Baby Safety / Compounds / Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)

Is Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are highly exposed to Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) through mouthing of plastic toys, teethers, bottles, and food packaging leachates. Endocrine disruption risk is amplified during critical windows of reproductive and neurological development.

What is tetrabromobisphenol a (tbbpa)?

The IUPAC name is 2,6-dibromo-4-[2-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenol.

Also known as: 2,6-dibromo-4-[2-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenol, Tetrabromobisphenol A, 3,3',5,5'-Tetrabromobisphenol A, 4,4'-(propane-2,2-diyl)bis(2,6-dibromophenol).

IUPAC name: 2,6-dibromo-4-[2-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]phenol
CAS number: 79-94-7
Molecular formula: C15H12Br4O2
Molecular weight: 543.9 g/mol
SMILES: CC(C)(C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)Br)O)Br)C2=CC(=C(C(=C2)Br)O)Br
PubChem CID: 6618

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

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

High risk

Prenatal exposure to Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is associated with endocrine disruption affecting fetal reproductive development. Phthalates and alternative plasticizers cross the placenta and are detectable in amniotic fluid.

Known reproductive toxicant (GHS H360) or confirmed endocrine disruptor. Placental transfer is presumed. Fetal exposure during critical developmental windows may cause structural malformations, growth restriction, or functional deficits.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

8 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification
EPA CTX / IARC	—	Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA	—	Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 9 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 9 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Sensitization: SkinSens1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	skin irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low)

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 tetrabromobisphenol a (tbbpa)

Consumer Products — Plastic bottles and containers, Food packaging, Plastic toys and household items
Drinking Water — Leaching from plastic pipes, Migration from bottled water containers
Indoor Environments — Off-gassing from plastic furniture, Degradation of plastic products

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA):

Inherently flame-resistant materials (wool, modacrylic, Nomex)
Trade-offs: Higher material cost. Limited color/texture options.

Relative cost: 2-4×
Barrier fabric technology
Trade-offs: Adds manufacturing step and cost

Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is tetrabromobisphenol a (tbbpa) safe for kids?

What products contain tetrabromobisphenol a (tbbpa)?

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) appears in: Plastic bottles and containers (Consumer products); Food packaging (Consumer products); Leaching from plastic pipes (Drinking water); Migration from bottled water containers (Drinking water); Off-gassing from plastic furniture (Indoor environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to tetrabromobisphenol a (tbbpa)?

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 tetrabromobisphenol a (tbbpa)?

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) has been classified by 8 agencies including EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in the baby app

Look up products containing tetrabromobisphenol a (tbbpa), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

ECHA: Tetrabromobisphenol A — SVHC Identification (Endocrine Disrupting Properties, Thyroid Axis, REACH Article 57(f)), Background Document, ECHA-2014 (2014) (2014) — regulatory
EFSA Scientific Opinion on Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA): Dietary Exposure Assessment, Thyroid Hormone Disruption, TDI 0.0017 mg/kg bw/day (2011) (2011) — 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 →