Baby Safety / Compounds / Terbufos

Is Terbufos safe for babies and kids?

Severe risk for kids

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

What is terbufos?

The IUPAC name is tert-butylsulfanylmethylsulfanyl-diethoxy-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane.

Also known as: tert-butylsulfanylmethylsulfanyl-diethoxy-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane, Counter, Contraven, Counter 15G soil insecticide.

IUPAC name
tert-butylsulfanylmethylsulfanyl-diethoxy-sulfanylidene-lambda5-phosphane
CAS number
13071-79-9
Molecular formula
C9H21O2PS3
Molecular weight
288.4 g/mol
SMILES
CCOP(=S)(OCC)SCSC(C)(C)C
PubChem CID
25670

Risk for babies

Severe risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Terbufos 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 Terbufos 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 Terbufos. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Group E Evidence of Non-carcinogenicity for Humans
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 1 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 8.3A (Category 1) (score: very high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 8.2C (Category 1C) (score: very 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 terbufos

  • 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 Terbufos:

  • 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 terbufos safe for kids?

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

What products contain terbufos?

Terbufos 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 terbufos?

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 terbufos?

Terbufos has been classified by 5 agencies including EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Terbufos in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. US EPA: Terbufos Reregistration Eligibility Decision — WHO Class Ia, Extreme Bird and Aquatic Toxicity, Planter Box Worker Risk Assessment, and Restricted Use 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 →