Baby Safety / Compounds / Lead(II) chloride

Is Lead(II) chloride safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Lead(II) chloride, 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 lead(ii) chloride?

The IUPAC name is Lead dichloride.

Also known as: Lead dichloride, LEAD CHLORIDE, Plumbous chloride, Lead(2+) chloride.

IUPAC name
Lead dichloride
CAS number
7758-95-4
Molecular formula
PbCl2
Molecular weight
278.10 g/mol
SMILES
Cl[Pb]Cl
PubChem CID
24459

Risk for babies

High risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Lead(II) chloride, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

High risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Lead(II) chloride, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

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

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Lead(II) chloride. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA——
IARC——

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 lead(ii) chloride

  • lead production
  • solder manufacturing
  • industrial settings
  • battery production

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Lead(II) chloride:

  • Zinc chloride
    Trade-offs: Lower wetting ability. More corrosive residue requires post-cleaning.
    Relative cost: 0.5× lead chloride
  • Ammonium chloride flux
    Trade-offs: Fume generation requires ventilation. Less effective on oxidized surfaces.
    Relative cost: 0.3× lead chloride

Frequently asked questions

What products contain lead(ii) chloride?

Lead(II) chloride appears in: lead production; solder manufacturing; industrial settings.

See Lead(II) chloride in the baby app

Look up products containing lead(ii) chloride, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 7758-95-4 — 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 →