Baby Safety / Compounds / Dieldrin

Is Dieldrin safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants accumulate Dieldrin through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What is dieldrin?

The IUPAC name is (1R,2S,3S,6R,7R,8S,9S,11R)-3,4,5,6,13,13-hexachloro-10-oxapentacyclo[6.3.1.13,6.02,7.09,11]tridec-4-ene.

Also known as: (1R,2S,3S,6R,7R,8S,9S,11R)-3,4,5,6,13,13-hexachloro-10-oxapentacyclo[6.3.1.13,6.02,7.09,11]tridec-4-ene, Dieldrex, Dieldrine, Dielmoth.

IUPAC name
(1R,2S,3S,6R,7R,8S,9S,11R)-3,4,5,6,13,13-hexachloro-10-oxapentacyclo[6.3.1.13,6.02,7.09,11]tridec-4-ene
CAS number
60-57-1
Molecular formula
C12H8Cl6O
Molecular weight
380.9 g/mol
SMILES
C1C2C3C(C1C4C2O4)C5(C(=C(C3(C5(Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
969491

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants accumulate Dieldrin through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

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

High risk

Dieldrin persists in maternal adipose tissue and is mobilized during pregnancy and lactation. Lipophilic pollutants concentrate in breast milk and cross the placenta during critical developmental windows.

Known reproductive toxicant (GHS H360) or confirmed endocrine disruptor. Placental transfer is presumed. Fetal exposure during critical developmental windows may cause structural malformations, growth restriction, or functional deficits.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Multiple—Endocrine disruptor
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 5 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 1 positive / 5 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Eye Dam. 1 (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Skin Corr. 1B (score: very 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 dieldrin

  • 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 Dieldrin:

  • 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 dieldrin safe for kids?

Infants accumulate Dieldrin through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What products contain dieldrin?

Dieldrin 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 dieldrin?

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 dieldrin?

Dieldrin has been classified by 10 agencies including Multiple, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, 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 Dieldrin in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 53: Occupational Exposures in Insecticide Application, and Some Pesticides — Aldrin Group 3; Dieldrin Group 3; GABA-A receptor inhibition; rapid interconversion of aldrin and dieldrin (1991) (1991) — 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 →