Substance fact sheet
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) provides information on the types and amounts of pollutants being emitted in the Australian community.
This page provides facts about chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra). It describes how you might be exposed to this substance, how exposure might effect you and the environment, common uses, comparative data about chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra) and its physical and chemical properties.
For more information about some of the terms used in this page, see the NPI glossary.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra) emissions in Australia .
Not much is known about the behaviour of this group of chemicals in the body. Workers who made pesticides from chlorophenols and were exposed to chlorophenols through breathing or skin contact developed acne and mild liver injury and showed evidence of acquired blood, skin and hair disorders. Symptoms of exposure to concentrated forms of this compound include severe irritation and burns of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes and the upper respiratory tract. Other symptoms reported include tremors, convulsions, shortness of breath and inhibition of the respiratory system, vomiting, collapse, coma, painless whitening or reddening of the skin, profuse sweating, intense thirst, nausea, diarrhoea, blood disorders, hyperactivity, stupor, blood pressure fall, abdominal pain, fluid on the lungs followed by pneumonia, and occasional skin sensitivity reactions. Some of the chlorophenols are recognised as carcinogens.
Chlorophenols can enter the body by breathing, contact with the skin or by ingestion. When humans and animals eat food or drink water that contains chlorophenols, most of the chemical will be removed from the body within a few days.
By contact with vapours in the air, skin contact with pure substances or substances that are contaminated or contain the compounds or by eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by chlorophenols. It is unlikely that persons will be exposed to pure substances except in laboratories. Ambient concentrations even in contaminated areas are generally very low.
See Sources for more information.
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996):
Health
2,4 Dichlorophenol: Maximum 0.2 mg/L (i.e. 0.0002g/L)
2,4,6 Trichlorophenol: Maximum 0.02 mg/L (i.e. 0.00002g/L)
Aesthetic
2,4 Dichlorophenol: Maximum 0.003 mg/L (i.e. 0.0000002g/L)
2,4,6 Trichlorophenol: Maximum 0.02 mg/L (i.e. 0.000002g/L)
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.
The effects of chlorophenols on the environment are not well known. In high concentrations they can have immediate effects as with humans. This can include death of plants, animals, birds and fish. There is insufficient information to be able to determine longer term effects.
Chlorophenols can be transported by air as a particle or vapour, in surface of ground water and also in solids and soil.
In the environment, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol is found most frequently in water, especially near hazardous waste sites contaminated with 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. A combination of factors aid in the removal of 2,4,6- trichlorophenol from water. These include breakdown of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by bacteria, some breakdown by the sun, evaporation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol into the atmosphere, and its removal by attaching to other particles in water. This removal occurs in about 1 to 19 days. In sewage plants, it is broken down even more quickly by bacteria present in sewage.
Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters (ANZECC, 1992):
2,4-dichlorophenol: Maximum 0.2 micrograms/L (i.e. 0.0000002g/L) in fresh water (no guideline for salt water).
Total trichlorophenol: Maximum 18 micrograms/L (i.e. 0.000018g/L) in fresh water (no guideline for salt water).
2,4,5-trichlorophenol: Maximum 8 micrograms/L (i.e. 0.000008b?L) in salt water (no guideline for fresh water).
Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines.
Chlorophenols have been used as mothproofing agents, miticides, germicides, algicides, fungicides, and wood preservatives and to manufacture of other chemicals. All the chlorophenols have been used as biocides. Chlorophenols with at least two chlorines either have been used directly as pesticides or have been converted into pesticides. 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol was previously used as an antiseptic, a pesticide for wood, leather, and glue preservation and as an anti-mildew treatment. 2,4-Dichlorophenol is a chemical intermediate used principally in the manufacture of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.
Production sources of chlorinated phenols or waste burners. Other potential sources are from contaminated sites or sites that produce chlorinated organic compounds.
2,4,6-trichlorophenol produced from the breakdown of other chemicals may be found in wastewater, drinking water, and in soil. Fish and shellfish from areas near sewage releases or industries that use 2,4,6-trichlorophenol may build up 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in their tissues. Exposure to 2,4,6-trichlorophenol may occur through its use in pesticides, or wood, leather, or glue preservatives.
