Is Chloroform safe for babies and kids?
High risk for kidsInfants are more vulnerable to Chloroform 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 chloroform?
Also known as: Trichloromethane, Trichlormethan, Trichloroform, Formyl trichloride.
- IUPAC name
- chloroform
- CAS number
- 67-66-3
- Molecular formula
- CHCl3
- Molecular weight
- 119.37 g/mol
- SMILES
- C(Cl)(Cl)Cl
- PubChem CID
- 6212
Risk for babies
High riskInfants are more vulnerable to Chloroform 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
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Chloroform, 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
25 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Chloroform. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 1999 | Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) | IARC Monograph 73 (1999). Sufficient evidence in animals (hepatocellular carcinoma, renal tubular adenocarcinoma in rodents); inadequate evidence in humans. Mechanism: CYP2E1 oxidation to trichloromethanol → phosgene (highly reactive) → covalent protein and DNA binding. The principal disinfection byproduct in chlorinated water. |
| US EPA | 2001 | likely to be carcinogenic to humans | EPA IRIS final assessment (2001). Liver and kidney cancer via both oral and inhalation routes. Oral slope factor 0.0061 per mg/kg-day; inhalation unit risk 2.3 × 10⁻⁵ per μg/m³. Chloroform is the most abundant trihalomethane (THM) in chlorinated drinking water; EPA MCLG 0, MCL 80 μg/L (total THMs). |
| EPA CTX / NIOSH | — | potential occupational carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals) | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | Likely to be carcinogenic to humans | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | Not 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 / EPA OPP | — | Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / CalEPA | — | Known human carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: negative, 8 positive / 7 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: negative, 8 positive / 7 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: Eye irritation - category 2A (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Skin irritation - category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 1 (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Skin Irrit. 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 sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (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 chloroform
- 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 Chloroform:
-
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 chloroform safe for kids?
Infants are more vulnerable to Chloroform 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 chloroform?
Chloroform 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 chloroform?
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 chloroform?
Chloroform has been classified by 25 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IRIS, 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 Chloroform in the baby app
Look up products containing chloroform, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (3)
- IARC Monographs Volume 73: Chloroform (1999) — regulatory
- US EPA IRIS: Chloroform — Toxicological Review (Final) (2001) — regulatory
- ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Chloroform (1997) — 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 →