Baby Safety / Compounds / Thiacloprid

Is Thiacloprid safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

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

What is thiacloprid?

The IUPAC name is [3-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene]cyanamide.

Also known as: [3-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene]cyanamide, [3-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene]cyanamide, {3-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene}cyanamide, (3-((6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl)-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene)cyanamide.

IUPAC name
[3-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene]cyanamide
CAS number
111988-49-9
Molecular formula
C10H9ClN4S
Molecular weight
252.72 g/mol
SMILES
C1CSC(=NC#N)N1CC2=CN=C(C=C2)Cl
PubChem CID
115224

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Multiple—Endocrine disruptor
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Likely to be Carcinogenic to Humans

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 thiacloprid

  • 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 Thiacloprid:

  • 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 thiacloprid safe for kids?

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

What products contain thiacloprid?

Thiacloprid 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 thiacloprid?

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 Thiacloprid in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. 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
  2. EFSA: Thiacloprid Peer Review — endocrine disruption; reproductive toxicity; rat carcinogenicity (liver adenoma, uterine tumors); hormonal mechanism; EU non-renewal of approval; Regulation (EU) 2020/23; comparison with other neonicotinoids (2019) (2019) — 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 →