Baby Safety / Compounds / Chrysene

Is Chrysene safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Chrysene, 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 chrysene?

Also known as: Benzo[a]phenanthrene, 1,2-Benzophenanthrene, 1,2-Benzphenanthrene, 1,2,5,6-Dibenzonaphthalene.

IUPAC name
chrysene
CAS number
218-01-9
Molecular formula
C18H12
Molecular weight
228.3 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C=CC3=C2C=CC4=CC=CC=C43
PubChem CID
9171

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Chrysene, 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

Elevated risk

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Chrysene, 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

7 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Chrysene. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2010Group 2BIARC Group 2B for chrysene based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals and inadequate evidence in humans. Chrysene is a four-ring PAH (tetracyclic) present in coal tar, tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust, urban air, and charred foods. It undergoes CYP1A1/CYP1B1-mediated metabolic activation to bay-region 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide, forming DNA adducts — similar to benzo[a]pyrene but with lower potency due to geometric and electronic differences at the bay region. EPA relative potency factor (RPF) for chrysene is 0.001 relative to benzo[a]pyrene (RPF 1.0), one of the lowest RPFs among the 16 EPA priority PAHs, reflecting relatively weak but real carcinogenic potential in experimental systems.
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals)
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 8 positive / 6 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 8 positive / 6 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 chrysene

  • 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 Chrysene:

  • 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 chrysene?

Chrysene appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

Why do regulators disagree about chrysene?

Chrysene has been classified by 7 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, 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 Chrysene in the baby app

Look up products containing chrysene, 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. EFSA Scientific Opinion on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Food — PAH8 and PAH4 Monitoring Compounds, Chrysene Classification, and EU Food Safety Regulation 835/2011 (2008) — 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 →