Baby Safety / Compounds / Tributyltin (TBT)

Is Tributyltin (TBT) safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Tributyltin (TBT) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is tributyltin (tbt)?

CAS number
688-73-3
Molecular formula
C12H28Sn
Molecular weight
291.06 g/mol
SMILES
[Sn](CCCC)(CCCC)CCCC
PubChem CID
11129

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Tributyltin (TBT) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

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

High risk

Transgenerational obesogenic effects.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Tributyltin (TBT). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IMO2008Globally banned in antifouling (AFS Convention)
EU2010Restricted under REACH

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 tributyltin (tbt)

  • Industrial Chemical
  • Environmental Contaminant

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Tributyltin (TBT):

  • Copper-based antifouling
    Trade-offs: Effective fungicide/bactericide; organic-certifiable; accumulates in soil with repeated use; toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations; EU restricting to 4 kg Cu/ha/year; resistance not typically observed.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Silicone foul-release
    Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is tributyltin (tbt) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Tributyltin (TBT) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What should I do if my child is exposed to tributyltin (tbt)?

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 Tributyltin (TBT) in the baby app

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

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Sources (1)
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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 →