Baby Safety / Compounds / Alachlor

Is Alachlor safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants face elevated risk from Alachlor through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

What is alachlor?

Also known as: Lasso, Metachlor, Alanox, 2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide.

CAS number: 15972-60-8
Molecular formula: C14H20ClNO2
Molecular weight: 269.77 g/mol
SMILES: CCc1cccc(c1N(COC)C(=O)CCl)CC
PubChem CID: 2078

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants face elevated risk from Alachlor through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

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 Alachlor is a concern due to potential endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity. Agricultural communities show higher gestational exposure through drinking water.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

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

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Alachlor. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification	Notes
EPA	1998	Group B2 — Probable human carcinogen
EU	2006	Banned — not approved under Regulation (EC) 1107/2009

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 alachlor

Agricultural Water
Food
Soil

Safer alternatives

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

S-metolachlor
Trade-offs: Same chloroacetanilide class but lower application rate and reduced groundwater contamination. Not classified as carcinogen.

Relative cost: Similar
Acetochlor
Trade-offs: Similar efficacy; conditional registration with monitoring requirements.

Relative cost: Similar

Frequently asked questions

Is alachlor safe for kids?

Infants face elevated risk from Alachlor through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

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

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 Alachlor in the baby app

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

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Sources (2)

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 →