Baby Safety / Compounds / Nodularin

Is Nodularin safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are highly susceptible to Nodularin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What is nodularin?

The IUPAC name is (2Z,5R,6S,9S,12S,13S,16R)-9-[3-(diaminomethylideneamino)propyl]-2-ethylidene-12-[(1E,3E,5S,6S)-6-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-7-phenylhepta-1,3-dienyl]-1,6,13-trimethyl-3,7,10,14,19-pentaoxo-1,4,8,11,15-pentazacyclononadecane-5,16-dicarboxylic acid.

Also known as: (2Z,5R,6S,9S,12S,13S,16R)-9-[3-(diaminomethylideneamino)propyl]-2-ethylidene-12-[(1E,3E,5S,6S)-6-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-7-phenylhepta-1,3-dienyl]-1,6,13-trimethyl-3,7,10,14,19-pentaoxo-1,4,8,11,15-pentazacyclononadecane-5,16-dicarboxylic acid, nodularin R, Nodularin-R, 0979BIK2QU.

IUPAC name
(2Z,5R,6S,9S,12S,13S,16R)-9-[3-(diaminomethylideneamino)propyl]-2-ethylidene-12-[(1E,3E,5S,6S)-6-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-7-phenylhepta-1,3-dienyl]-1,6,13-trimethyl-3,7,10,14,19-pentaoxo-1,4,8,11,15-pentazacyclononadecane-5,16-dicarboxylic acid
CAS number
118399-22-7
Molecular formula
C41H60N8O10
Molecular weight
825.0 g/mol
SMILES
CC=C1C(=O)NC(C(C(=O)NC(C(=O)NC(C(C(=O)NC(CCC(=O)N1C)C(=O)O)C)C=CC(=CC(C)C(CC2=CC=CC=C2)OC)C)CCCN=C(N)N)C)C(=O)O
PubChem CID
14217092

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are highly susceptible to Nodularin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

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 Nodularin, 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 Nodularin. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EFSA (scientific opinion on cyanotoxins in food and drinking water, 2016)2016no carcinogenicity classification; hepatotoxic cyanobacterial cyclic pentapeptide; potent phosphatase inhibitor (PP1 and PP2A); tumor-promoting activity in rodent liver; WHO/EFSA guidance values for cyanotoxins in drinking water and recreational water; not classified for carcinogenicity by IARC, NTP, or US EPA
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans

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 nodularin

  • 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 Nodularin:

  • Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is nodularin safe for kids?

Infants are highly susceptible to Nodularin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What products contain nodularin?

Nodularin 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 nodularin?

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 Nodularin in the baby app

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

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Sources (1)
  1. EFSA Scientific Opinion Cyanotoxins Food Drinking Water 2016: Nodularin Cyclic Pentapeptide PP1 PP2A Inhibitor; Nodularia spumigena Baltic Sea Blooms; Tumor Promoter Rodent Liver; LD50 ~30-50 μg/kg; Not IARC Classified (2016) — 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 →