Phenol antidotes

Phenol should not be allowed to come into contact with the skin for it causes painful burns. The best antidote for phenol burns is a saturated solution of bromine in glycerine if all undi.ssolved bromine is allowed to settle out before the solution is used, there is no danger of bromine burns. Lime water may also be employed. 

Antidotes to phenol. Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) and polyethylene glycol seem to be the most effective local antidotes, both histologically and because they slow down blood penetration. Immediately rinsing the area of skin that has come into contact with the phenol with plenty of water gets rid of some of the toxin and prevents precipitation of some of the epidermal proteins. 

The relative antidote activity of various naturally occurring phenolics (17-21) and related compounds was examined using the TLC plate and paper... 

Fig. (7). Relative antidote activity of some classes of phenols on impregnated (20 nmol) paper disks against MBC contained in agar at 0.2 ppm.

Buch, U. Isenberg, E. Buch, H.P. HPLC assay for atropine in serum and protein solutions after in vitro addition of the tropane alkaloid. Methods Find.Exp.Clin.Pharmacol., 1994, 16, 361-365 Pohjola, J. Harpf, M. Determination of atropine and obidoxime in automatic irqection devices used as antidotes against nerve agent intoxication. J.Chromatogr., 1994, 686, 350-354 [simultaneous obidoxime phenol (IS)]... 

The cyanide antidote 4-dimethylamino-phenol plus sodium thiosulfate showed some protective action only after oral intake. However, against inhalation and other toxic routes, the antidote above was ineffective (Appel et al. 1981). Buchter and Peter (1984) reported the effectiveness of cysteine [52-... 

B. Specific drugs and antidotes. For most agents, there Is no specific antidote. (See p 221 for hydrofluoric acid bums and p 302 for phenol bums.) In the past, corticosteroids were used by many clinicians in the hope of reducing scarring, but this treatment has been proved ineffective. Moreover, steroids may be harmful in the patient with perforation because they mask early signs of inflammation and inhibit resistance to infection. 

According to Schuz [22], the best antidote to percutaneous phenol poisoning or burns is PEG 400. The areas of skin affected by the phenol must be treated as quickly as possible with absorbent soaked in PEG 400. It is therefore advisable to keep PEG 400 (undiluted and without additives) handy for first aid measures wherever there is a risk of accidents involving phenol. 

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