Baby Safety / Compounds / Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield)

Is Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are susceptible to Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield) through dietary residues on produce. Developing endocrine and hepatic systems increase vulnerability to antifungal compounds.

What is ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / zerlate / blue shield)?

The IUPAC name is 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde.

Also known as: 3,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde, Protocatechualdehyde, 139-85-5, PROTOCATECHUIC ALDEHYDE.

IUPAC name
3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde
CAS number
137-30-4
Molecular formula
C7H6O3
Molecular weight
138.12 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC(=C(C=C1C=O)O)O
PubChem CID
8768

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are susceptible to Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield) through dietary residues on produce. Developing endocrine and hepatic systems increase vulnerability to antifungal compounds.

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.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA—Registered; restricted-use (eye/skin); occupational REI 48h
EU—Not approved since 2002
WHO—Class III — slightly hazardous

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 ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / zerlate / blue shield)

  • Tree Nuts — almonds, pecans, walnuts
  • Tree Fruit — apples, pears, peaches, cherries
  • Vine Crops — grapes, hops
  • Industrial — rubber vulcanization accelerator, tire manufacturing

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield):

  • Captan
    Trade-offs: Alternative fungicide or disease management strategy; spectrum of activity differs from original compound; resistance management considerations apply; integrated pest management approach recommended.
  • Copper hydroxide
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.

Frequently asked questions

Is ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / zerlate / blue shield) safe for kids?

Infants are susceptible to Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield) through dietary residues on produce. Developing endocrine and hepatic systems increase vulnerability to antifungal compounds.

What products contain ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / zerlate / blue shield)?

Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield) appears in: almonds (tree nuts); pecans (tree nuts); apples (tree fruit); pears (tree fruit); grapes (vine crops).

What should I do if my child is exposed to ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / zerlate / blue shield)?

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 ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / zerlate / blue shield)?

Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield) has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA, EU, WHO, 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 Ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / Zerlate / Blue Shield) in the baby app

Look up products containing ziram (zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate / zerlate / blue shield), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

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 →