Baby Safety / Compounds / Dinotefuran

Is Dinotefuran safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

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

What is dinotefuran?

The IUPAC name is 2-methyl-1-nitro-3-(oxolan-3-ylmethyl)guanidine.

Also known as: 2-methyl-1-nitro-3-(oxolan-3-ylmethyl)guanidine, MTI-446, Albarin, Mikeblock.

IUPAC name
2-methyl-1-nitro-3-(oxolan-3-ylmethyl)guanidine
CAS number
165252-70-0
Molecular formula
C7H14N4O3
Molecular weight
202.21 g/mol
SMILES
CN=C(NCC1CCOC1)N[N+](=O)[O-]
PubChem CID
197701

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Dinotefuran 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 Dinotefuran 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Not Likely to Be Carcinogenic in Humans
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 5 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 5 negative reports)

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 dinotefuran

  • 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 Dinotefuran:

  • 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 dinotefuran safe for kids?

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

What products contain dinotefuran?

Dinotefuran 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 dinotefuran?

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 dinotefuran?

Dinotefuran has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Dinotefuran in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US EPA: Neonicotinoid Registration Review — imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, dinotefuran; bee risk assessment; sublethal effects; colony-level modeling; pollinator exposure through pollen and nectar; aquatic invertebrate toxicity; registration review decision (2020) (2020) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxicosis — imidacloprid, nitenpyram, dinotefuran; pet product safety (Advantage, Capstar, Vectra); nAChR mechanism; mammalian vs. insect selectivity; clinical signs and management (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 →