At a glance
| Chemical family | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) — four-ring structure |
| CAS number | 206-44-0 |
| Classification | IARC Group 3 (not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans); EPA Priority Pollutant |
| Where you encounter it | Urban air and dust (one of the most abundant environmental PAHs); vehicle exhaust; coal and wood combustion; tobacco smoke; grilled food |
| Sleep micro-environment relevance | Found in household dust as part of the combustion-derived PAH mixture. Often one of the highest-concentration PAHs measured in indoor dust samples |
Regulatory & certification status
| European Union | REACH Annex XVII Entry 50 restricts PAHs in consumer articles — fluoranthene is included in the 8 priority PAHs limited to 1 mg/kg in rubber and plastic components with prolonged skin contact. Regulatory |
| United States | EPA Priority Pollutant. Clean Water Act listed. Not specifically restricted in consumer products beyond ambient water quality criteria. Regulatory |
| Canada | CEPA Schedule 1 (toxic substance) as part of the PAH group. Regulatory |
| International | IARC Group 3 (not classifiable). One of the 16 EPA priority PAHs used as environmental monitoring indicators worldwide. Regulatory |
What it is
Fluoranthene is a non-alternant PAH — its ring structure differs from the alternant PAHs (like benzo[a]pyrene) that tend to be more carcinogenic. It consists of a naphthalene and acenaphtylene unit fused together. Fluoranthene is one of the most abundant PAHs in the environment because it is produced in large quantities during incomplete combustion of organic matter. IARC classified it as Group 3 in 2010 based on inadequate evidence in both humans and animals. While fluoranthene can be mutagenic in some test systems, it lacks strong carcinogenic activity. It is commonly used as an environmental monitoring indicator because of its abundance and chemical stability.
Where it shows up in bedding
Fluoranthene is not an ingredient in bedding. It enters bedrooms as part of combustion-derived particulate matter: outdoor traffic exhaust that infiltrates through windows and ventilation, fireplace and wood stove emissions, and tobacco smoke residue. In urban environments, fluoranthene is frequently among the highest-concentration individual PAHs measured in household dust. Its presence indicates the broader PAH burden of the indoor environment, including co-occurring carcinogenic PAHs.
Citations
- IARC (2010). Some Non-Heterocyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. IARC Monographs Vol. 92. Source Peer-reviewed
- ATSDR (1995). Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Source Regulatory
- EU REACH Annex XVII, Entry 50 — PAHs in consumer articles. Source Regulatory
Frequently asked questions
Is fluoranthene carcinogenic?
No. IARC classifies fluoranthene as Group 3 (not classifiable). It is a non-alternant PAH that lacks the bay-region structure associated with the strongest carcinogenic PAHs. However, it is almost always found alongside more hazardous PAHs from the same combustion sources, and its abundance makes it a useful indicator of overall PAH contamination.
Why is fluoranthene so abundant?
Fluoranthene is produced in large quantities during incomplete combustion of any organic material — wood, coal, gasoline, diesel, tobacco. Its chemical structure makes it thermodynamically stable and resistant to environmental breakdown. These properties combined with widespread combustion sources make it one of the most frequently detected and highest-concentration PAHs in urban air and dust.
Related compounds
Embr is a sleep environment company researching and addressing the chemistry of the bedroom. Research and product development in progress.
Last reviewed 2026-07-07. If you find a factual error, contact us.