Is Alachlor safe for babies and kids?
High risk for kidsNot medical or professional safety advice, and not a substitute for a qualified clinician — consult one. Full disclaimer →
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 riskInfants 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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
High riskPrenatal 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.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Alachlor. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | — | Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans (IARC Monographs Volume 140) | |
| 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.
Why do regulators disagree about alachlor?
Alachlor has been classified by 3 agencies including IARC, EPA, EU, 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 Alachlor in the baby app
Look up products containing alachlor, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataReference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for medical, pediatric, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →