Baby Safety / Compounds / Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71)

Is Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71) safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants face disproportionate exposure to Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71) through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

What is pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentabde, de-71)?

Also known as: pentabromodiphenyl ether, Pentabromdifenyl ether, Pentabromdiphenylether, पेन्टाब्रोमोडाइफिनाइल इथर.

CAS number
32534-81-9
Molecular formula
C12H5Br5O
Molecular weight
564.7 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC(=C(C=C1Br)Br)OC2=CC(=C(C=C2Br)Br)Br
PubChem CID
36159

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants face disproportionate exposure to Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71) through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

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

Context-dependent

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment—Confirmed endocrine disruptor

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 pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentabde, de-71)

  • Indoor Environments — furniture foam, electronics, house dust
  • Food Chain — bioaccumulates in fatty tissue

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71):

  • N/A — exposure reduction
    Trade-offs: Exposure reduction does not eliminate the hazard but lowers risk to acceptable levels when alternatives are not available or practical. Requires ongoing monitoring and compliance.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentabde, de-71) safe for kids?

Infants face disproportionate exposure to Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71) through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

What products contain pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentabde, de-71)?

Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71) appears in: furniture foam (Indoor environments); electronics (Indoor environments); bioaccumulates in fatty tissue (Food chain).

What should I do if my child is exposed to pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentabde, de-71)?

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 Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaBDE, DE-71) in the baby app

Look up products containing pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentabde, de-71), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (2026) — database

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 →