Baby Safety / Compounds / Azaspiracid-1

Is Azaspiracid-1 safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are highly susceptible to Azaspiracid-1 due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What is azaspiracid-1?

Also known as: azaspiracid, L7T6T5J56J, RefChem:560456, Azaspiracid 1.

CAS number
214899-21-5
Molecular formula
C47H71NO12
Molecular weight
842.1 g/mol
SMILES
CC1CC2C3C(CC4(O3)C(CC(CN4)C)C)OC(C1)(O2)CC(=C)C5C(CC(C(O5)(C(C6CC7C(O6)CC(C8(O7)CCC9(O8)C=CCC(O9)C=CCCC(=O)O)C)O)O)C)C
PubChem CID
21593892

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are highly susceptible to Azaspiracid-1 due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

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

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Azaspiracid-1, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

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 Azaspiracid-1. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EU—160 μg AZA equivalents/kg shellfish tissue (regulatory limit)Maximum level for azaspiracids in shellfish tissue
EFSA2008Acute reference dose of 0.2 μg AZA-1 equivalents/kg body weight

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 azaspiracid-1

  • 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 Azaspiracid-1:

  • Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is azaspiracid-1 safe for kids?

Infants are highly susceptible to Azaspiracid-1 due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What products contain azaspiracid-1?

Azaspiracid-1 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 azaspiracid-1?

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 Azaspiracid-1 in the baby app

Look up products containing azaspiracid-1, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (2)
  1. EFSA Panel on Contaminants: Scientific Opinion on Marine Biotoxins — Azaspiracids (AZA), Acute Reference Dose (0.2 μg AZA-1 eq/kg bw), EU Regulatory Limit, Irish Sea Source Attribution, and Tumor Promotion Data (EFSA Journal 2008;723) (2008) — regulatory
  2. US FDA/CFSAN: Azaspiracid Shellfish Poisoning (AZP) — Azaspiracid-1, Azadinium spinosum Source, AZP Outbreak History, and Import Monitoring for European Shellfish (2021) (2021) — 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 →