Baby Safety / Compounds / Chlorfenvinphos

Is Chlorfenvinphos safe for babies and kids?

Severe risk for kids

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

What is chlorfenvinphos?

The IUPAC name is [2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethenyl] diethyl phosphate.

Also known as: [2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethenyl] diethyl phosphate, Chlorfenvinfos, Clofenvinfos, Birlan.

IUPAC name
[2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethenyl] diethyl phosphate
CAS number
470-90-6
Molecular formula
C12H14Cl3O4P
Molecular weight
359.6 g/mol
SMILES
CCOP(=O)(OCC)OC(=CCl)C1=C(C=C(C=C1)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
10107

Risk for babies

Severe risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Chlorfenvinphos 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

Very high risk

Prenatal exposure to Chlorfenvinphos 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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Chlorfenvinphos.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1983Group 2BIARC Group 2B for chlorfenvinphos, evaluated in Monograph 30 (1983) on occupational exposures in insecticide application and some pesticides. Limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans (occupational cohort associations with lymphomas and other cancers in insecticide applicator cohorts) and limited evidence in experimental animals from chronic bioassays. Chlorfenvinphos is a vinylphosphate organophosphate insecticide; its structural similarity to dichlorvos (DDVP) and other carcinogenic OP compounds was noted in the evaluation. It is classified WHO Toxicity Class Ia (extremely hazardous) — among the most acutely toxic of registered organophosphates. Chlorfenvinphos was cancelled in the US by EPA in the early 1990s; it is banned in the EU under Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 (POPs regulation) and is listed under the Rotterdam Convention PIC procedure. IARC has not re-evaluated since 1983.

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 chlorfenvinphos

  • 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 Chlorfenvinphos:

  • 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 chlorfenvinphos safe for kids?

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

What products contain chlorfenvinphos?

Chlorfenvinphos 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 chlorfenvinphos?

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 Chlorfenvinphos in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 30: Occupational Exposures in Insecticide Application and Some Pesticides — Chlorfenvinphos Group 2B Classification (1983) (1983) — regulatory
  2. WHO Environmental Health Criteria 209: Chlorfenvinphos — Acute Toxicity, Livestock Dip Exposure, Ecological Risk, and Rotterdam Convention PIC Status (1999) (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 →