Baby Safety / Compounds / PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl)

Is PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants accumulate PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What is pcb-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl)?

The IUPAC name is 1,2,4-trichloro-5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)benzene.

Also known as: 1,2,4-trichloro-5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)benzene, 2,3',4,4',5-PENTACHLOROBIPHENYL, PCB 118, 1,1'-Biphenyl, 2,3',4,4',5-pentachloro-.

IUPAC name: 1,2,4-trichloro-5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)benzene
CAS number: 31508-00-6
Molecular formula: C12H5Cl5
Molecular weight: 326.4 g/mol
SMILES: C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=C(C=C2Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID: 35823

Risk for babies

Moderate 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

PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) 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

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl). The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification	Notes
WHO	2005	TEF of 0.00003	Weak dioxin-like PCB with very weak AhR agonism, 3,000-fold less potent than TCDD
EFSA	—	Indicator NDL-PCB	Listed among six EFSA indicator NDL-PCBs for regulatory food monitoring purposes
IARC	2016	Group 1	PCBs classified as Group 1 (Vol 107); PCB-118 included in broader class evaluation

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 pcb-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl)

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 PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl):

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 pcb-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) safe for kids?

What products contain pcb-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl)?

PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) 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 pcb-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl)?

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 pcb-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl)?

PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) has been classified by 3 agencies including WHO, EFSA, 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 PCB-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl) in the baby app

Look up products containing pcb-118 (2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

IARC Monographs Vol 107: Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Polybrominated Biphenyls — PCBs Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans); sufficient evidence from occupational cohort studies; NHL, melanoma, liver cancer; AhR and non-AhR mechanisms; Aroclor mixtures and dioxin-like congeners evaluated (2016) (2016) — iarc_monograph
EFSA Scientific Opinion on the Risks to Human Health Related to the Presence of Non-Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) in Feed and Food — Indicator PCBs: PCB-28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180; TWI based on hepatotoxicity and thyroid effects; fish as primary dietary source (2005, updated 2010) (2010) — 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 →