Baby Safety / Compounds / Chlorophene

Is Chlorophene safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Chlorophene 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 chlorophene?

Also known as: 2-Benzyl-4-chlorophenol, Clorophene, Santophen 1, Phenol, 4-chloro-2-(phenylmethyl)-.

CAS number
120-32-1
Molecular formula
C13H11ClO
Molecular weight
218.68 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC2=C(C=CC(=C2)Cl)O
PubChem CID
8425

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants are more vulnerable to Chlorophene 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

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Chlorophene.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment—Suspected endocrine disruptor

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 chlorophene

  • Consumer Products — personal care/cleaning

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Chlorophene:

  • Hydrogen peroxide; UV disinfection; Physical cleaning
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is chlorophene safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Chlorophene 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 chlorophene?

Chlorophene appears in: personal care/cleaning (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to chlorophene?

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 Chlorophene in the baby app

Look up products containing chlorophene, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (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 →