Report on Carcinogens, Thirteenth Edition

National Toxicology Program, Department of Health and Human Services

For Table of Contents, see home page: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc13

Naphthalene

CAS No. 91-20-3

Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen

First listed in the Eleventh Report on Carcinogens (2004)

Carcinogenicity

Naphthalene is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen

based on sufficient evidence from studies in experimental animals. 

Cancer Studies in Experimental Animals 

Exposure of rats to naphthalene by inhalation caused nasal tumors, 

which are rare in this species. Two types of nasal tumor were observed: olfactory epithelial neuroblastoma of the nose, which is a 

highly malignant and extremely rare tumor of the lining of the nose, 

and respiratory epithelial adenoma, which also is rare (NTP 2000). At 

the time the National Toxicology Program study was published, neither type of tumor had been observed in the historical controls (299 

males and females) in NTP two-year studies that used the same feed 

as the naphthalene bioassay. (As of 2010, no nasal tumors had been 

observed in 1,297 male or 1,247 female controls.) The incidence of 

neuroblastoma of the olfactory epithelium increased with increasing exposure level in both sexes and was significantly increased at the 

highest exposure level in females. Some of the neuroblastomas also 

invaded the brain. The incidence of respiratory epithelial adenoma 

was significantly increased in males, but not in females. These findings are supported by a significantly increased incidence of benign 

lung tumors (adenoma) in female B6C3F1

 mice exposed to naphthalene by inhalation (NTP 1992). The International Agency for Research 

on Cancer (2002) concluded that there was sufficient evidence for the 

carcinogenicity of naphthalene in experimental animals. 

Cancer Studies in Humans 

The data available from epidemiological studies are inadequate to 

evaluate the relationship between human cancer and exposure specifically to naphthalene. Two case-series studies of cancer in individuals exposed to naphthalene were identified; the first study reported 

cancer of the larynx and at other tissue sites among German workers occupationally exposed to naphthalene, and the second reported 

colorectal cancer among Africans who had used a naphthalene compound for medicinal purposes (Ajao et al. 1988, NTP 2002). 

Studies on Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis

Naphthalene caused mutations in insects, but not in bacteria or cultured human lymphoblastoid cells (Sasaki et al. 1997, Grosovsky et 

al. 1999, NTP 2002). It caused other types of genetic damage in some 

but not all test systems. In newt larvae, naphthalene induced micronucleus formation. In cultured mammalian cells, it caused chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, and formation of 

kinetochore-negative micronuclei, but did not cause DNA strand 

breaks, formation of kinetochore-positive micronuclei, or cell transformation. Inhalation exposure of rats to naphthalene caused oxidative stress and DNA damage in liver and brain tissue (IARC 2002, 

NTP 2002).

When administered to experimental animals dermally, orally, or 

by inhalation, naphthalene is rapidly absorbed and metabolized (NTP 

2000). Evidence suggesting that naphthalene is absorbed in humans 

comes from studies of workers in a coke plant, which found that concentrations of naphthalene metabolites in the urine were significantly 

correlated with concentrations of naphthalene in personal air samples (Bieniek 1994, 1997). The first step in the metabolism of naphthalene is formation of naphthalene-1,2-oxide (as two stereoisomers, 

1R,2S-oxide and 1S,2R-oxide) through the action of cytochrome P450 

enzymes in the presence of the coenzyme NADPH. These oxides are 

metabolized further by three pathways: (1) hydration by epoxide hydrolases into dihydrodiols, (2) conjugation by glutathione transferases, 

and (3)  spontaneous rearrangement into 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol, which are converted to naphthoquinones (Chichester et al. 1994, 

Shultz et al. 1999). Naphthalene is excreted in the urine as the unchanged parent compound or as metabolites, including 1-naphthol, 

2-naphthol, naphthoquinones, dihydroxynaphthalenes, and conjugated forms, including glutathione, cysteine, glucuronic acid, and 

sulfate conjugates (NTP 2002).

