Baby Safety / Compounds / o-Anisidine

Is o-Anisidine 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 o-Anisidine, 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 o-anisidine?

The IUPAC name is 2-methoxyaniline.

Also known as: 2-methoxyaniline, 2-Anisidine, 2-Aminoanisole, o-Aminoanisole.

IUPAC name
2-methoxyaniline
CAS number
90-04-0
Molecular formula
C7H9NO
Molecular weight
123.15 g/mol
SMILES
COC1=CC=CC=C1N
PubChem CID
7000

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of o-Anisidine, 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 o-Anisidine, 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

13 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified o-Anisidine. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1999Group 2B
US EPA2000probable human carcinogen (Group B2)
EPA CTX / NIOSHpotential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / NTP RoCReasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARCGroup 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPAKnown human carcinogen
EPA CTX / GenetoxGenotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 6 positive / 5 negative reports)
EPA CTX / GenetoxGenotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 6 positive / 5 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeEye Irritation: Category 2B (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-EyeSkin Irritation: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eyeskin irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eyeeye irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eyeskin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): Ambiguous (score: not classifiable)

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 o-anisidine

  • Industrial FacilitiesManufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational EnvironmentsFactories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to o-Anisidine:

  • Process redesign to avoid hazardous intermediates
    Trade-offs: May require significant R&D investment. Not always feasible.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain o-anisidine?

o-Anisidine appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

Why do regulators disagree about o-anisidine?

o-Anisidine has been classified by 13 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / IARC, 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 o-Anisidine in the baby app

Look up products containing o-anisidine, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

  1. IARC Monographs Volume 73: Some Chemicals That Cause Tumours of the Kidney or Urinary Bladder in Rodents — o-Anisidine Group 2B; Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma in Rats; Methemoglobin Formation; CYP Metabolism; Dye/Pigment Intermediate (1999) — iarc_monograph
  2. US EPA o-Anisidine Assessment: Group B2 Probable Carcinogen; OSHA PEL 0.5 mg/m³ Skin Notation; Azo Dye Manufacturing Intermediate; Methemoglobinemia Acute Toxicity; Cancer Slope Factor; Dermal Absorption Concern (2000) — 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 →