Baby Safety / Compounds / Glufosinate-ammonium

Is Glufosinate-ammonium safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants face elevated risk from Glufosinate-ammonium through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

What is glufosinate-ammonium?

The IUPAC name is azanium 2-amino-4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphoryl]butanoate.

Also known as: azanium 2-amino-4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphoryl]butanoate, Liberty, Finale, Ignite.

IUPAC name
azanium 2-amino-4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphoryl]butanoate
CAS number
77182-82-2
Molecular formula
C5H15N2O4P
Molecular weight
198.16 g/mol
SMILES
CP(=O)(CCC(C(=O)[O-])N)O.[NH4+]
PubChem CID
53597

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants face elevated risk from Glufosinate-ammonium through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

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 Glufosinate-ammonium is a concern due to potential endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity. Agricultural communities show higher gestational exposure through drinking water.

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

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Glufosinate-ammonium. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Not Likely to Be Carcinogenic in Humans
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: 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 glufosinate-ammonium

  • 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 Glufosinate-ammonium:

  • 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 glufosinate-ammonium safe for kids?

Infants face elevated risk from Glufosinate-ammonium through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

What products contain glufosinate-ammonium?

Glufosinate-ammonium 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 glufosinate-ammonium?

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 Glufosinate-ammonium in the baby app

Look up products containing glufosinate-ammonium, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. US EPA: Glufosinate-ammonium — Registration Review Preliminary Problem Formulation (2016) — regulatory
  2. EFSA: Review of the Existing Maximum Residue Levels for Glufosinate-ammonium — Conclusion on Peer Review of Pesticide Risk Assessment (2005) — regulatory
  3. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Glufosinate-ammonium Herbicide 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 →