Baby Safety / Compounds / Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

Is Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants accumulate Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What is hexachlorobenzene (hcb)?

The IUPAC name is 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorobenzene.

Also known as: 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorobenzene, HEXACHLOROBENZENE, Perchlorobenzene, Anticarie.

IUPAC name
1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorobenzene
CAS number
118-74-1
Molecular formula
C6Cl6
Molecular weight
284.8 g/mol
SMILES
C1(=C(C(=C(C(=C1Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
8370

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants accumulate Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

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

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) persists in maternal adipose tissue and is mobilized during pregnancy and lactation. Lipophilic pollutants concentrate in breast milk and cross the placenta during critical developmental windows.

Known reproductive toxicant (GHS H360) or confirmed endocrine disruptor. Placental transfer is presumed. Fetal exposure during critical developmental windows may cause structural malformations, growth restriction, or functional deficits.

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

Regulatory consensus

8 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Hexachlorobenzene (HCB). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
UNEP—Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
EPA CTX / IRIS—B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 2 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 2 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 hexachlorobenzene (hcb)

  • 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 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB):

  • Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
    Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is hexachlorobenzene (hcb) safe for kids?

Infants accumulate Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What products contain hexachlorobenzene (hcb)?

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) 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 hexachlorobenzene (hcb)?

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 hexachlorobenzene (hcb)?

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) has been classified by 8 agencies including UNEP, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, 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 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 79: Some Thyrotropic Agents — Chlordane Group 2B; Heptachlor Group 2B; Hexachlorobenzene Group 2B; Mirex Group 2B; Toxaphene Group 2B (2001) (2001) — 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 →