Agent Name |
Cresol, all isomers |
CAS Number |
1319-77-3, 95-48-7, 106-44-5, 108-39-4 |
Formula |
C7-H8-O |
Major Category |
Other Chemicals |
Synonyms |
Crysylol; Tricresol; Cresol (All Isomers); Cresylic acid; Cresol (mixed isomers); Mixed cresols; m-,p-cresol mixture; Hydroxytoluene; Coal tar acids; Coal tar cresols; Coal tar phenols;[ChemFinder] |
Category |
Phenols |
Description |
Colorless or yellow crystals or liquid with a sweet tarry odor; [NIOSH] |
Sources/Uses |
Used as an ore flotation agent, disinfectant, and fumigant; an intermediate for chemicals, resins, dyes, photographic developers, explosives, etc.; [ACGIH] Used in degreasing, disinfecting, and photo developing; [HSDB] |
Comments |
Liquid or crystals cause second degree burns after contact for a few minutes; [CHRIS]; Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Eye contact with concentrated solutions causes permanent corneal opacification. A drop of a 33% solution applied to rabbits eyes and removed by irrigation within 1 minute causes only temporary, moderate injury. [ACGIH] Liver injury and methemoglobinemia have been reported after suicidal ingestions. [HSDB] |
Exposure Assessment |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
TLV (ACGIH) |
5 ppm |
PEL (OSHA) |
5 ppm |
IDLH (NIOSH) |
250 ppm |
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Other animal data: Rats exposed to a saturated concentration of cresol vapors (about 150 to 380 ppm) survived the exposure for 8 hours [Smyth 1956].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH. |
Vapor Pressure |
0.17 mm Hg |
Odor Threshold Low |
5 x 10 -05 ppm |
Odor Threshold High |
0.0079 ppm |
Explanatory Notes |
See 2008 Notice of Intended Changes; [ACGIH] Detection odor threshold for m-cresol from AIHA (mean = 0.0006 ppm); |
Half Life |
Within 1-2 days; [TDR, p. 412] |
Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Cresols |
Flammability (NFPA) |
2: high ambient temperature required |
Adverse Effects |
Methemoglobinemia |
Methemoglobinemia, Secondary |
Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
Links to Other NLM Databases |
Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: CRESOL
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