Baby Safety / Compounds / DBDPE

Is DBDPE safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants face disproportionate exposure to DBDPE through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

What is dbdpe?

The IUPAC name is 1,1'-oxybis(2,4,6-tribromobenzene) ethane.

Also known as: 1,1'-oxybis(2,4,6-tribromobenzene) ethane, Decabromodiphenylethane, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane, BDDPE.

IUPAC name
1,1'-oxybis(2,4,6-tribromobenzene) ethane
CAS number
84852-53-9
Molecular formula
C14H4Br10
Molecular weight
643.63 g/mol
SMILES
CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2CC(C(C3=CC4C(=C(C5=C(C=C6C(=C5C4=O)OC7C(C(C(C6(O7)C)O)N(C)C)O)O)O)C(=O)C23)C(=O)OC)(C)O)OC)(C)OC)OC
PubChem CID
6323447

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants face disproportionate exposure to DBDPE through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

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

High risk

Prenatal exposure to DBDPE through dust inhalation and dietary intake can affect fetal thyroid function and neurodevelopment. Flame retardants accumulate in breast milk.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified DBDPE. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
REACH——ECHA is evaluating restrictions on brominated FRs; potential future listing
EU——May be restricted under REACH Annex XVII depending on hazard assessment outcome

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 dbdpe

  • polymers
  • plastics
  • electronics
  • high_temperature_applications
  • engineering_polymers

Safer alternatives

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

  • Inherently flame-resistant materials (wool, modacrylic, aramid fibers)
    Trade-offs: No additive required — flame resistance is intrinsic to the fiber chemistry; higher material cost; limited color/texture options for some fibers; eliminates FR migration and end-of-life FR contamination concerns.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Mineral-based retardants (aluminum trihydroxide, magnesium hydroxide)
    Trade-offs: Non-halogenated; no toxic combustion gases (HCl, dioxins); requires higher loading (40-65% by weight vs 5-15% for halogenated FRs); affects material properties (density, flexibility, processability); cost-effective at scale.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Phosphorus-based non-halogenated alternatives (where applicable)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Design-based fire safety (barrier fabrics, reduced ignition propensity materials)
    Trade-offs: Eliminates chemical FR entirely through physical design (fire-blocking layers, reduced ignition propensity); requires redesign of existing products; effective per CPSC and TB 117-2013; adopted in California furniture regulation.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is dbdpe safe for kids?

Infants face disproportionate exposure to DBDPE through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

What products contain dbdpe?

DBDPE appears in: polymers; plastics; electronics.

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

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 DBDPE in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 6323447 — database
  2. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 84852-53-9 — reference

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 →