Baby Safety / Compounds / Trinexapac-ethyl

Is Trinexapac-ethyl safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Trinexapac-ethyl 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 trinexapac-ethyl?

The IUPAC name is ethyl 4-[cyclopropyl(hydroxy)methylidene]-3,5-dioxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate.

Also known as: Primo MAXX, Moddus, Palisade, TE.

IUPAC name
ethyl 4-[cyclopropyl(hydroxy)methylidene]-3,5-dioxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate
CAS number
95266-40-3
Molecular formula
C13H16O5
Molecular weight
252.26 g/mol
SMILES
CCOC(=O)C1CC(=O)C(=C(O)C2CC2)C(=O)C1
PubChem CID
92421

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Trinexapac-ethyl 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

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Trinexapac-ethyl, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

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 Trinexapac-ethyl. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA—Registered pesticide (plant growth regulator). Reduced risk pesticide. Tolerances for wheat, barley, oats, rye, and turf.
EU—Approved active substance (Reg. EC 1107/2009). MRLs set for cereals.

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 trinexapac-ethyl

  • Turf Management — golf course turf (Primo MAXX), sports fields, lawns, sod farms
  • Agriculture — wheat (lodging prevention), barley (lodging prevention), oats, rye, rice
  • Food Residues — cereal grains, wheat flour/bread (trace)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Trinexapac-ethyl:

  • Prohexadione-calcium (Apogee/Regalis)
    Trade-offs: Same mechanism of action (GA biosynthesis inhibitor). Comparable safety profile. Different crop registrations.
  • Chlormequat chloride (CCC)
    Trade-offs: Different mechanism (inhibits earlier step in GA pathway). Higher mammalian toxicity than trinexapac-ethyl. Widely used in EU cereals.

Frequently asked questions

Is trinexapac-ethyl safe for kids?

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

What products contain trinexapac-ethyl?

Trinexapac-ethyl appears in: golf course turf (Primo MAXX) (turf management); sports fields (turf management); wheat (lodging prevention) (agriculture); barley (lodging prevention) (agriculture); cereal grains (food residues).

What should I do if my child is exposed to trinexapac-ethyl?

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 Trinexapac-ethyl in the baby app

Look up products containing trinexapac-ethyl, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. — expert_curation

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 →