Phenol placenta

There was no information found on the placental transfer of phenol or on the concentrations of phenol present in breast milk. There is evidence that benzene and its (not specifically identified) metabolites do cross the placenta, although there is no evidence of selective accumulation (Ghantous and Danielsson 1986). Additional studies of this issue are needed to determine if phenol and its metabolites are among the metabolites of benzene that cross the placenta, and if so whether phenol behaves like benzene in the lack of accumulation. Information is also needed on the content of phenol in breast milk under various conditions, e.g, smoking versus non-smoking mothers, in order to determine if breast milk could ever be a source of phenol exposure for children. 

Like the ovary, the placenta is known to produce both estrogens and progesterone (Newton, 1938 Burrows, 1949). Since lipids occur in one site only—generally the syncytium—this structure is probably the source of both. Attempts to distinguish the two sorts of hormones might be made by utilizing the method of Ashbel el al. (1951), whereby phenolic substances are removed with alkaline solutions. 

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