Baby Safety / Compounds / Cylindrospermopsin

Is Cylindrospermopsin safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are highly susceptible to Cylindrospermopsin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What is cylindrospermopsin?

The IUPAC name is [(4S,5R,6S,8S,10R)-10-[(R)-(2,4-dioxo-1H-pyrimidin-6-yl)-hydroxymethyl]-5-methyl-2,11,12-triazatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodec-1-en-6-yl] hydrogen sulfate.

Also known as: [(4S,5R,6S,8S,10R)-10-[(R)-(2,4-dioxo-1H-pyrimidin-6-yl)-hydroxymethyl]-5-methyl-2,11,12-triazatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodec-1-en-6-yl] hydrogen sulfate, RefChem:130102, DTXCID101526062, 2JIZ556BA3.

IUPAC name
[(4S,5R,6S,8S,10R)-10-[(R)-(2,4-dioxo-1H-pyrimidin-6-yl)-hydroxymethyl]-5-methyl-2,11,12-triazatricyclo[6.3.1.04,12]dodec-1-en-6-yl] hydrogen sulfate
CAS number
143545-90-8
Molecular formula
C15H21N5O7S
Molecular weight
415.4 g/mol
SMILES
CC1C(CC2CC(NC3=NCC1N23)C(C4=CC(=O)NC(=O)N4)O)OS(=O)(=O)O
PubChem CID
42628600

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are highly susceptible to Cylindrospermopsin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

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 Cylindrospermopsin, 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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Cylindrospermopsin.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2010Group 2B — possibly carcinogenic to humans

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 cylindrospermopsin

  • 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 Cylindrospermopsin:

  • Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is cylindrospermopsin safe for kids?

Infants are highly susceptible to Cylindrospermopsin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What products contain cylindrospermopsin?

Cylindrospermopsin 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 cylindrospermopsin?

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.

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Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monograph Volume 94 2010: Cylindrospermopsin Group 2B; Cyanobacterial Toxin C. raciborskii; Protein Synthesis Inhibition Glutathione Depletion CYP3A4 Induction; Liver Kidney Adrenal Toxicity; Genotoxicity DNA Strand Breaks; Palm Island 1979 Outbreak (2010) — regulatory
  2. WHO Cyanobacterial Toxins Guidelines Drinking Water 2022: Cylindrospermopsin Provisional Guideline 0.7 μg/L; Recreational Water 15 μg/L; Activated Carbon Ozone Removal; Bioaccumulation in Fish; Global Spread C. raciborskii Climate Change Expansion (2022) — 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 →