Is TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsInfants are exposed to TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.
What is tbhq (tert-butylhydroquinone)?
The IUPAC name is 2-tert-butylbenzene-1,4-diol.
Also known as: 2-tert-butylbenzene-1,4-diol, tert-Butylhydroquinone, TBHQ, 2-tert-Butylhydroquinone.
- IUPAC name
- 2-tert-butylbenzene-1,4-diol
- CAS number
- 1948-33-0
- Molecular formula
- C10H14O2
- Molecular weight
- 166.22 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(C)(C)C1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)O
- PubChem CID
- 16043
Risk for babies
Moderate riskInfants are exposed to TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.
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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPrenatal exposure to TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) through personal care products and food is a concern. Some preservatives (parabens) exhibit weak estrogenic activity that may affect fetal endocrine development.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
12 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 27 positive / 14 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 27 positive / 14 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: SkinIrr2 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: SkinSens1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Category 1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Category 6.5B (Category 1) (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin irritation: in vivo: Severe Irritation (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | eye irritation: in vivo: Severe Irritation (score: high) |
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 tbhq (tert-butylhydroquinone)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Personal Care — shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cosmetics, sunscreen
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone):
-
Fragrance-free formulations
Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented productsRelative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
-
Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizersRelative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
Is tbhq (tert-butylhydroquinone) safe for kids?
Infants are exposed to TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.
What products contain tbhq (tert-butylhydroquinone)?
TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); shampoo (Personal care).
What should I do if my child is exposed to tbhq (tert-butylhydroquinone)?
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 tbhq (tert-butylhydroquinone)?
TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) has been classified by 12 agencies including EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, 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 TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) in the baby app
Look up products containing tbhq (tert-butylhydroquinone), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (2)
- US FDA: TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone) — 21 CFR 172.185, Permitted Antioxidant in Fats and Oils, 0.02% Fat Content Limit, GRAS Status, JECFA ADI 0.7 mg/kg bw/day, and Dietary Exposure Assessment (2022) (2022) — regulatory
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives: Re-evaluation of tert-Butylhydroquinone (E319) as a Food Additive — ADI 0.7 mg/kg bw/day Confirmation, Dietary Exposure Across Age Groups, Rodent Forestomach Papilloma Species Specificity, and Continued E319 Authorization (EFSA Journal 2020;18(3):6042) (2020) — 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 →