| Agent Name |
Phenol |
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| CAS Number |
108-95-2 |
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| Formula |
C6-H6-O |
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| Major Category |
Other Classes |
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| Synonyms |
Carbolic acid; Hydroxybenzene; Monohydroxybenzene; Phenyl alcohol; Phenyl hydroxide; [NIOSH] |
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| Category |
Phenols |
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| Description |
Colorless to light-pink, crystalline solid with a sweet, acrid odor. [Note: Phenol liquefies by mixing with about 8% water.] [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in organic synthesis and as a disinfectant; [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Phenol >70% is corrosive to skin. [Quick CPC] Solutions of <5 % are strong irritants. Solutions of >5 % are corrosive. "Even dilute solutions (1% to 2%) may cause severe burns if contact is prolonged." Kidney injury has been reported after workplace exposure. "Damage to the nervous system is the primary cause of death from phenol poisoning." Affected patients may have seizures and coma within a few minutes to few hours after exposure. [ATSDR Medical Management] Hepatic injury and methemoglobinemia have been reported in cases of phenol poisoning by ingestion. "Workers or volunteers exposed at or below 5.3 ppm have experienced no ill effects." Phenol can cause systemic effects after absorption through the skin. [ACGIH] Phenol skin burns are typically white-colored and painless. [AHLS, p. 114] Fatalities after skin exposure have been reported (concentrated phenol to >25% body surface area). [CHEMINFO) |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Phenol |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
Total phenol in urine = 250 mg/g creatinine; end of shift; |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
5 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
5 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
250 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
In rats, an exposure of 312 ppm for 1 hour only resulted in lacrimation and eye and nasal irritation; a slight loss of coordination was reported within 4 hours of exposure to 230 ppm [Flickinger 1976];
Human data: It has been stated that the toxicity of phenol is closely related to that of cresol [ACGIH 1991]. It has been reported that 14 to 140 mg/kg is the lethal oral dose [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969; Lefaux 1978]. [Note: An oral dose of 14 to 140 mg/kg is equivalent to a 70�kg worker being exposed to 167 to 1,670 ppm for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.] |
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| Vapor Pressure |
0.4 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
0.0045 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
1 ppm |
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| RD50 |
166 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 316 mg/m3 (duration not stated); |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.060 ppm); Flash point = 175 deg F; [CHEMINFO] |
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| Half Life |
Urine: 3.5 hours; [TDR, p. 1020] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR ToxFAQs - Phenol |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
2: high ambient temperature required |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Methemoglobinemia |
Methemoglobinemia, Secondary |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Neurotoxin |
Other CNS Neurotoxin |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Not Classifiable |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: PHENOL
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