Baby Safety / Compounds / p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)

Is p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants may be exposed to p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal exposure.

What is p,p'-dde (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)?

The IUPAC name is 1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene.

Also known as: 1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene, p,p'-DDE, 4,4'-DDE, 2,2-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene.

IUPAC name: 1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene
CAS number: 72-55-9
Molecular formula: C14H8Cl4
Molecular weight: 318.0 g/mol
SMILES: C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=C(Cl)Cl)C2=CC=C(C=C2)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID: 3035

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

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

Prenatal exposure to residual p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) from food-contact materials is a concern due to potential developmental toxicity. Monomers may leach from plastics at elevated temperatures.

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

8 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene). The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification
IARC	1991	Group 2B
US EPA	2008	likely human carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS	—	B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / EPA OPP	—	Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / CalEPA	—	Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 4 positive / 4 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 4 positive / 4 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Sensitization: SkinSens1 (score: high)

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 p,p'-dde (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)

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 p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene):

Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.

Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is p,p'-dde (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) safe for kids?

What products contain p,p'-dde (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)?

p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) 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 p,p'-dde (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)?

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 p,p'-dde (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene)?

p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) has been classified by 8 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / CalEPA, 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 p,p'-DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) in the baby app

Look up products containing p,p'-dde (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)

IARC Monographs Volume 53: p,p'-DDE — Group 2B; animal carcinogenicity data; inadequate human evidence; DDT metabolite persistence; wildlife eggshell thinning mechanism (1991) — iarc_monograph
US EPA IRIS: DDT/DDE/DDD — Cancer Classification Likely Human Carcinogen; Biomonitoring Data; Anti-androgenic Mechanism; Fish Consumption Guidelines (2000) — regulatory
CDC NHANES: Serum DDE Biomonitoring in the US Population — Near-Universal Exposure, Declining Trend Post-DDT Ban, Racial and Geographic Disparities, Association with DDT Malaria Control Regions (2019) — 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 →