Baby Safety / Compounds / Trichlorfon

Is Trichlorfon safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

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

What is trichlorfon?

The IUPAC name is 2,2,2-trichloro-1-dimethoxyphosphorylethanol.

Also known as: 2,2,2-trichloro-1-dimethoxyphosphorylethanol, Metrifonate, Chlorophos, Metriphonate.

IUPAC name
2,2,2-trichloro-1-dimethoxyphosphorylethanol
CAS number
52-68-6
Molecular formula
C4H8Cl3O4P
Molecular weight
257.43 g/mol
SMILES
COP(=O)(C(C(Cl)(Cl)Cl)O)OC
PubChem CID
5853

Risk for babies

High risk

Infants are acutely vulnerable to Trichlorfon 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 Trichlorfon 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

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

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC—Group 2
IARC—Group 3
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / EPA OPP—Likely to be Carcinogenic to Humans (High Doses), Not Likely to be Carcinogenic to Humans (Low Doses)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 10 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 10 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Skin Sens. 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2A (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Category 1 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Sensitization: Category 6.5B (Category 1) (score: moderate)

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 trichlorfon

  • 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 Trichlorfon:

  • 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 trichlorfon safe for kids?

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

What products contain trichlorfon?

Trichlorfon 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 trichlorfon?

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 trichlorfon?

Trichlorfon has been classified by 12 agencies including IARC, IARC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, 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 Trichlorfon in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. US EPA: Trichlorfon Reregistration Eligibility Decision — Group B2 Carcinogen Classification, Dichlorvos Conversion, Aquaculture and Agricultural Uses (2006) (2006) — regulatory
  2. ATSDR: Toxicological Profile for Trichlorfon — Acute Neurotoxicity, Dichlorvos Metabolite, and Environmental Fate (2003) (2003) — 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 →