Is Phenanthrene safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsInfants are more vulnerable to Phenanthrene 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 phenanthrene?
Also known as: Phenanthren, Phenanthracene, Phenanthrin, Ravatite.
- IUPAC name
- phenanthrene
- CAS number
- 85-01-8
- Molecular formula
- C14H10
- Molecular weight
- 178.23 g/mol
- SMILES
- C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C=CC3=CC=CC=C32
- PubChem CID
- 995
Risk for babies
Moderate riskInfants are more vulnerable to Phenanthrene 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 Phenanthrene, 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 Phenanthrene. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 2010 | IARC Group 3 — Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans — Phenanthrene (CAS 85-01-8; 1,2-benznaphthalene; 3,4-benzphenanthrene — older nomenclature) 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; phenanthrene is a 3-ring PAH (C14H10; MW 178.23) — the structural isomer of anthracene with an angularly fused (rather than linearly fused) ring arrangement; phenanthrene is typically the most abundant PAH by mass in the environment — it is consistently found at the highest concentrations of any individual PAH in petroleum, urban air, and combustion-derived sediment; despite its ubiquity, phenanthrene has weak-to-negligible carcinogenic activity and is classified IARC Group 3; phenanthrene does have a bay region (at C-4,5 of the molecule) which allows a limited metabolic activation to a diol epoxide — but the 3-ring system generates a much less reactive and persistent diol epoxide than the 4+ ring carcinogenic PAHs; phenanthrene is one of the 16 US EPA priority PAH pollutants; the EU Water Framework Directive does not list phenanthrene as a priority substance; phenanthrene metabolites (particularly phenanthrene tetraol — the diol-epoxide hydrolysis product) and phenanthrene dihydrodiols are used as biomarkers of PAH exposure in epidemiological studies alongside 1-OHP | |
| 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, 3 positive / 10 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 3 positive / 10 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 phenanthrene
- 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 Phenanthrene:
-
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 phenanthrene safe for kids?
Infants are more vulnerable to Phenanthrene 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 phenanthrene?
Phenanthrene 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 phenanthrene?
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 phenanthrene?
Phenanthrene 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 Phenanthrene in the baby app
Look up products containing phenanthrene, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (1)
- Phenanthrene CAS 85-01-8 C14H10 1,2-Benznaphthalene IARC Group 3 Monograph 92 2010; Most Abundant PAH Environmental Matrices Urban Air 10-100 ng/m3 Road Dust 5-200 µg/g; Angular 3-Ring Bay Region C-4,5 vs Anthracene Linear No Bay Region; Phenanthrene Tetrol PheT Phenanthrene Dihydrodiol PAH Biomarker GC-MS/MS LC-MS/MS; Denissenko 1996 Science BPDE TP53 Hotspot Phenanthrene Model; 1-OHP + PheT Complementary Biomonitoring PAH Exposure; Ph/An Ratio Source Apportionment >10 Petrogenic <10 Pyrogenic; Phenanthrene Ring System Morphine Codeine Opiate Alkaloid Pharmacophore Core; Dual Pyrolytic Petrogenic Origin Poor Source Discriminator; Log Kow 4.5 Water Solubility 1200 µg/L Higher Biodegradation Rate; US EPA 16 Priority PAH; Not EU WFD Priority Substance; Coal Tar 1-5% Component; Petroleum Dominant PAH Dissolved Phase; Fittig Ostermayer 1872 Coal Tar Isolation (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 →