Baby Safety / Compounds / Phorate

Is Phorate safe for babies and kids?

Severe risk for kids

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Phorate due to immature acetylcholinesterase regulation, higher dermal absorption per unit body weight, and frequent floor-level exposure to residues.

What is phorate?

The IUPAC name is diethoxy-(ethylsulfanylmethylsulfanyl)-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane.

Also known as: diethoxy-(ethylsulfanylmethylsulfanyl)-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane, Thimet, Granutox, Timet.

IUPAC name
diethoxy-(ethylsulfanylmethylsulfanyl)-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane
CAS number
298-02-2
Molecular formula
C7H17O2PS3
Molecular weight
260.4 g/mol
SMILES
CCOP(=S)(OCC)SCSCC
PubChem CID
4790

Risk for babies

Severe risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Phorate due to immature acetylcholinesterase regulation, higher dermal absorption per unit body weight, and frequent floor-level exposure to residues.

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

Very high risk

Prenatal exposure to Phorate is associated with neurodevelopmental effects. Organophosphate/carbamate insecticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase, which plays a role in fetal brain development.

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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group E Evidence of Non-carcinogenicity for Humans
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: negative, 2 positive / 4 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: negative, 2 positive / 4 negative reports)

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 phorate

  • 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 Phorate:

  • 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 phorate safe for kids?

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Phorate due to immature acetylcholinesterase regulation, higher dermal absorption per unit body weight, and frequent floor-level exposure to residues.

What products contain phorate?

Phorate 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 phorate?

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 phorate?

Phorate has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Phorate in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. US EPA: Phorate Reregistration Eligibility Decision — WHO Class Ia, Dietary and Occupational Risk Assessment, Aquatic Ecological Risk, and Restricted Use Pesticide Status (2006) (2006) — 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 →