Baby Safety / Compounds / Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB)

Is Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) 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 pentachloronitrobenzene (pcnb)?

The IUPAC name is trichloro(nitro)methane.

Also known as: trichloro(nitro)methane, CHLOROPICRIN, Trichloronitromethane, Nitrochloroform.

IUPAC name
trichloro(nitro)methane
CAS number
76-06-2
Molecular formula
CCl3NO2
Molecular weight
164.37 g/mol
SMILES
[O-][N+](=O)C(Cl)(Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
6423

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) 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

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), 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

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 1 positive / 0 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 1 positive / 0 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 pentachloronitrobenzene (pcnb)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage
  • Consumer Products — Paints, Adhesives, Cleaning products

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB):

  • Safer process chemistry; Green chemistry alternatives; Exposure controls
    Trade-offs: Requires R&D investment to redesign synthesis routes; may reduce yield or throughput initially; long-term benefits include reduced waste treatment costs, regulatory compliance, and worker safety; 12 Principles of Green Chemistry framework available.
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is pentachloronitrobenzene (pcnb) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) 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 pentachloronitrobenzene (pcnb)?

Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage (Industrial facilities); Paints (Consumer products); Adhesives (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to pentachloronitrobenzene (pcnb)?

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 Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) in the baby app

Look up products containing pentachloronitrobenzene (pcnb), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 6423 — database
  2. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DTXSID0020315 — epa
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 76-06-2 — reference

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 →