Baby Safety / Compounds / Spinosad

Is Spinosad safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

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

What is spinosad?

The IUPAC name is (1S,2S,5R,7S,9S,10S,14R,15S,19S)-15-[(2R,5S,6R)-5-(dimethylamino)-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-19-ethyl-4,14-dimethyl-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-20-oxatetracyclo[10.10.0.02,10.05,9]docosa-3,11-diene-13,21-dione;(1S,2R,5S,7R,9R,10S,14R,15S,19S)-15-[(2R,5S,6R)-5-(dimethylamino)-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-19-ethyl-14-methyl-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-20-oxatetracyclo[10.10.0.02,10.05,9]docosa-3,11-diene-13,21-dione.

Also known as: (1S,2S,5R,7S,9S,10S,14R,15S,19S)-15-[(2R,5S,6R)-5-(dimethylamino)-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-19-ethyl-4,14-dimethyl-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-20-oxatetracyclo[10.10.0.02,10.05,9]docosa-3,11-diene-13,21-dione;(1S,2R,5S,7R,9R,10S,14R,15S,19S)-15-[(2R,5S,6R)-5-(dimethylamino)-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-19-ethyl-14-methyl-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-20-oxatetracyclo[10.10.0.02,10.05,9]docosa-3,11-diene-13,21-dione, Natroba, Blackhawk, Comfortis.

IUPAC name: (1S,2S,5R,7S,9S,10S,14R,15S,19S)-15-[(2R,5S,6R)-5-(dimethylamino)-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-19-ethyl-4,14-dimethyl-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-20-oxatetracyclo[10.10.0.02,10.05,9]docosa-3,11-diene-13,21-dione;(1S,2R,5S,7R,9R,10S,14R,15S,19S)-15-[(2R,5S,6R)-5-(dimethylamino)-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-19-ethyl-14-methyl-7-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-20-oxatetracyclo[10.10.0.02,10.05,9]docosa-3,11-diene-13,21-dione
CAS number: 168316-95-8
Molecular formula: C83H132N2O20
Molecular weight: 1477.9 g/mol
SMILES: CCC1CCCC(C(C(=O)C2=CC3C4CC(CC4C=CC3C2CC(=O)O1)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C)OC)OC)OC)C)OC6CCC(C(O6)C)N(C)C.CCC1CCCC(C(C(=O)C2=CC3C4CC(CC4C(=CC3C2CC(=O)O1)C)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)C)OC)OC)OC)C)OC6CCC(C(O6)C)N(C)C
PubChem CID: 17754356

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Spinosad 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

Elevated risk

Prenatal exposure to Spinosad 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 Spinosad. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification	Notes
IRAC	—	Group 5	Mode of action classification for insecticides
US EPA	—	Toxicity Category III–IV	Acute mammalian toxicity classification
OMRI	—	Certified for use in certified organic production	Approved by Organic Materials Review Institute

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 spinosad

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 Spinosad:

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 spinosad safe for kids?

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

What products contain spinosad?

Spinosad 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 spinosad?

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 spinosad?

Spinosad has been classified by 3 agencies including IRAC, US EPA, OMRI, 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 Spinosad in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

US EPA: Spinosad Registration Review — biological insecticide (Saccharopolyspora spinosa fermentation); IRAC Group 5; nAChR + GABA chloride channel mechanism; bee acute contact toxicity; aquatic invertebrate toxicity; organic certification; pet product safety (Comfortis, Trifexis); human lice treatment; label timing restrictions for pollinator protection (2019) (2019) — regulatory
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxicosis — imidacloprid, nitenpyram, dinotefuran; pet product safety (Advantage, Capstar, Vectra); nAChR mechanism; mammalian vs. insect selectivity; clinical signs and management (2023) (2023) — veterinary

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 →