The mechanism by which naphthalene causes cancer is unknown. 

A strong correlation has been observed between the rates of formation of the stereoisomer (1R,2S)-naphthalene oxide in various tissues 

and the selective toxicity of naphthalene to these tissues, suggesting 

that this metabolite may play a role in naphthalene’s toxicity to the 

lung and other tissues (Buckpitt and Franklin 1989). Oxidative damage and DNA breakage, observed in rat liver and brain tissue, may 

contribute to naphthalene’s toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Properties

Naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that exists at room 

temperature as a white crystalline solid with an aromatic odor. It is 

insoluble in water but soluble in methanol, ethanol, benzene, toluene, 

olive oil, turpentine, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ether, hydronaphthalenes, fixed and volatile oils, and ethylene dichloride. It is stable in closed containers under normal temperatures and pressures 

(Akron 2009). Physical and chemical properties of naphthalene are 

listed in the following table.

Property Information

Molecular weight 128.2

Density 1.162 g/cm3 at 20°C

Melting point 80.2°C

Boiling point 217.9°C

Log Kow 3.3

Water solubility 0.031 g/L at 25°C

Vapor pressure 0.085 mm Hg at 25°C

Vapor density relative to air 4.42

Source: HSDB 2009.

Use

The principal use of naphthalene in the United States is as an intermediate in the production of phthalic anhydride, which in turn is an 

intermediate in the production of phthalate plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, insect repellents, and other materials. Naphthalene has also been 

used as an intermediate in the production of 1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate insecticides, β-naphthol, synthetic leather-tanning chemicals, surfactants (e.g., naphthalene sulfonates), moth repellents, and 

toilet-bowl deodorizers (ATSDR 2005, HSDB 2009). In 1999, 59% of 

naphthalene was used for production of phthalic anhydride, 21% for 

production of surfactant and dispersant chemicals, 11% for production of insecticides, and 9% in moth repellents and for other purposes 

(CMR 1999). The Naphthalene Panel of the American Chemistry 

Council reported in 2002 that naphthalene was no longer used directly in tanneries, in the textile industry, or in the production of 

toilet-bowl deodorizers and that β-naphthol was not manufactured 

in the United States (ACC 2002).
Report on Carcinogens, Thirteenth Edition

National Toxicology Program, Department of Health and Human Services 2

Production

Naphthalene is produced from either coal tar (which contains approximately 10% naphthalene), by condensation and separation of coal tar 

from coke-oven gases, or from petroleum, by dealkylation of methylnaphthalenes. In the United States, most naphthalene was produced 

from petroleum through the 1980s. U.S. production of naphthalene 

peaked in 1968, at 900 million pounds, decreasing to 222 million 

pounds by 1994 (ATSDR 2005). In 2000, production was 235 million pounds, of which over 90% (219 million pounds) was from coal 

tar (CEH 2000). In 2002, estimated U.S. production capacity was 215 

million pounds (ATSDR 2005). In 2009, two U.S. producers of naphthalene were identified (SRI 2009).

From 1989 to 1998, U.S. demand for naphthalene grew 0.5% per 

year. Demand was 246 million pounds in 1998 and 248 million pounds 

in 1999. Demand for naphthalene sulfonates, used primarily as superplasticizer additives to increase the flowability of concrete, grew 

steadily in the late 1990s (CMR 1999). In 2000, estimated consumption of naphthalene was 241 million pounds (ATSDR 2005). In 2009, 

naphthalene was available from 28 U.S. suppliers (ChemSources 

2009). Between 1989 and 2003, U.S. imports of naphthalene ranged 

from a high of 18.5 million kilograms (40.9 million pounds) in 1989 

to a low of 1.1 million kilograms (2.5 million pounds) in 1999. In 2008, 

imports totaled 8.1 million kilograms (17.9 million pounds). Between 

1989 and 2008, U.S. exports of naphthalene ranged from a low of 2.5 

million liters (660,000 gallons) in 1993 to a high of 64.9 million liters 

(17.1 million gallons) in 1998; in 2009, exports were 4.8 million liters 

(1.3 million gallons) (USITC 2009).

