Baby Safety / Compounds / Dibromochloromethane (DBCM)

Is Dibromochloromethane (DBCM) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Dibromochloromethane (DBCM) 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 dibromochloromethane (dbcm)?

The IUPAC name is dibromo(chloro)methane.

Also known as: dibromo(chloro)methane, CHLORODIBROMOMETHANE, Dibromochloromethane, Monochlorodibromomethane.

IUPAC name
dibromo(chloro)methane
CAS number
124-48-1
Molecular formula
CHBr2Cl
Molecular weight
208.28 g/mol
SMILES
C(Cl)(Br)Br
PubChem CID
31296

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Dibromochloromethane (DBCM) 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

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Dibromochloromethane (DBCM), 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.

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

Regulatory consensus

5 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Dibromochloromethane (DBCM). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / IRIS—C (Possible human carcinogen)
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 9 positive / 5 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 9 positive / 5 negative reports)

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 dibromochloromethane (dbcm)

  • 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 Dibromochloromethane (DBCM):

  • Process controls to minimize degradant formation
    Trade-offs: Additional manufacturing cost
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is dibromochloromethane (dbcm) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Dibromochloromethane (DBCM) 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 dibromochloromethane (dbcm)?

Dibromochloromethane (DBCM) 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 dibromochloromethane (dbcm)?

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 dibromochloromethane (dbcm)?

Dibromochloromethane (DBCM) has been classified by 5 agencies including EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Dibromochloromethane (DBCM) in the baby app

Look up products containing dibromochloromethane (dbcm), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 52: Chlorinated Drinking-water; Chlorination By-products; Some Other Halogenated Compounds — Bromoform Group 2B, Chloroform Group 2B, BDCM Group 2A (1991) (1991) — regulatory
  2. US EPA: Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (40 CFR Parts 141 and 142) — TTHM MCL 80 μg/L, HAA5 MCL 60 μg/L, Locational Running Annual Average, BDCM Cancer Risk Assessment, Bladder Cancer Epidemiology (2006) (2006) — 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 →