Baby Safety / Compounds / R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane)

Is R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) 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 r-113 (cfc-113 / 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane)?

Also known as: 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane, 76-13-1, 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, Fluorocarbon 113.

CAS number
76-13-1
Molecular formula
C2Cl3F3
Molecular weight
187.38 g/mol
SMILES
C(C(F)(Cl)Cl)(F)(F)Cl
PubChem CID
6428

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) 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 R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane), 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

5 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
MONTREAL PROTOCOL—Class I ODS — production and import banned since 1996 (developed countries)
EPA CAA—Class I substance under Clean Air Act Section 612
CERCLA—Reportable quantity 5000 lbs
RCRA—Listed hazardous waste (U121)
EU ODS—Banned under EU Ozone Regulation 1005/2009

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 r-113 (cfc-113 / 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane)

  • Legacy Contamination — Groundwater contamination at former electronics manufacturing, military bases, and dry cleaning sites
  • Atmospheric Tracer — Used as atmospheric tracer for ocean circulation and groundwater dating studies
  • Legacy Equipment — Some remaining installed chillers in developing countries
  • Historical — Was the standard electronics/precision cleaning solvent until 1990s ban

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane):

  • Aqueous cleaning
    Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
    Relative cost: 0.8-1.5×
  • HFE-7100 (Novec 7100)
    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×
  • Isopropyl alcohol
    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 r-113 (cfc-113 / 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) 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 r-113 (cfc-113 / 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane)?

R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) appears in: Groundwater contamination at former electronics manufacturing, military bases, and dry cleaning sites (Legacy Contamination); Used as atmospheric tracer for ocean circulation and groundwater dating studies (Atmospheric Tracer); Some remaining installed chillers in developing countries (Legacy Equipment).

What should I do if my child is exposed to r-113 (cfc-113 / 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane)?

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 r-113 (cfc-113 / 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane)?

R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) has been classified by 5 agencies including MONTREAL PROTOCOL, EPA CAA, CERCLA, RCRA, EU ODS, 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 R-113 (CFC-113 / 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane) in the baby app

Look up products containing r-113 (cfc-113 / 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. — expert_curation

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 →