Baby Safety / Compounds / Temephos

Is Temephos safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

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

What is temephos?

The IUPAC name is [4-(4-dimethoxyphosphinothioyloxyphenyl)sulfanylphenoxy]-dimethoxy-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane.

Also known as: [4-(4-dimethoxyphosphinothioyloxyphenyl)sulfanylphenoxy]-dimethoxy-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane, Temefos, ABATE, Difos.

IUPAC name
[4-(4-dimethoxyphosphinothioyloxyphenyl)sulfanylphenoxy]-dimethoxy-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane
CAS number
3383-96-8
Molecular formula
C16H20O6P2S3
Molecular weight
466.5 g/mol
SMILES
COP(=S)(OC)OC1=CC=C(C=C1)SC2=CC=C(C=C2)OP(=S)(OC)OC
PubChem CID
5392

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Temephos 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 Temephos 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Not Yet Determined
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2B (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 3 (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (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 temephos

  • 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 Temephos:

  • 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 temephos safe for kids?

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

What products contain temephos?

Temephos 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 temephos?

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 temephos?

Temephos has been classified by 5 agencies including EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, 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 Temephos in the baby app

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

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Sources (2)
  1. US EPA: Temephos Registration Eligibility Decision — WHO Class U, Drinking Water Use, Mosquito Larval Control, and Ecological Risk (2000) (2000) — regulatory
  2. WHO: Temephos — Specifications for Public Health Pesticides, Drinking Water Guideline, ADI, Onchocerciasis Control Programme Ecological Monitoring (2004) (2004) — 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 →