Baby Safety / Compounds / Ecamsule

Is Ecamsule safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Ecamsule, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is ecamsule?

The IUPAC name is 1,1'-(1,4-phenylenedimethylene)bis(3,3-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-methanesulfonic acid).

Also known as: 1,1'-(1,4-phenylenedimethylene)bis(3,3-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-methanesulfonic acid), Mexoryl SX, TDSA, terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid.

IUPAC name
1,1'-(1,4-phenylenedimethylene)bis(3,3-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-methanesulfonic acid)
CAS number
92761-26-7
Molecular formula
C26H32O8S2
Molecular weight
536.65 g/mol
SMILES
C1CCN(CC1)C2=NN(N=N2)CC(=O)NN=CC3=C(C=C(C=C3)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
9566408

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Ecamsule, 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Ecamsule, 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EU_Cosmetics_Regulation——Annex VI approved at ≤10%; considered premium UVA filter with excellent safety profile
FDA_OTC——Not approved for US OTC sunscreens; available in EU, Canada, and other international markets

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 ecamsule

  • premium_sunscreen
  • facial_sunscreen
  • water_resistant_sunscreen
  • eco_conscious_sunscreen

Safer alternatives

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

  • Mineral UV filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) — no systemic absorption
    Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Newer-generation organic filters with lower skin penetration (e.g., bisoctrizole)
    Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
  • UPF-rated clothing and physical sun protection
    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

What products contain ecamsule?

Ecamsule appears in: premium sunscreen; facial sunscreen; water resistant sunscreen.

See Ecamsule in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 9566408 — database
  2. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 92761-26-7 — 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 →