Is DMDM hydantoin safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsInfants are exposed to DMDM hydantoin through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.
What is dmdm hydantoin?
The IUPAC name is 1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione.
Also known as: 1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione, Dmdmh, Glydant, 1,3-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.
- IUPAC name
- 1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione
- CAS number
- 6440-58-0
- Molecular formula
- C7H12N2O4
- Molecular weight
- 188.18 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC1(C(=O)N(C(=O)N1CO)CO)C
- PubChem CID
- 22947
Risk for babies
Moderate riskInfants are exposed to DMDM hydantoin through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.
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-dependentPrenatal exposure to DMDM hydantoin through personal care products and food is a concern. Some preservatives (parabens) exhibit weak estrogenic activity that may affect fetal endocrine development.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
12 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified DMDM hydantoin. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US EPA | 2000 | not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (Group D) | |
| EFSA | 2010 | not evaluated for carcinogenicity; contact sensitizer and formaldehyde releaser regulated under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 Annex V (preservatives); maximum authorized concentration 1% (as formaldehyde equivalent); mandatory labeling above 0.05% free formaldehyde | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 4 positive / 4 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 4 positive / 4 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Sh (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: SkinIrr2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: SkinSens1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 6.3B (Category 3) (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Category 6.5B (Category 1) (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin irritation: in vivo: Moderate or Mild Irritation (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | eye irritation: in vivo: Moderate or Mild Irritation (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-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 dmdm hydantoin
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Personal Care — shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cosmetics, sunscreen
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to DMDM hydantoin:
-
Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.Relative cost: Variable; lower long-term
-
Phenoxyethanol
Relative cost: 1.2-2×
-
Sodium benzoate + potassium sorbate
Relative cost: 1.2-2×
-
Caprylyl glycol
Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is dmdm hydantoin safe for kids?
Infants are exposed to DMDM hydantoin through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.
What products contain dmdm hydantoin?
DMDM hydantoin appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); shampoo (Personal care).
What should I do if my child is exposed to dmdm hydantoin?
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 dmdm hydantoin?
DMDM hydantoin has been classified by 12 agencies including US EPA, EFSA, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, 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 DMDM hydantoin in the baby app
Look up products containing dmdm hydantoin, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (2)
- US EPA DMDM Hydantoin: Group D Not Classifiable Carcinogen; Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservative; Contact Sensitizer; Cumulative Formaldehyde Exposure; FDA 2024 Proposed Cosmetic Restriction; Patch Test Positivity 1–4% (2000) — regulatory
- EFSA/SCCS DMDM Hydantoin: EU Cosmetics Regulation Annex V Permitted Preservative; Maximum 1% (as formaldehyde equivalent); Mandatory Labeling >0.05% Free Formaldehyde; Contact Sensitization Critical Endpoint; REACH Restriction Review (2010) — 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 →