Baby Safety / Compounds / Tetrachlorophenol

Is Tetrachlorophenol safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Tetrachlorophenol 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 tetrachlorophenol?

Also known as: 2,3,4,5-TETRACHLOROPHENOL, 2,3,4,5-Tetrachlorophenate, D2UW5NHW9J, 2,3,4,5-tetrakis(chloranyl)phenol.

CAS number
4901-51-3
Molecular formula
C6H2Cl4O
Molecular weight
231.9 g/mol
SMILES
C1=C(C(=C(C(=C1Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)O
PubChem CID
21013

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants are more vulnerable to Tetrachlorophenol 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

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Tetrachlorophenol.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment—Suspected endocrine disruptor

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 tetrachlorophenol

  • Consumer Products — personal care/cleaning

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Tetrachlorophenol:

  • Hydrogen peroxide; UV disinfection; Physical cleaning
    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 tetrachlorophenol safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Tetrachlorophenol 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 tetrachlorophenol?

Tetrachlorophenol appears in: personal care/cleaning (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to tetrachlorophenol?

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 Tetrachlorophenol in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (2026) — database

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 →