Acenaphthene

Coal tar/creosote, vehicle exhaust, residential wood smoke, industrial emissions; used as a chemical intermediate (e.g., dyes) [1][2].

Breathing smoky or traffic air; skin contact with creosote‑treated wood or contaminated soil; eating heavily charred or smoked foods; drinking contaminated water near waste sites [1].

Can irritate eyes/skin and, in animals, has caused liver and kidney effects with repeated exposure; many PAHs are linked to cancer, but acenaphthene itself has limited evidence and is not clearly classifiable for humans [1][2][3]. It can attach to airborne particles and settle in dust/soil [1].

Workers around coal tar/creosote (wood treatment, coking), asphalt/roofing, and combustion sources; people near busy roads or industrial sites; smokers; young children who play in soil [1][2].

Don’t smoke; reduce time around smoke/exhaust; avoid burning trash; limit charred/smoked foods; use gloves with treated wood and wash up; keep kids off creosote‑treated structures; follow workplace protections [1][2].