Baby Safety / Compounds / Aldrin

Is Aldrin safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants accumulate Aldrin through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What is aldrin?

The IUPAC name is (1S,2S,3S,6R,7R,8R)-1,8,9,10,11,11-hexachlorotetracyclo[6.2.1.13,6.02,7]dodeca-4,9-diene.

Also known as: (1S,2S,3S,6R,7R,8R)-1,8,9,10,11,11-hexachlorotetracyclo[6.2.1.13,6.02,7]dodeca-4,9-diene, Kortofin, Tatuzinho, Aldocit.

IUPAC name
(1S,2S,3S,6R,7R,8R)-1,8,9,10,11,11-hexachlorotetracyclo[6.2.1.13,6.02,7]dodeca-4,9-diene
CAS number
309-00-2
Molecular formula
C12H8Cl6
Molecular weight
364.9 g/mol
SMILES
C1C2C=CC1C3C2C4(C(=C(C3(C4(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
12310947

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants accumulate Aldrin through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

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

Elevated risk

Aldrin persists in maternal adipose tissue and is mobilized during pregnancy and lactation. Lipophilic pollutants concentrate in breast milk and cross the placenta during critical developmental windows.

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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
UNEP—Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: - (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 3 (score: moderate)

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 aldrin

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

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

  • Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
    Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is aldrin safe for kids?

Infants accumulate Aldrin through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What products contain aldrin?

Aldrin appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

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

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 aldrin?

Aldrin has been classified by 10 agencies including UNEP, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, 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 Aldrin in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 53: Occupational Exposures in Insecticide Application, and Some Pesticides — Aldrin Group 3; Dieldrin Group 3; GABA-A receptor inhibition; rapid interconversion of aldrin and dieldrin (1991) (1991) — regulatory

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 →