phenols

Phenol (fe-nol) is a caustic poisonous crystalline compound derived from benzene and used in resins (like those found in the plywood, construction, automotive, and appliance industries), plastics, and pharmaceuticals.

• Some Effects: [1]
• Phenol is considered to be very toxic to humans through oral exposure, with ingestion of 1 g reported to be lethal, with symptoms including muscle weakness and tremors, loss of coordination, paralysis, convulsions, coma, and respiratory arrest[2]
• Blood changes, liver and kidney damage, and cardiac toxicity including weak pulse, cardiac depression, and reduced blood pressure have been reported in humans acutely exposed to phenol by the oral route.[3]
• In Animal reduced fetal body weights, growth retardation, and abnormal development in the offspring of animals exposed to phenol by the oral route was reported. Decreased maternal weight gain and increased maternal mortality were also observed.[4]

Long-term inhalation exposure to phenol in animal studies has shown effects on the liver, kidney, respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems[5]

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[1] Lakes Environmental- http://www.lakes-environmental.com/toxic/PHENOL.HTML

[2] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993

[3] E.J. Calabrese and E.M. Kenyon. Air Toxics and Risk Assessment. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI. 1991.

[4] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993

[5] Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Phenol. U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1989.