Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (IPBC)CAS 55406-53-6
Wood-preservative and paint fungicide that releases iodine — skin sensitizer and thyroid-disruption concern.
Toxic Chemical Databases
Substance-specific listings — these flags are for Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate alone, not for the broader family.
Chemical Type
Iodine-Releasing Carbamate Biocide
Chemical Description
IPBC is a synthetic carbamate fungicide whose biocidal action depends on iodine release. Used in oil-based wood preservatives, exterior paint, and personal-care products. That same iodine release is what raises thyroid concerns at chronic exposure — the thyroid is exquisitely sensitive to iodine balance. Skin-sensitization rates rose sharply through the 2010s as IPBC replaced older preservatives; it's now a top-15 contact allergen in European dermatology clinics.
Biological Activity
Severity scores specific to this substance, NOT the parent family average. Differences between siblings are real and meaningful.
Top Health Consequences
- Skin sensitization (rising clinical incidence)
- Thyroid hormone disruption potential from iodine release
- Respiratory irritation in aerosolized exposure
- Allergic contact dermatitis
Pathways of Exposure
- Dermal contact with treated wood surfaces
- Inhalation during oil-based paint or stain application
- Skin contact with personal-care products
Building Materials with Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Listed alphabetically — product categories where this specific substance appears.
Cooling Tower Biocides
Exterior Wood Sealers
Latex Paint Preservation
Wood Stain & Preservatives
How We Keep Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate Out of a House
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate is one of the substances our screening is built to catch. A healthy home is won in the specification and the submittal review, long before anyone opens a bucket on site.
If you want a house specified this way from the start, or an existing house assessed for what is already in it, that is the work we do. Earth Bound Homes builds in Palo Alto, Atherton, Menlo Park and across the San Francisco Bay Area.