Baby Safety / Compounds / Resorcinol

Is Resorcinol safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Resorcinol 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 resorcinol?

The IUPAC name is benzene-1,3-diol.

Also known as: benzene-1,3-diol, 1,3-Benzenediol, Resorcin, 1,3-Dihydroxybenzene.

IUPAC name
benzene-1,3-diol
CAS number
108-46-3
Molecular formula
C6H6O2
Molecular weight
110.11 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC(=CC(=C1)O)O
PubChem CID
5054

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Resorcinol 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

Elevated risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Resorcinol, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

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

4 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Resorcinol. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1999Group 3 — not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (resorcinol — IARC Monographs Volume 71, 1999; inadequate animal evidence; inadequate human evidence; primary hazard is thyroid disruption not carcinogenicity)
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 28 positive / 9 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 28 positive / 9 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 resorcinol

  • 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 Resorcinol:

  • 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 resorcinol safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Resorcinol 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 resorcinol?

Resorcinol 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 resorcinol?

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 resorcinol?

Resorcinol has been classified by 4 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Resorcinol in the baby app

Look up products containing resorcinol, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 71 1999 Resorcinol Group 3; Thyroid Peroxidase Inhibitor TPO; NIS Sodium-Iodide Symporter; Hypothyroidism Topical Exposure; EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 Hair Dye 0.5%; ECHA Endocrine Disruptor Aquatic Thyroid; RFL Resorcinol-Formaldehyde-Latex Tire Adhesion; ACGIH TLV-TWA 10 ppm Skin (1999) — 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 →