Baby Safety / Compounds / Endrin

Is Endrin safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Endrin 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 endrin?

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

IUPAC name
(1R,2R,3R,6S,7S,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
72-20-8
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
12358480

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Endrin 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

Very high risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Endrin, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
UNEP—Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
EPA CTX / IRIS—D (Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity)
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group D Not Classifiable as to Human Carcinogenicity
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 endrin

  • 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 Endrin:

  • 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 endrin safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Endrin 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 endrin?

Endrin 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 endrin?

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 endrin?

Endrin has been classified by 6 agencies including UNEP, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, 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 Endrin in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 20: Endrin — Group 3 (not classifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans); acute toxicity data; human poisoning episodes (1979) — iarc_monograph
  2. US EPA IRIS: Endrin — Oral Reference Dose, Cancer Classification D (not classifiable), Ambient Water Quality Criterion 0.036 μg/L chronic freshwater (1988) — regulatory
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Endrin — Acute Neurotoxicity, Human Poisoning Incidents, Aquatic Toxicity, Wildlife Impacts, Soil Persistence (1996) — 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 →