Baby Safety / Compounds / Lufenuron (insect growth regulator)

Is Lufenuron (insect growth regulator) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Lufenuron (insect growth regulator) poses heightened risk.

What is lufenuron (insect growth regulator)?

The IUPAC name is N-[[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)phenyl]carbamoyl]-2,6-difluorobenzamide.

Also known as: N-[[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)phenyl]carbamoyl]-2,6-difluorobenzamide, Lufenuron, Fluphenacur, Lufenurone.

IUPAC name
N-[[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)phenyl]carbamoyl]-2,6-difluorobenzamide
CAS number
103055-07-8
Molecular formula
C17H8Cl2F8N2O3
Molecular weight
511.1 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)F)C(=O)NC(=O)NC2=CC(=C(C=C2Cl)OC(C(C(F)(F)F)F)(F)F)Cl)F
PubChem CID
71777

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Lufenuron (insect growth regulator) poses heightened risk.

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

Lufenuron (insect growth regulator) poses pregnancy risk through potential teratogenicity, altered pharmacokinetics (increased blood volume, changed CYP activity), and placental transfer. FDA pregnancy category should be evaluated.

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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Lufenuron (insect growth regulator).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2023Not evaluated by IARC — lufenuron is an FDA/CVM-approved veterinary insect growth regulator (benzoylphenylurea class; chitin synthesis inhibitor) for prevention of flea development in dogs and cats; also registered as a household/agricultural pesticide; no carcinogenicity classification by IARC, NTP, or EPA; highly selective toxicity to arthropods vs. vertebrates

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 lufenuron (insect growth regulator)

  • 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 Lufenuron (insect growth regulator):

  • 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 lufenuron (insect growth regulator) safe for kids?

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Lufenuron (insect growth regulator) poses heightened risk.

What products contain lufenuron (insect growth regulator)?

Lufenuron (insect growth regulator) 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 lufenuron (insect growth regulator)?

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 Lufenuron (insect growth regulator) in the baby app

Look up products containing lufenuron (insect growth regulator), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. Lufenuron Program Sentinel FDA CVM IGR Insect Growth Regulator; Chitin Synthase Inhibitor Benzoylphenylurea; Flea Egg Sterilization No Adult Kill; Fat Depot Storage Lipophilic Log Kow 5.1; EPA Pesticide Registration Vertebrate Low Toxicity No Carcinogenicity; Daphnia EC50 Sub-ug/L Aquatic Arthropod High Toxicity; Crustacean Exoskeleton Target; MDR1 No Concern; Cats 6-Month Injection Program; IARC Not Evaluated (2023) — 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 →