Baby Safety / Compounds / TOCP

Is TOCP safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants face disproportionate exposure to TOCP through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

What is tocp?

Also known as: Tri-o-tolyl phosphate, TRI-O-CRESYL PHOSPHATE, Phosphoric acid, tris(2-methylphenyl) ester, o-Cresyl phosphate.

CAS number
78-30-8
Molecular formula
C21H21O4P
Molecular weight
368.4 g/mol
SMILES
CC1=CC=CC=C1OP(=O)(OC2=CC=CC=C2C)OC3=CC=CC=C3C
PubChem CID
6527

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants face disproportionate exposure to TOCP through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

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 TOCP.

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 tocp

  • Consumer Products — personal care, cleaning, industrial

Safer alternatives

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

  • Phosphorus-based non-halogenated FRs; Barrier fabrics
    Trade-offs: Eliminates chemical FR entirely through physical design (fire-blocking layers, reduced ignition propensity); requires redesign of existing products; effective per CPSC and TB 117-2013; adopted in California furniture regulation.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is tocp safe for kids?

Infants face disproportionate exposure to TOCP through dust ingestion (hand-to-mouth behavior), breast milk transfer, and dermal contact with treated textiles in cribs and car seats.

What products contain tocp?

TOCP appears in: personal care (Consumer products); cleaning (Consumer products).

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

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 TOCP in the baby app

Look up products containing tocp, 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 →