Baby Safety / Compounds / Cypermethrin

Is Cypermethrin safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

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

What is cypermethrin?

The IUPAC name is [cyano-(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl] 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate.

Also known as: [cyano-(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl] 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate, Supercypermethrin, Barricade, Ripcord.

IUPAC name
[cyano-(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl] 3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate
CAS number
52315-07-8
Molecular formula
C22H19Cl2NO3
Molecular weight
416.3 g/mol
SMILES
CC1(C(C1C(=O)OC(C#N)C2=CC(=CC=C2)OC3=CC=CC=C3)C=C(Cl)Cl)C
PubChem CID
2912

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Cypermethrin 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 Cypermethrin 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group C Possible Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: None, 1 positive / 2 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: None, 1 positive / 2 negative reports)
US_EPA2024registeredEPA-registered pyrethroid.
EU_REACH2024approvedEU approved with restrictions.

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 cypermethrin

  • 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 Cypermethrin:

  • Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
    Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.
    Relative cost: Variable; lower long-term
  • Spinosad
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Essential oil repellents
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Physical exclusion
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is cypermethrin safe for kids?

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

What products contain cypermethrin?

Cypermethrin 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 cypermethrin?

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 cypermethrin?

Cypermethrin has been classified by 5 agencies including EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, US_EPA, EU_REACH, 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 Cypermethrin in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US EPA Pyrethroid Reregistration Eligibility Decision — cypermethrin/deltamethrin/lambda-cyhalothrin/bifenthrin/cyfluthrin/fenvalerate/tau-fluvalinate/fenpropathrin; type I/II classification; aquatic toxicity; cat sensitivity; sodium channel mechanism; human paresthesia; buffer zones (2011) (2011) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Pyrethroid Toxicosis in Cats and Dogs — type I vs type II CS/T syndromes; extreme cat sensitivity (sodium channel/UGT deficiency); bathing decontamination; methocarbamol tremor control; cyproheptadine; lipid emulsion severe cases (2023) (2023) — veterinary

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 →