Baby Safety / Compounds / Citrinin

Is Citrinin safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Citrinin than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is citrinin?

The IUPAC name is (3R,4S)-6-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-8-oxo-3,4-dihydroisochromene-7-carboxylic acid.

Also known as: (3R,4S)-6-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-8-oxo-3,4-dihydroisochromene-7-carboxylic acid, (-)-citrinin, Citriain, NSC186.

IUPAC name
(3R,4S)-6-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-8-oxo-3,4-dihydroisochromene-7-carboxylic acid
CAS number
518-75-2
Molecular formula
C13H14O5
Molecular weight
250.25 g/mol
SMILES
CC1C(OC=C2C1=C(C(=C(C2=O)C(=O)O)O)C)C
PubChem CID
54680783

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Citrinin than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

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 Citrinin, 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (single report) (Ames: None, 1 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (single report) (Ames: None, 1 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (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 citrinin

  • 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 Citrinin:

  • Prevention (storage and agricultural practices)
    Trade-offs: Zero point-of-use emissions; shifts emissions to power generation (grid-dependent); lower operating cost; higher capital cost; infrastructure requirements (charging, grid capacity); rapidly improving economics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is citrinin safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Citrinin than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain citrinin?

Citrinin 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 citrinin?

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 citrinin?

Citrinin has been classified by 4 agencies including EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, 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 Citrinin in the baby app

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

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Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 82: Some Traditional Herbal Medicines, Some Mycotoxins, Naphthalene and Styrene — Ochratoxin A Group 2B, Fumonisin B1 Group 2B, Sterigmatocystin Group 2B, Patulin Group 3, Deoxynivalenol Group 3 (2002) (2002) — regulatory
  2. EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM): Scientific Opinions on Mycotoxins — Ochratoxin A (TWI 120 ng/kg bw/wk), Deoxynivalenol (TDI 1 μg/kg bw/day), Zearalenone, Fumonisins, T-2/HT-2 Toxins; EU Regulation 1881/2006 maximum levels in food (2020) — 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 →