Chlorophenols (di, tri, tetra): Health effects
Description
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.
Entering the body
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.
Exposure
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.
Health guidelines
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)
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