1st and 2nd addenda, 2022) — Disinfection Byproducts: THMs, HAAs, Chlorite, Bromate, Chloral Hydrate; Guideline Values and Health Basis (2022) — 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 →