There are no natural occurring sources of these compounds
These chemicals are not normally related to mobile vehicles and equipment.
Chlorophenols have been used as mothproofing agents, miticides, germicides, algicides, fungicides, pesticides and wood preservatives and may be found in these products.
Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A ranking and total hazard score was given based on health and environmental hazards and human and environmental exposure to the substance.
Chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra) was ranked as 79 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 4.2.
On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra) 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.
On an environmental rating of 0 - 3 chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra) registers 2.5. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.
Factors taken into account to obtain this ranking and these scores 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 account 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. 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.
| Substance name | Chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra) |
| CASR number | 25167-81-1, 25167-82-2, 25167-83-3 |
| Molecular formula |
C6H4Cl2O (CASR# 25167-81-1) |
| Synonyms | 2.4.6 T, 2.4.6-TCP, 2.4.6-Trichloro-2-hydroxybenzene, 2.4-DCP, 4.6-Dichlorophenol, Chem-Tol, Chlorophen, Collunosol, Cryptogil Oil, DCP, Dow Pentachlorophenol Dp-2 Antimicrobial, Dowcide 2S, Dowcide 7, Dowicide 2, Dowicide 2S, Dowicide 6, Dowicide 7, Dowicide Ec-7, Dp-2. 2.3.4.5.6-Pentachlorophenol, Durotox, Ep 30, Fungifen, Glazd Penta, Grundier Arbezol, Lauxtol, Lauxtol A, Liroprem, NCI-C54933, NCI-C55378, NCI-C56655, Omal, Pcp, Penchlorol, Penta, Pentachlorofenol, Pentachlorophenate, Pentachlorophenol, Pentacon, Penta-Kil, Pentasol, Penwar, Peratox, Permacide, Permagard, Permasan, Permatox Dp-2, Permatox Penta, Permite, Phenachlor, preventol I, Priltox, Santobrite, Santophen, Santophen 20, Sinituho, TCP, Term-I-Trol, Tetrachlorophenols, Thompson's Wood Fix, Weedone. |
| Physical properties: Di, Tri and Tetra Chlorophenol are part of a group of chemicals known collectively as chlorophenols. In total there are 19 different chlorophenols of which the di, tri and tetra forms make up 13. The chlorophenols differ in the number of chlorine atoms and also where the chlorine atoms are positioned in the atomic structure. Di, tri and tetra chlorophenol have 2, 3 and 4 chlorine atoms respectively Both the number and position of the chlorine atoms affect the overall properties. The 6 most commonly found forms are: 2,4-dichlorophenol (CASR#120-83-2) 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (CASR#95-95-4) 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (CASR#88-06-2) 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol (CASR#4901-51-3) 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (CASR#58-90-2) and 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol (CASR#935-95-5). (Note: The numbers preceding the name denote the position of the chlorine atoms in the atomic structure.) All the chlorophenols in the in this group are solids (often needles and flakes). They have a strong medicinal taste and odour. Melting temperatures increase with the number of chlorine atoms. The dichlorophenols have melting temperatures around 50 °C, the tri's around 70 (°C and the tetra's around 110 °C. Boiling points vary but are generally above 150 or 200 °C. 2,4,6-trichlorophenol sublimates (goes directly from solid to vapour). |
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| Chemical properties: 2,4-Dichlorophenol is white and is soluble in ethyl alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, ethyl ether, benzene, and chloroform. 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol, is grey and is soluble in acetone, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, ether, denatured alcohol, methanol liquid petrolatum, and chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra). 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol is yellow and is soluble in hot acetic acid, acetone, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, diacetone alcohol, methanol, chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra), turpentine, ether, and denatured alcohol formula. 2,3,4,5-Tetrachlorophenol is soluble in alcohol. 2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol is light brown and is soluble in sodium hydroxide, hot acetic acid, acetone, alcohol, benzene, chloroform, and ligroin. 2,3,5,6-Tetrachlorophenol is soluble in benzene. On combustion chlorophenols form toxic and corrosive gasses. Upon heating, toxic fumes are formed. Chlorophenols reacts violently with strong oxidants. |
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There is more information that may be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI.