Baby Safety / Compounds / Maleic hydrazide

Is Maleic hydrazide safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Maleic hydrazide 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 maleic hydrazide?

The IUPAC name is 1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione.

Also known as: 1,2-Dihydro-3,6-pyridazinedione, MH, Royal MH-30, Slo-Gro.

IUPAC name
1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione
CAS number
123-33-1
Molecular formula
C4H4N2O2
Molecular weight
112.09 g/mol
SMILES
O=C1C=CC(=O)NN1
PubChem CID
5367

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Maleic hydrazide 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

Context-dependent

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

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Maleic hydrazide. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA—Registered pesticide (plant growth regulator). Tolerances for potatoes, onions, tobacco, and other crops (40 CFR 180.175).
EU—Approved active substance. MRL 60 mg/kg for potatoes; 15 mg/kg for onions.
IARC—Group 3 — not classifiable as to carcinogenicity

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 maleic hydrazide

  • Agriculture Post Harvest — potatoes (sprout suppressant), onions (sprout suppressant), garlic
  • Agriculture Field — tobacco (sucker control), turf/grass (growth retardant to reduce mowing)
  • Food Residues — stored potatoes, onions, tobacco products

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Maleic hydrazide:

  • Chlorpropham (CIPC)
    Trade-offs: Withdrawn from EU market (2020) due to residue concerns. Still used in some countries. More effective at low temperatures.
  • 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN)
    Trade-offs: Natural potato volatile. Low mammalian toxicity. US EPA registered. More expensive than MH.

Frequently asked questions

Is maleic hydrazide safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Maleic hydrazide 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 maleic hydrazide?

Maleic hydrazide appears in: potatoes (sprout suppressant) (agriculture post harvest); onions (sprout suppressant) (agriculture post harvest); tobacco (sucker control) (agriculture field); turf/grass (growth retardant to reduce mowing) (agriculture field); stored potatoes (food residues).

What should I do if my child is exposed to maleic hydrazide?

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 maleic hydrazide?

Maleic hydrazide has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA, EU, IARC, 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 Maleic hydrazide in the baby app

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

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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 →