Baby Safety / Compounds / Carbaryl

Is Carbaryl safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

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

What is carbaryl?

The IUPAC name is naphthalen-1-yl N-methylcarbamate.

Also known as: naphthalen-1-yl N-methylcarbamate, Carbaril, 1-Naphthyl N-methylcarbamate, Sevin.

IUPAC name
naphthalen-1-yl N-methylcarbamate
CAS number
63-25-2
Molecular formula
C12H11NO2
Molecular weight
201.22 g/mol
SMILES
CNC(=O)OC1=CC=CC2=CC=CC=C21
PubChem CID
6129

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Carbaryl 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 Carbaryl 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC—Group 2
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Likely to be Carcinogenic to Humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 5 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2B (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 3 (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Not classified (score: low)
US_EPA2024registered_restrictedEPA registered. Residential restricted.
EU_REACH2007bannedEU non-approval.

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 carbaryl

  • 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 Carbaryl:

  • 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×
  • Bt
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Pyrethrin
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Neem
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is carbaryl safe for kids?

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

What products contain carbaryl?

Carbaryl 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 carbaryl?

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 carbaryl?

Carbaryl has been classified by 11 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / CalEPA, 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 Carbaryl in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 53: Carbaryl — Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans (1991) — regulatory
  2. US EPA: Carbaryl — Registration Review Proposed Interim Decision and Ecological Risk Assessment (2020) — regulatory
  3. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Carbamate Insecticide Toxicosis in Companion Animals (2021) — report

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 →