Baby Safety / Compounds / HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol)

Is HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol) 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 hedta (n-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / versenol)?

The IUPAC name is disodium;2-[2-[carboxylatomethyl(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl-(carboxymethyl)amino]acetate.

Also known as: 139-33-3, EDTA disodium salt, Disodium EDTA, Edta disodium.

IUPAC name
disodium;2-[2-[carboxylatomethyl(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl-(carboxymethyl)amino]acetate
CAS number
150-39-0
Molecular formula
C10H14N2Na2O8
Molecular weight
336.21 g/mol
SMILES
C(CN(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)[O-])N(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)[O-].[Na+].[Na+]
PubChem CID
8759

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol) 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.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA—TSCA listed; registered as inert ingredient in pesticides
ECHA—H319 serious eye irritation

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 hedta (n-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / versenol)

  • Agricultural — Fe-HEDTA micronutrient fertilizer, lawn care iron supplements
  • Industrial — boiler water treatment, steam generation systems
  • Photography — color negative/positive developer solutions
  • Cleaning — industrial metal surface cleaning

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol):

  • Fe-EDDHA
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
  • EDTA
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.

Frequently asked questions

Is hedta (n-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / versenol) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol) 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 hedta (n-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / versenol)?

HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol) appears in: Fe-HEDTA micronutrient fertilizer (agricultural); lawn care iron supplements (agricultural); boiler water treatment (industrial); steam generation systems (industrial); color negative/positive developer solutions (photography).

What should I do if my child is exposed to hedta (n-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / versenol)?

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 HEDTA (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid / Versenol) in the baby app

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Sources (1)
  1. — expert_curation

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 →