Baby Safety / Compounds / Octocrylene

Is Octocrylene safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Octocrylene than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is octocrylene?

The IUPAC name is 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylprop-2-enoate.

Also known as: 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylprop-2-enoate, 2-Ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacrylate, Octocrilene, 2-Propenoic acid, 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-, 2-ethylhexyl ester.

IUPAC name
2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylprop-2-enoate
CAS number
6197-30-4
Molecular formula
C24H27NO2
Molecular weight
361.5 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCC(CC)COC(=O)C(=C(C1=CC=CC=C1)C2=CC=CC=C2)C#N
PubChem CID
22571

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Octocrylene than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

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

Elevated risk

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

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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
WHO2021no carcinogenicity classification; UV sunscreen filter; FDA Category III (insufficient data for GRASE pending additional safety studies); notable for degradation to benzophenone (IARC Group 2B) in stored sunscreen formulations
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 octocrylene

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
  • Personal Care — sunscreen, moisturizer with SPF, foundation, lip balm

Safer alternatives

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

  • Fragrance-free formulations
    Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented products
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
    Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizers
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is octocrylene safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Octocrylene than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain octocrylene?

Octocrylene appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); sunscreen (Personal care).

What should I do if my child is exposed to octocrylene?

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 octocrylene?

Octocrylene has been classified by 3 agencies including WHO, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Octocrylene in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. FDA 2019 OTC Sunscreen Proposed Rule: Octocrylene Category III; Systemic Absorption >0.5 ng/mL; Estrogenic Activity; Benzophenone Degradation in Aged Formulations; log Kow 6.1 Lipophilic Accumulation (2019) — regulatory
  2. Octocrylene Degrades to Benzophenone (IARC 2B) in Stored Sunscreen Products: Commercial Product Analysis 2021; Concentration Increases with Storage Temperature and Age; Palau Key West Reef Protection Restrictions (2021) — scientific

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 →