Baby Safety / Compounds / Lindane (γ-HCH)

Is Lindane (γ-HCH) safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

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

What is lindane (γ-hch)?

The IUPAC name is 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane.

Also known as: 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane, Hexachlorocyclohexane, Hexachlorzyklohexan, DTXCID30687.

IUPAC name
1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane
CAS number
58-89-9
Molecular formula
C6H6Cl6
Molecular weight
290.8 g/mol
SMILES
C1(C(C(C(C(C1Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
727

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants accumulate Lindane (γ-HCH) 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

Lindane (γ-HCH) 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

9 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Lindane (γ-HCH). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
UNEP—Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 1 - Carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Suggestive Evidence of Carcinogenicity but Not Sufficient to Assess Human Carcinogenic Potential
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 3 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 3 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2B (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Not classified (score: low)

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 lindane (γ-hch)

  • 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 Lindane (γ-HCH):

  • Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
    Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.
    Relative cost: Variable; lower long-term

Frequently asked questions

Is lindane (γ-hch) safe for kids?

Infants accumulate Lindane (γ-HCH) 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 lindane (γ-hch)?

Lindane (γ-HCH) 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 lindane (γ-hch)?

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 lindane (γ-hch)?

Lindane (γ-HCH) has been classified by 9 agencies including UNEP, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, 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 Lindane (γ-HCH) in the baby app

Look up products containing lindane (γ-hch), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 113: Some Organophosphate and Organochlorine Insecticides — DDT (p,p') Group 2A; Lindane Group 1; malaria control context; endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity (2018) (2018) — 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 →