Baby Safety / Compounds / Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin)

Is Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin) safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin) 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 deoxynivalenol (don / vomitoxin)?

The IUPAC name is (1R,2R,3S,7R,9R,10R,12S)-3,10-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,5-dimethylspiro[8-oxatricyclo[7.2.1.02,7]dodec-5-ene-12,2'-oxirane]-4-one.

Also known as: (1R,2R,3S,7R,9R,10R,12S)-3,10-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,5-dimethylspiro[8-oxatricyclo[7.2.1.02,7]dodec-5-ene-12,2'-oxirane]-4-one, DEOXYNIVALENOL, 4-Deoxynivalenol, Dehydronivalenol.

IUPAC name
(1R,2R,3S,7R,9R,10R,12S)-3,10-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,5-dimethylspiro[8-oxatricyclo[7.2.1.02,7]dodec-5-ene-12,2'-oxirane]-4-one
CAS number
51481-10-8
Molecular formula
C15H20O6
Molecular weight
296.31 g/mol
SMILES
CC1=CC2C(C(C1=O)O)(C3(CC(C(C34CO4)O2)O)C)CO
PubChem CID
40024

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin) 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 Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin), 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 Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC—Not classified as a carcinogen

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 deoxynivalenol (don / vomitoxin)

  • 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 Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin):

  • 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 deoxynivalenol (don / vomitoxin) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin) 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 deoxynivalenol (don / vomitoxin)?

Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin) 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 deoxynivalenol (don / vomitoxin)?

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 Deoxynivalenol (DON / vomitoxin) in the baby app

Look up products containing deoxynivalenol (don / vomitoxin), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (4)
  1. EFSA Panel on Contaminants: Risks to Human and Animal Health from Deoxynivalenol in Food and Feed (2017) — regulatory
  2. US FDA Advisory Levels for Deoxynivalenol in Finished Wheat Products (2010) — regulatory
  3. WHO Safety Evaluation of Certain Mycotoxins in Food: Deoxynivalenol (2001) — regulatory
  4. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Mycotoxin 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 →