Baby Safety / Compounds / Cyclohexanone

Is Cyclohexanone safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are vulnerable to Cyclohexanone through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

What is cyclohexanone?

Also known as: Ketohexamethylene, Pimelic ketone, Sextone, Nadone.

CAS number
108-94-1
Molecular formula
C6H10O
Molecular weight
98.14 g/mol
SMILES
C1CCC(=O)CC1
PubChem CID
7967

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are vulnerable to Cyclohexanone through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

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

Occupational and household exposure to Cyclohexanone during pregnancy is associated with developmental toxicity. Solvents readily cross the placenta and can cause fetal growth restriction.

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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Cyclohexanone.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
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 cyclohexanone

  • Industrial Facilitiesnylon production, paint/lacquer solvent, adhesives

Safer alternatives

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

  • Water-based systems
    Trade-offs: Alternative solvent or process chemistry; solvency parameters (Hansen solubility, Kb value) must be matched to application; VOC content and flammability may differ; worker exposure assessment needed.
    Relative cost: 0.8-1.5×
  • Bio-based solvents
    Trade-offs: Alternative solvent or process chemistry; solvency parameters (Hansen solubility, Kb value) must be matched to application; VOC content and flammability may differ; worker exposure assessment needed.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
  • Methyl soyate
    Trade-offs: Alternative solvent or process chemistry; solvency parameters (Hansen solubility, Kb value) must be matched to application; VOC content and flammability may differ; worker exposure assessment needed.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is cyclohexanone safe for kids?

Infants are vulnerable to Cyclohexanone through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

What products contain cyclohexanone?

Cyclohexanone appears in: nylon production (Industrial facilities); paint/lacquer solvent (Industrial facilities).

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

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 Cyclohexanone in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)

  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 →