Phenol: Environmental effects
Description
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.
Entering the environment
Can be transported by air and water or contaminated products. Phenol does not tend to bioaccumulate.
Where it ends up
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 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.
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