Baby Safety / Compounds / Benzo[ghi]perylene

Is Benzo[ghi]perylene safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Benzo[ghi]perylene, 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 benzo[ghi]perylene?

Also known as: 1,12-Benzoperylene, 1,12-Benzperylene, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, BENZO(GHI)PERYLENE.

CAS number
191-24-2
Molecular formula
C22H12
Molecular weight
276.3 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC2=C3C(=C1)C4=CC=CC5=C4C6=C(C=C5)C=CC(=C36)C=C2
PubChem CID
9117

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Benzo[ghi]perylene, 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.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Benzo[ghi]perylene, 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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Benzo[ghi]perylene.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

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 benzo[ghi]perylene

  • Indoor Environments — combustion products
  • Occupational Environments — coal tar, road paving

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Benzo[ghi]perylene:

  • N/A — exposure reduction
    Trade-offs: Exposure reduction does not eliminate the hazard but lowers risk to acceptable levels when alternatives are not available or practical. Requires ongoing monitoring and compliance.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Combustion source control
    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 benzo[ghi]perylene?

Benzo[ghi]perylene appears in: combustion products (Indoor environments); coal tar (Occupational environments); road paving (Occupational environments).

See Benzo[ghi]perylene in the baby app

Look up products containing benzo[ghi]perylene, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database

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 →