Substance fact sheet
The background information page contains information and concepts that will be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI. It is strongly recommended that you read this before reading the information presented below.
For an explanation of some of the terms used in this page, see the Glossary
| Substance name | Phenol |
| CASR number | 108-95-2 |
| Molecular formula | C6H7O |
| Synonyms | Carbolic acid, Hydroxybenzene, Phenic, monohydroxybenzene; phenic acid, phenylic acid, phenyl hydroxide; oxybenzene, monophenol, phenyl hydrate, phenylic alcohol; phenol alcohol; phenyl alcohol, phenol reagent, benzenol, carbolic, monophenol, Baker's P and S liquid and ointment, NCI-C50124, NA 2821 Molten RCRA. |
Physical and chemical properties Physical properties: Phenol is a colourless to pink solid or thick liquid with a characteristic sweet tar like odour. Boiling Point: 181.8(°C) Melting Point: 40.9 (°C) Vapour Pressure: 0.36 mm Hg at 20 (°C) Flash Point: 78.9(°C) Chemical properties: |
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Common uses Phenol is used as a general disinfectant, as a reagent in chemical analysis and for the manufacture of artificial resins, medical and industrial organic compounds and dyes. It is also used in the manufacture of fertilisers, explosives, paints and paint removers, drugs, pharmaceuticals, textiles and coke. It is produced in large volume, mostly as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals. The largest single use of phenol is as an intermediate in the production of phenolic resins, which are low-cost, versatile, thermoset resins used in the plywood adhesive, construction, automotive, and appliance industries. It is also used as an intermediate in the production of caprolactam, which is used to make nylon and other synthetic fibres, and bisphenol A, which is used to make epoxy and other resins. |
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Sources of emissions Point sources Phenol is a common component of oil refinery wastes. It is also produced in the conversion of coal into gaseous or liquid fuels and in the production of metallurgical coke from coal. It may enter the environment from oil refinery discharges, coal conversion plants, municipal waste treatment plant discharges, or spills. Diffuse sources, and point sources included in aggregated emissions data Released as a vapour from natural or human made sources contaminated by or containing phenol. Natural sources Phenol is found naturally in animal wastes and decomposing organic material. Mobile sources None Consumer products which may contain Phenol Agricultural chemicals, disinfectants (non-agricultural), general antibacterials and antiseptics, household hard surface cleaners (liquid), lubricating oils, automotive chemicals, paint and varnish removers, pharmaceutical preparations, synthetic resin and rubber adhesives, wood office work surfaces (modular systems). |
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Health effects How might I be exposed to Phenol? Through breathing air contaminated by phenol, by absorption through the skin or by ingesting products contaminated with Phenol By what pathways might Phenol enter my body? Phenol will enter the body by breathing, through the skin or by ingestion. Relative health hazard On a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 Phenol registers 1.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the evaluation of its tendency to cause, or not cause cancer and/or birth defects. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Human exposure is reflected in the NPI rank given to this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.  Health guidelines Worksafe Australia:Maximum 8 hour time weighted average (TWA): 1 ppm (4 mg/m3) See the Additional Information page for current health information. The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information. Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines. What effect might Phenol have on my health? Phenol causes local and systemic toxic effects upon entering the body via ingestion, skin absorption (of any phase) or inhalation. Locally, phenol may result in irritation of the nose, throat and eyes, and skin burns. Acute poisoning causes an increased respiration rate, followed by a decreased respiration rate, decreased body temperature, cyanosis, muscular weakness, weak or occasionally rapid pulse and coma. Death is usually the result of respiratory failure. Chronic exposure to phenol is typified by systemic problems. These include vertigo, digestive difficulties, skin eruptions, nervous problems and headaches. Death may occur when liver or kidney problems become severe. |
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Environmental effects Environmental Fate Phenol is slightly persistent in water, with a half-life of between 2 to 20 days. The half-life of a pollutant is the amount of time it takes for one-half of the chemical to be degraded. About 26.3% of phenol will eventually end up in air; about 73.3% will end up in water; and about 0.2% will end up in terrestrial soil and aquatic sediments. Environmental Transport Can be transported by air and water or contaminated products. Phenol does not tend to bioaccumulate Relative hazard to the environment On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 Phenol registers 0.8. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8.  Environmental guidelines Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters (ANZECC, 1992): Maximum of 50 micrograms per Litre (i.e. 0.00005 g/L) in fresh or marine waters. See the Additional Information page for current environmental guidelines. Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines. What effect might Phenol have on the environment? Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Longer term effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behaviour. |
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Comparative data NPI Rank Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A risk ranking was given based on health and environmental hazard identification and human and environmental exposure to the substance. Some substances were grouped together at the same rank with 208 ranks in total. Phenol was ranked as 50 out of the 208 ranks. Total hazard score (human health + environmental criteria) = 2.5.  |
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Sources of information used in preparing this fact sheet
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