Pentachlorophenol toxicity data

PCPL is of low toxicity and good skin compatibility, but its antimicrobial effectiveness is based on the liberation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) (see Section 5.6.3). PCPL releases approx. 57% PCP the toxicity data of which are listed in Section 5.6.3. 

Pentachlorophenyl laurate (PCPL) is, as long as pentachlorophenol (7.5.4. = PCP) is not liberated, of low toxicity and good skin compatibility, however the ester may release approx. 57% pentachlorophenol the toxicity data of which are listed under 7.5.4. 

Among all chlorophenols, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) are listed as priority pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (IRIS electronic database) and the EU [256]. In particular, PCP has been classified as a B2 probable carcinogen for humans from animal toxicity studies and human clinical data. 

Production volumes for pentachlorophenol in the United States for the mid-1980s were reported as (thousand tonnes) 1983, 20.4 1984, 19 1985, 17.2 and 1986, 14.5 (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1994). The volume for 1996, the last full year for which data are available, was 9.1 thousand tonnes. There is no known current European production of pentachlorophenol (Nonnan, 1998). Production data were not available for the other chlorophenols. 

Data on the acute toxicity of pentachlorophenol given to experimental animals by various routes have been summarized (WHO, 1987). 

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