Baby Safety / Compounds / Sulfoxaflor

Is Sulfoxaflor safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

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

What is sulfoxaflor?

The IUPAC name is [methyl-oxo-[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-lambda6-sulfanylidene]cyanamide.

Also known as: [methyl-oxo-[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-lambda6-sulfanylidene]cyanamide, Transform, XDE-208, 671W88OY8K.

IUPAC name
[methyl-oxo-[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-lambda6-sulfanylidene]cyanamide
CAS number
946578-00-3
Molecular formula
C10H10F3N3OS
Molecular weight
277.27 g/mol
SMILES
CC(C1=CN=C(C=C1)C(F)(F)F)S(=NC#N)(=O)C
PubChem CID
16723172

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Sulfoxaflor 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 Sulfoxaflor 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
US EPA—Toxicity Category IIILow acute mammalian toxicity based on oral LD50 rat ~1,000 mg/kg
IRAC—Group 4CSulfoximine insecticide class

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 sulfoxaflor

  • 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 Sulfoxaflor:

  • 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 sulfoxaflor safe for kids?

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

What products contain sulfoxaflor?

Sulfoxaflor 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 sulfoxaflor?

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 Sulfoxaflor in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US EPA: Sulfoxaflor Registration Decision — sulfoximine class (IRAC 4C); nAChR mechanism; Ninth Circuit vacatur 2015 (Pollinator Stewardship Council v. EPA); re-registration with pollinator protection label restrictions; bloom application prohibitions; bee toxicity data requirements (2016) (2016) — regulatory
  2. US EPA: Neonicotinoid Registration Review — imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, dinotefuran; bee risk assessment; sublethal effects; colony-level modeling; pollinator exposure through pollen and nectar; aquatic invertebrate toxicity; registration review decision (2020) (2020) — 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 →