Exposure

The general population potentially is exposed to naphthalene through 

inhalation of ambient and indoor air. Accidental ingestion of household products containing naphthalene, mainly by children, has been 

reported. Dermal exposure to naphthalene may occur through handling or wearing of clothing stored with moth repellents containing 

naphthalene. The average daily intake of naphthalene from ambient 

air was estimated at 19 μg, based on an average naphthalene concentration of 0.95 μg/m3

 in urban and suburban air and an inhalation 

rate of 20  m3

/day (ATSDR 2005). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory, environmental releases of naphthalene have decreased annually since 1998, when 

almost 6 million pounds was released. In 2007, 983 facilities released 

over 2.7 million pounds of naphthalene, of which more than half was 

released to air (TRI 2009). 

The National Occupational Exposure Survey (conducted from 1981 

to 1983) estimated that 112,700 workers potentially were exposed 

to naphthalene (NIOSH 1990). Workers identified by EPA as potentially exposed to naphthalene include beta-naphthol makers, celluloid makers, coal-tar workers, dye-chemical makers, fungicide makers, 

hydronaphthalene makers, moth-repellent workers, phthalic anhydride makers, smokeless-powder makers, tannery workers, textilechemical workers, and aluminum reduction plant workers (EPA 1980). 

No more recent occupational exposure surveys were found. However, 

industry estimates in 2002 indicated that about 1,000 workers were 

employed by the largest U.S. tar-distillation and wood-preservation 

company and that fewer than 50 workers in the moth-repellent industry potentially were exposed to naphthalene (ACC 2002). These 

estimates did not include workers potentially exposed to naphthalene 

in production of phthalic anhydride and other uses. Workplace air 

concentrations of naphthalene have been measured in many studies 

and vary by industry. In the vulcanization step of tire manufacturing, 

naphthalene was measured at concentrations of up to 1.09 mg/m3

, resulting in an estimated daily intake of 0.0029 mg/kg of body weight 

(Durmusoglu 2007). A survey by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in 1980 reported air concentrations of naphthalene as high as 10.2 μg/m3 in an area sample and 19.3 μg/m3

 in a 

personal sample (ATSDR 2005).. 

Regulations

Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security

Minimum requirements have been established for safe transport of nitrobenzene on ships and barges.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Naphthalene is considered a hazardous material, and special requirements have been set for marking, 

labeling, and transporting this material.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Clean Air Act

Mobile Source Air Toxics: Listed as a substance for which regulations are to be developed.

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Listed as a hazardous air pollutant.

Clean Water Act

Effluent Guidelines: Listed as a toxic pollutant.

Designated a hazardous substance.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Reportable quantity (RQ) = 100 lb.

Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act 

Toxics Release Inventory: Listed substance subject to reporting requirements.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

Listed Hazardous Waste: Waste codes for which the listing is based wholly or partly on the presence of 

naphthalene = U165, F024, F025, F034, K001, K035, K087, K145.

Listed as a hazardous constituent of waste.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

While this section accurately identifies OSHA’s legally enforceable PELs for this substance in 2010, 

specific PELs may not reflect the more current studies and may not adequately protect workers.

Permissible exposure limit (PEL) = 10 ppm (50 mg/m3

).

Guidelines

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)

Threshold limit value – time-weighted average (TLV-TWA) = 10 ppm (50 mg/m3).

Potential for dermal absorption.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Recommended exposure limit (REL) = 10 ppm (50 mg/m3).

Short-term exposure limit (STEL) = 15 ppm (75 mg/m3).

Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) limit = 250 ppm (1,250 mg/m3).

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