Baby Safety / Compounds / Benz[a]anthracene

Is Benz[a]anthracene safe for babies and kids?

High risk for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Benz[a]anthracene, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is benz[a]anthracene?

The IUPAC name is benzo[a]anthracene.

Also known as: benzo[a]anthracene, Tetraphene, 1,2-Benzanthracene, Benzanthracene.

IUPAC name
benzo[a]anthracene
CAS number
56-55-3
Molecular formula
C18H12
Molecular weight
228.3 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C=CC3=CC4=CC=CC=C4C=C32
PubChem CID
5954

Risk for babies

High risk

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

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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

High risk

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

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

8 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Benz[a]anthracene. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2010Group 2BIARC Group 2B for benz[a]anthracene (BaA) based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals and inadequate evidence in humans. BaA is a four-ring PAH present in coal tar, tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust, urban air, and charred foods. BaA undergoes metabolic activation to bay-region diol epoxides via CYP1A1/1B1 that form DNA adducts. EPA relative potency factor (RPF) for BaA is 0.1 relative to benzo[a]pyrene (RPF 1.0), indicating meaningful but lower potency than the more complex five-ring PAHs. BaA is used as a reference compound in PAH mixture risk assessments.
US EPA1994Group B2US EPA Group B2 (probable human carcinogen) based on animal bioassay evidence. Oral slope factor: 0.12/mg/kg-day. Inhalation unit risk: 3.4×10⁻⁵ per μg/m³. RPF = 0.1 relative to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP = 1.0). Listed in EPA 16 priority PAH list and included in IRIS for PAH mixture risk assessment at contaminated sites.
EPA CTX / IRIS—B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 12 positive / 4 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 12 positive / 4 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 benz[a]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 Benz[a]anthracene:

  • Exposure reduction (combustion byproduct)
    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.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain benz[a]anthracene?

Benz[a]anthracene appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

Why do regulators disagree about benz[a]anthracene?

Benz[a]anthracene has been classified by 8 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / IARC, 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 Benz[a]anthracene in the baby app

Look up products containing benz[a]anthracene, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 92: Some Non-heterocyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Some Related Exposures — PAH Individual Compound Classifications (Group 1/2A/2B/3) (2010) — regulatory
  2. US EPA IRIS: Benz[a]anthracene — Carcinogenicity Assessment, Oral Slope Factor (0.12/mg/kg-day), Inhalation Unit Risk, and Relative Potency Factor (RPF = 0.1 vs BaP) (1994) — 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 →