Baby Safety / Compounds / Bifenthrin

Is Bifenthrin safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Bifenthrin due to immature acetylcholinesterase regulation, higher dermal absorption per unit body weight, and frequent floor-level exposure to residues.

What is bifenthrin?

The IUPAC name is trans-(2-methyl-3-phenylphenyl)methyl (1R,3R)-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate.

Also known as: trans-(2-methyl-3-phenylphenyl)methyl (1R,3R)-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate, Biphenthrin, Capture, Biphentrin.

IUPAC name
trans-(2-methyl-3-phenylphenyl)methyl (1R,3R)-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate
CAS number
82657-04-3
Molecular formula
C23H22ClF3O2
Molecular weight
422.9 g/mol
SMILES
CC1=C(C=CC=C1C2=CC=CC=C2)COC(=O)C3C(C3(C)C)C=C(C(F)(F)F)Cl
PubChem CID
6442842

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Bifenthrin due to immature acetylcholinesterase regulation, higher dermal absorption per unit body weight, and frequent floor-level exposure to residues.

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

Prenatal exposure to Bifenthrin is associated with neurodevelopmental effects. Organophosphate/carbamate insecticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase, which plays a role in fetal brain development.

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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group C Possible Human Carcinogen
US_EPA2024registered_restrictedEPA restricted-use pyrethroid.
PROP_652010carcinogenProp 65 listed

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 bifenthrin

  • 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 Bifenthrin:

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

Frequently asked questions

Is bifenthrin safe for kids?

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Bifenthrin due to immature acetylcholinesterase regulation, higher dermal absorption per unit body weight, and frequent floor-level exposure to residues.

What products contain bifenthrin?

Bifenthrin 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 bifenthrin?

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 bifenthrin?

Bifenthrin has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / EPA OPP, US_EPA, PROP_65, 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 Bifenthrin in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US EPA Pyrethroid Reregistration Eligibility Decision — cypermethrin/deltamethrin/lambda-cyhalothrin/bifenthrin/cyfluthrin/fenvalerate/tau-fluvalinate/fenpropathrin; type I/II classification; aquatic toxicity; cat sensitivity; sodium channel mechanism; human paresthesia; buffer zones (2011) (2011) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Pyrethroid Toxicosis in Cats and Dogs — type I vs type II CS/T syndromes; extreme cat sensitivity (sodium channel/UGT deficiency); bathing decontamination; methocarbamol tremor control; cyproheptadine; lipid emulsion severe cases (2023) (2023) — veterinary

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 →