Baby Safety / Compounds / Picloram

Is Picloram safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants face elevated risk from Picloram through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

What is picloram?

Also known as: 4-Amino-3,5,6-trichloropyridine-2-carboxylic acid, Tordon, 4-Amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid, Borolin.

CAS number
1918-02-1
Molecular formula
C6H3Cl3N2O2
Molecular weight
241.5 g/mol
SMILES
C1(=C(C(=NC(=C1Cl)Cl)C(=O)O)Cl)N
PubChem CID
15965

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants face elevated risk from Picloram through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

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

Elevated risk

Prenatal exposure to Picloram 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.

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

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Picloram.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

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 picloram

  • Agricultural Products — crop treatment

Safer alternatives

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

  • Organic mulching; Mechanical weeding; IPM
    Trade-offs: Labor-intensive; effective for small-scale or precision applications; no chemical residues; not scalable to large commercial operations without significant cost increase.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is picloram safe for kids?

Infants face elevated risk from Picloram through dietary residues and environmental drift. Developing organ systems and immature detoxification capacity increase vulnerability.

What products contain picloram?

Picloram appears in: crop treatment (Agricultural products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to picloram?

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 Picloram in the baby app

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

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Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (2026) — database

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 →