Baby Safety / Compounds / Ethylene dibromide (EDB)

Is Ethylene dibromide (EDB) safe for babies and kids?

Severe risk for kids

Infants may be exposed to Ethylene dibromide (EDB) through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal exposure.

What is ethylene dibromide (edb)?

The IUPAC name is 1,2-dibromoethane.

Also known as: 1,2-dibromoethane, ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE, Ethylene bromide, sym-Dibromoethane.

IUPAC name
1,2-dibromoethane
CAS number
106-93-4
Molecular formula
C2H4Br2
Molecular weight
187.86 g/mol
SMILES
C(CBr)Br
PubChem CID
7839

Risk for babies

Severe risk

Infants may be exposed to Ethylene dibromide (EDB) through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal 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

Very high risk

Prenatal exposure to residual Ethylene dibromide (EDB) from food-contact materials is a concern due to potential developmental toxicity. Monomers may leach from plastics at elevated temperatures.

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

23 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Ethylene dibromide (EDB). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1999Group 2A
US EPA1987probable human carcinogen
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—Likely to be carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / Health Canada—IRIS (likely to be carcinogenic to humans)
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 41 positive / 7 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 41 positive / 7 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Eye Irrit. 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Skin Irrit. 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Eye Irrit. 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Skin Irrit. 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—eye irritation: in vivo: Severe Irritation (score: high)

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 ethylene dibromide (edb)

  • 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 Ethylene dibromide (EDB):

  • Bio-based monomers; Mechanical recycling; Enclosed processes
    Trade-offs: Labor-intensive; effective for small-scale or precision applications; no chemical residues; not scalable to large commercial operations without significant cost increase.
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is ethylene dibromide (edb) safe for kids?

Infants may be exposed to Ethylene dibromide (EDB) through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal exposure.

What products contain ethylene dibromide (edb)?

Ethylene dibromide (EDB) 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 ethylene dibromide (edb)?

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 ethylene dibromide (edb)?

Ethylene dibromide (EDB) has been classified by 23 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, 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 Ethylene dibromide (EDB) in the baby app

Look up products containing ethylene dibromide (edb), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 71: Ethylene Dibromide — Group 2A; Multiple Organ Tumors in Rodents at Low Doses; Agricultural and Grain Fumigation Exposure; Reproductive Toxicity (1999) — iarc_monograph
  2. US EPA Emergency Suspension of EDB Registrations — 1983/1984; Florida Groundwater Contamination; MCL 0.05 µg/L; Highest Carcinogenic Potency Basis; FIFRA Emergency Action (1984) — regulatory
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile: Ethylene Dibromide — Carcinogenicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Groundwater Persistence, Agricultural Legacy Contamination (1992) — 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 →