How Much Exposure to Mothballs Is Dangerous for Humans

Prolonged exposure to mothballs can have serious health consequences.

Short-term exposure to high concentrations of mothball vapors can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

Even brief exposure to mothballs can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

Mothball fumes can also trigger asthma attacks in people with pre-existing conditions.

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Naphthalene is a toxic chemical found in mothballs, and exposure to it can be hazardous to your health. Naphthalene is listed as a "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" by the National Toxicology Program's Report on Carcinogens.

Prolonged exposure to naphthalene can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and other organs. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) notes that naphthalene is toxic to the liver and kidneys even at low levels of exposure.

Inhaling naphthalene vapors can cause respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists naphthalene as a toxic air pollutant that can cause respiratory problems.

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Naphthalene poisoning can occur if you ingest mothballs or naphthalene-containing products. MedlinePlus warns that naphthalene poisoning can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and nausea.

Here are some key health effects of naphthalene exposure:

The EPA's Integrated Risk Information System notes that naphthalene is a toxic chemical that can cause a range of health problems, including cancer and reproductive problems.

Exposure to mothballs, which often contain paradichlorobenzene, can have serious health effects.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified dichlorobenzenes, including paradichlorobenzene, as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

Prolonged exposure to paradichlorobenzene can cause respiratory problems, such as irritation to the nose, throat, and lungs.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, paradichlorobenzene can also cause liver and kidney damage with prolonged exposure.

The National Toxicology Program has listed 1,4-dichlorobenzene, also known as paradichlorobenzene, as a substance that is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."

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Symptoms of paradichlorobenzene poisoning can include dizziness, headache, and nausea, as reported by MedlinePlus.

Here is a summary of the potential health effects of paradichlorobenzene exposure:

If you suspect you've been exposed to paradichlorobenzene, seek medical attention immediately.

To use mothballs safely, place them in areas where they won't be disturbed, such as in closets or drawers. This will help prevent accidental ingestion or inhalation.

Mothballs should not be used near food, pets, or children, as naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene can be toxic to them.

Store mothballs in a well-ventilated area to prevent the buildup of fumes. This is especially important when using mothballs containing naphthalene.

The recommended usage time for mothballs varies, but most experts agree they should be replaced every 2-3 months.

A comprehensive survey of studies on naphthalene exposure was conducted to better understand its effects on human health. The study extracted and summarized human and animal studies that met PECO criteria in an interactive dashboard.

Researchers captured information on population type, study type, and major route of exposure for human studies, and species, strain, sex, and dose levels for animal studies. The Excel file used to create the Tableau Public database is available as supplemental material.

The study included cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies, as well as studies on occupational and general populations. Researchers also assessed how exposure was measured in human studies and the health outcomes observed.

The study identified relationships between PBPK models for naphthalene, including cases where one model was a revision of a previous model or a synthesis of multiple previous models.

Exposure to mothballs can be toxic, especially in excess. If children or pets swallow mothballs, poisoning can result in serious consequences, including jaundice, anemia, and kidney damage.

To assess the risk of mothball exposure, it's essential to consider dose-response considerations. For animal studies, multiple dose levels are more suitable for dose-response analysis than studies evaluating only a single dose level.

Epidemiology studies that use biomarker measurements in tissues or bodily fluids as the metric for exposure are considered suitable for dose-response analysis only if data or PBPK models are available to extrapolate between the reported biomarker measurements and the level of exposure.

Long-term exposure to mothball fumes can be harder to assess, but high concentrations have been linked to symptoms like eye irritation, weakness, dizziness, weight loss, and liver problems.

Here are some key considerations for dose-response analysis of mothball exposure:

The Environmental Protection Agency states that long-term exposure to 1,4-dichlorobenzene, a common mothball ingredient, results in effects on the liver, skin, and central nervous system.