Baby Safety / Compounds / Nitrobenzene

Is Nitrobenzene 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 Nitrobenzene, 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 nitrobenzene?

Also known as: Nitrobenzol, Benzene, nitro-, Essence of mirbane, nitro-Benzene.

IUPAC name
nitrobenzene
CAS number
98-95-3
Molecular formula
C6H5NO2
Molecular weight
123.11 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)[N+](=O)[O-]
PubChem CID
7416

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Nitrobenzene, 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 Nitrobenzene, 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
OSHA—Occupational exposure limit
EPA CTX / IRIS—Likely to be carcinogenic to humans
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 D Not Classifiable as to Human Carcinogenicity
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 7 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 7 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 nitrobenzene

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
  • Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
    Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

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

  • Fragrance-free formulations
    Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented products
    Relative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
  • Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
    Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizers
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

What products contain nitrobenzene?

Nitrobenzene appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); perfume (Fragrance).

Why do regulators disagree about nitrobenzene?

Nitrobenzene has been classified by 8 agencies including OSHA, 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 Nitrobenzene in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. NIOSH Pocket Guide: Nitrobenzene — PEL 1 ppm (skin); IDLH 200 ppm; methemoglobin formation; methylene blue antidote; aniline feedstock; dermal absorption; urinary p-nitrophenol biomarker (2019) (2019) — regulatory
  2. NTP Report on Carcinogens: Nitrobenzene — reasonably anticipated human carcinogen; thyroid/liver tumors rodents; HAP Clean Air Act; oil of mirbane historical use; industrial methemoglobinemia outbreaks (2021) (2021) — 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 →