Is Atrazine safe for babies and kids?
Elevated risk for kidsInfants face elevated risk from Atrazine through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.
What is atrazine?
The IUPAC name is 6-chloro-4-N-ethyl-2-N-propan-2-yl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine.
Also known as: 6-chloro-4-N-ethyl-2-N-propan-2-yl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, Gesaprim, Aatrex, Atranex.
- IUPAC name
- 6-chloro-4-N-ethyl-2-N-propan-2-yl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine
- CAS number
- 1912-24-9
- Molecular formula
- C8H14ClN5
- Molecular weight
- 215.68 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCNC1=NC(=NC(=N1)Cl)NC(C)C
- PubChem CID
- 2256
Risk for babies
Elevated riskInfants face elevated risk from Atrazine 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
Moderate riskAnimal fetal weight reduction; EPA MCL 3 ppb not protective for developmental exposure.
Regulatory consensus
12 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Atrazine. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US EPA | — | not likely carcinogen | primary concern: endocrine disruption |
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | |
| EPA CTX / EPA OPP | — | Not Likely to Be Carcinogenic in Humans | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 2 positive / 5 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 2 positive / 5 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Skin Sens. 1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 2B (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Not classified (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Category 1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin irritation: in vivo: Moderate or Mild Irritation (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | eye irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): High Frequency of Sensitization (score: high) |
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 atrazine
- 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 Atrazine:
-
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 atrazine safe for kids?
Infants face elevated risk from Atrazine through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.
What products contain atrazine?
Atrazine 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 atrazine?
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 atrazine?
Atrazine has been classified by 12 agencies including US EPA, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Atrazine in the baby app
Look up products containing atrazine, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (2)
- US EPA: Atrazine — Final Human Health Assessment (2016) — regulatory
- Hayes TB et al. Hermaphroditic, demasculinized frogs after exposure to the herbicide atrazine. PNAS. 2002;99(8):5476-5480. (2002) — journal
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 →