Is Paraquat safe for babies and kids?
Very high risk for kids(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Prenatal exposure to Paraquat is a concern due to potential endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity. Agricultural communities show higher gestational exposure through drinking water.
What is paraquat?
The IUPAC name is 1-methyl-4-(1-methylpyridin-1-ium-4-yl)pyridin-1-ium.
Also known as: 1-methyl-4-(1-methylpyridin-1-ium-4-yl)pyridin-1-ium, Paraquat ion, Paraquat dication, 1,1'-Dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium.
- IUPAC name
- 1-methyl-4-(1-methylpyridin-1-ium-4-yl)pyridin-1-ium
- CAS number
- 4685-14-7
- Molecular formula
- C12H14N2+2
- Molecular weight
- 186.25 g/mol
- SMILES
- C[N+]1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC=[N+](C=C2)C
- PubChem CID
- 15939
Risk for babies
Very high riskPrenatal exposure to Paraquat is a concern due to potential endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity. Agricultural communities show higher gestational exposure through drinking water.
Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Very high riskPrenatal exposure to Paraquat is a concern due to potential endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity. Agricultural communities show higher gestational exposure through drinking water.
Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.
Regulatory consensus
11 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Paraquat. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | — | Not classified as a carcinogen | Explicit statement in safety summary |
| EU | 2007 | Banned | |
| UK | — | Banned | |
| US EPA | — | Registered for restricted use | Still registered in the US for restricted use by licensed applicators on farms |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: None, 2 positive / 1 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: None, 2 positive / 1 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 1 (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 1A-1C (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Not classified (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (score: high) |
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 paraquat
- 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 Paraquat:
-
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
What products contain paraquat?
Paraquat appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
Why do regulators disagree about paraquat?
Paraquat has been classified by 11 agencies including IARC, EU, UK, US EPA, 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 Paraquat in the baby app
Look up products containing paraquat, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (3)
- WHO Specifications and Evaluations for Public Health Pesticides: Paraquat Dichloride (2016) — regulatory
- US EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for Paraquat Dichloride (1997) — regulatory
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Paraquat Toxicosis in Companion Animals (2020) — report
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 →