Baby Safety / Compounds / Metribuzin

Is Metribuzin safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Metribuzin, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is metribuzin?

The IUPAC name is 4-amino-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-one 3-tert-butyl.

Also known as: 4-amino-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-one 3-tert-butyl, Lexone, Sencor, Metribuzine.

IUPAC name
4-amino-6-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazin-5-one 3-tert-butyl
CAS number
21087-64-9
Molecular formula
C8H14N4OS
Molecular weight
214.28 g/mol
SMILES
CC(C)(C)C1=NN=C(N(C1=O)N)SC
PubChem CID
30479

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Metribuzin, 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Metribuzin, 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA——
IARC——

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 metribuzin

  • agricultural herbicide (potatoes, soybeans)
  • crop residues
  • groundwater

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Metribuzin:

  • S-metolachlor + metribuzin reduced-rate program
    Trade-offs: Reduced (not eliminated) metribuzin use. Better groundwater profile than full-rate.
    Relative cost: Similar
  • Cover crop suppression + mechanical cultivation
    Trade-offs: Labor-intensive. Less consistent than chemical control. Requires timing expertise.
    Relative cost: Variable; potential savings on herbicide

Frequently asked questions

What products contain metribuzin?

Metribuzin appears in: agricultural herbicide (potatoes, soybeans); crop residues; groundwater.

See Metribuzin in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 21087-64-9 — reference

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 →