Baby Safety / Compounds / Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP)

Is Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

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

What is tetrachlorvinphos (tcvp)?

The IUPAC name is [2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)ethenyl] dimethyl phosphate.

Also known as: [2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)ethenyl] dimethyl phosphate, Phosphoric acid, 2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)ethenyl dimethyl ester, RefChem:862433, Caswell No. 217A.

IUPAC name: [2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)ethenyl] dimethyl phosphate
CAS number: 961-11-5
Molecular formula: C10H9Cl4O4P
Molecular weight: 366.0 g/mol
SMILES: COP(=O)(OC)OC(=CCl)C1=CC(=C(C=C1Cl)Cl)Cl
PubChem CID: 13745

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

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 Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) 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

4 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP). The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification	Notes
IARC	1991	Group 2B	IARC Group 2B for tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), evaluated in Monograph 53 (1991) on occupational exposures in insecticide application and some pesticides. The classification is based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals — hepatocellular carcinomas in mice and adrenal pheochromocytomas in rats in NTP chronic bioassays — and limited evidence in humans from occupational cohort studies. TCVP is a vinylphosphate organophosphate with AChE-inhibiting activity; it is structurally related to chlorfenvinphos and dichlorvos (DDVP). TCVP has low acute mammalian toxicity (rat oral LD50 approximately 4000–5000 mg/kg) relative to other OPs. It remains registered in the US primarily in pet flea collar formulations (Hartz, Sergeant's brands), where its low acute toxicity was considered to provide a safety margin for consumer use. NRDC petitioned EPA in 2009 to cancel TCVP in pet products based on the IARC 2B classification and carcinogenic animal bioassay data; EPA reviewed this petition and issued a preliminary risk assessment in 2016 finding that cancer risks from TCVP flea collar use exceeded acceptable levels for children in some scenarios. The petitioned cancellation of TCVP flea collars remained unresolved as of 2025 as EPA continued its registration review. IARC has not re-evaluated since 1991.
EPA CTX / EPA OPP	—	Likely to be Carcinogenic to 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)

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 tetrachlorvinphos (tcvp)

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 Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP):

Spinosad; Bt; Neem; Beneficial insects; Physical barriers
Trade-offs: Species-specific; no chemical residues; self-sustaining once established; slow onset (weeks vs hours for chemicals); requires ecological knowledge; may not achieve complete control; compatible with organic certification.

Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is tetrachlorvinphos (tcvp) safe for kids?

What products contain tetrachlorvinphos (tcvp)?

Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) 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 tetrachlorvinphos (tcvp)?

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 tetrachlorvinphos (tcvp)?

Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) has been classified by 4 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) in the baby app

Look up products containing tetrachlorvinphos (tcvp), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

IARC Monographs Volume 53: Occupational Exposures in Insecticide Application and Some Pesticides — Tetrachlorvinphos Group 2B Classification, Mouse Liver Tumors, and NTP Bioassay Data (1991) (1991) — regulatory
US EPA: Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) Registration Review — IARC 2B Classification, Pet Flea Collar Petting Pathway, Children's Cancer Risk, and NRDC Petition Response (2016) (2016) — 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 →