Is Anthracene safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsInfants are more vulnerable to Anthracene 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 anthracene?
Also known as: Paranaphthalene, Anthracin, Tetra Olive N2G, Anthracen.
- IUPAC name
- anthracene
- CAS number
- 120-12-7
- Molecular formula
- C14H10
- Molecular weight
- 178.23 g/mol
- SMILES
- C1=CC=C2C=C3C=CC=CC3=CC2=C1
- PubChem CID
- 8418
Risk for babies
Moderate riskInfants are more vulnerable to Anthracene 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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Anthracene, 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.
Regulatory consensus
5 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Anthracene. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 2010 | IARC Group 3 — Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans — Anthracene (CAS 120-12-7; paranaphthalene; green oil) is classified IARC Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans; IARC Monographs Volume 92, 2010) based on inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and inadequate evidence in experimental animals; anthracene is a 3-ring PAH (C14H10; MW 178.23) consisting of three linearly fused benzene rings; its linear, fully conjugated ring system lacks the bay-region or fjord-region geometry required for efficient metabolic activation to a carcinogenic diol epoxide; anthracene was one of the first PAHs isolated from coal tar in the mid-19th century and has been studied for over 150 years, yielding a comprehensive negative dataset for carcinogenicity that supports IARC Group 3; anthracene is one of the 16 US EPA priority PAH pollutants; it is also listed under the EU Water Framework Directive as a priority substance with a freshwater environmental quality standard (EQS) of 0.1 µg/L annual average (AA) — notably much less stringent than the carcinogenic PAHs (EQS 0.0001 µg/L), reflecting its lower toxicological hazard; despite its non-carcinogenicity, anthracene exhibits significant phototoxicity to aquatic organisms under UV irradiation — this is its primary ecological hazard | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | D (Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity) | |
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 4 positive / 19 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 4 positive / 19 negative reports) |
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 anthracene
- 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 Anthracene:
-
Safer process chemistry; Green chemistry alternatives; Exposure controls
Trade-offs: Requires R&D investment to redesign synthesis routes; may reduce yield or throughput initially; long-term benefits include reduced waste treatment costs, regulatory compliance, and worker safety; 12 Principles of Green Chemistry framework available.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is anthracene safe for kids?
Infants are more vulnerable to Anthracene 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 anthracene?
Anthracene 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 anthracene?
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 anthracene?
Anthracene has been classified by 5 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, 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 Anthracene in the baby app
Look up products containing anthracene, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (1)
- Anthracene CAS 120-12-7 C14H10 Paranaphthalene IARC Group 3 Monograph 92 2010; Linear 3-Ring No Bay Region 9,10-Positions Non-Carcinogenic Diol Epoxide; First Isolated Coal Tar Auguste Laurent 1832; Kennaway 1920s-1930s Negative Carcinogenicity Structure-Activity Baseline; Isomer Phenanthrene C14H10 Angular vs Linear Dramatic Toxicity Difference; IARC Group 3 Ames Negative Mouse Skin Negative; Anthraquinone Dye Precursor Alizarin Industrial; UV Photoactivated Toxicity Singlet Oxygen Anthracene Endoperoxide; Amphipod Hyalella azteca LC50 0.5 µg/L UV vs >100 µg/L Dark; EU WFD Priority Substance EQS Freshwater 0.1 µg/L 1000-fold Less Stringent Than Carcinogenic PAHs; EU REACH SVHC Annex XIV Authorization List Aquatic Toxicity; US EPA 16 Priority PAH; Coal Tar 3-10% Major Industrial Component; Log Kow 4.5 MP 216-218°C; Blue Fluorescence 3-Banded UV Absorption (2010) — 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 →