Baby Safety / Compounds / NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine)

Is NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

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

What is nnn (n'-nitrosonornicotine)?

The IUPAC name is [(1S,2S,6R,10S,11R,13S,14R,15R)-13-butanoyloxy-1,6-dihydroxy-8-(hydroxymethyl)-4,12,12,15-tetramethyl-5-oxo-14-tetracyclo[8.5.0.02,6.011,13]pentadeca-3,8-dienyl] butanoate.

Also known as: [(1S,2S,6R,10S,11R,13S,14R,15R)-13-butanoyloxy-1,6-dihydroxy-8-(hydroxymethyl)-4,12,12,15-tetramethyl-5-oxo-14-tetracyclo[8.5.0.02,6.011,13]pentadeca-3,8-dienyl] butanoate, Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, PDBU, Phorbol 12,13-dibutanoate.

IUPAC name
[(1S,2S,6R,10S,11R,13S,14R,15R)-13-butanoyloxy-1,6-dihydroxy-8-(hydroxymethyl)-4,12,12,15-tetramethyl-5-oxo-14-tetracyclo[8.5.0.02,6.011,13]pentadeca-3,8-dienyl] butanoate
CAS number
37558-16-0
Molecular formula
C28H40O8
Molecular weight
504.6 g/mol
SMILES
CCCC(=O)OC1C(C2(C(C=C(CC3(C2C=C(C3=O)C)O)CO)C4C1(C4(C)C)OC(=O)CCC)O)C
PubChem CID
37783

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants accumulate NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine) 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

NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine) 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.

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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2012Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)Based on sufficient evidence of human carcinogenicity and sufficient evidence in experimental animals. From Monographs Volume 100E.

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 nnn (n'-nitrosonornicotine)

  • 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 NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine):

  • Exposure reduction (environmental contaminant)
    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

Is nnn (n'-nitrosonornicotine) safe for kids?

Infants accumulate NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine) 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 nnn (n'-nitrosonornicotine)?

NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine) 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 nnn (n'-nitrosonornicotine)?

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.

See NNN (N'-Nitrosonornicotine) in the baby app

Look up products containing nnn (n'-nitrosonornicotine), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 100E: Personal Habits and Indoor Combustions — Tobacco Smoking Group 1, Smokeless Tobacco Group 1, Second-hand Tobacco Smoke Group 1; NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone) Group 1, NNN (N'-nitrosonornicotine) Group 1 as Individual Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (2012) (2012) — regulatory
  2. EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM): Scientific Opinion on the Risk for Human Health Related to the Presence of Nitrosamines in Food — Group MOE approach for 10 priority nitrosamines in processed meat, fish, and other food categories; benchmark MOE 10,000 (2023) (2023) — 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 →