Baby Safety / Compounds / Captafol

Is Captafol safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Captafol, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is captafol?

The IUPAC name is 2-(1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylsulfanyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroisoindole-1,3-dione.

Also known as: 2-(1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylsulfanyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroisoindole-1,3-dione, Folcid, Merpafol, Sanspor.

IUPAC name
2-(1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylsulfanyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroisoindole-1,3-dione
CAS number
2425-06-1
Molecular formula
C10H9Cl4NO2S
Molecular weight
349.1 g/mol
SMILES
C1C=CCC2C1C(=O)N(C2=O)SC(C(Cl)Cl)(Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
17038

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Captafol, 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Captafol, 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1987Group 2A
US EPA1999probable human carcinogen (Group B2)
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 8 positive / 2 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 8 positive / 2 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Skin Sens. 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2A (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Category 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Skin Sens. 1 (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 captafol

  • 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 Captafol:

  • Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
    Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.
    Relative cost: Variable; lower long-term

Frequently asked questions

What products contain captafol?

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

Why do regulators disagree about captafol?

Captafol has been classified by 13 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / IARC, 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 Captafol in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 53: Occupational Exposures in Insecticide Application — Captafol Group 2A; NCI Bioassay Duodenal Adenocarcinomas in Mice; Renal Tubular Tumors in Rats; Thiol-Reactive Fungicide; Contact Sensitization (1987) — iarc_monograph
  2. US EPA Captafol Cancellation 1987–1999: Group B2 Probable Carcinogen; FQPA Safety Factor; Food Crop Tolerance Cancellation; Rotterdam Convention PIC Listing; Allergic Contact Dermatitis; Fish Acute Toxicity (1999) — 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 →