vvEPA
               United States
               Environmental Protection
               Agency
               Office of Water
               Regulations and Standards
               Criteria and Standards Division
               Washington DC 20460
Ambient
Water Quality
Criteria  for
2-chlorophenol
EPA440/SaHB4
October 1980
                                              C-l

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       AMBIENT WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR

               2-CHLOROPHENOl
                 Prepared By
    U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

  Office of Water Regulations and Standards
       Criteria and Standards Division
              Washington, D.C.

    Office of Research and Development
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
              Cincinnati, Ohio

        Carcinogen  Assessment Group
             Washington,  D.C.

    Environmental Research Laboratories
             Corvalis,  Oregon
             Duluth, Minnesota
           Gulf  Breeze, Florida
        Narragansett,  Rhode  Island

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                              DISCLAIMER
     This  report  has  been  reviewed by the  Environmental  Criteria and
Assessment Office, U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency,  and approved
for publication.   Mention of trade names or commercial products does not
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
                          AVAILABILITY  NOTICE
       This  document is available  to  the public  through  the National
Technical Information Service, (NTIS), Springfield, Virginia  22161.
                                  11

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                               FOREWORD

    Section 304  (a)(l)  of the Clean Water Act  of 1977 (P.L. 95-217),
requires the  Administrator  of the Environmental  Protection  Agency to
publish  criteria  for water  quality accurately  reflecting  the latest
scientific knowledge on the  kind  and extent of all identifiable effects
on  health  and  welfare which may  be  expected  from  the presence of
pollutants in any body of water, including ground water.  Proposed water
quality criteria  for the  65  toxic pollutants  listed under section 307
(a)(l) of  the Clean Water  Act  were developed  and  a notice  of  their
availability was published for public comment on March 15, 1979 (44 FR
15926), July 25,  1979 (44  FR  43660), and October  1, 1979 (44 FR 56628).
This  document  is  a revision  of  those  proposed  criteria  based upon a
consideration of  comments received from  other  Federal  Agencies,  State
agencies,  special  interest  groups,  and  individual  scientists.    The
criteria contained in this document replace any previously published EPA
criteria for  the  65 pollutants.   This  criterion  document  is  also
published in satisifaction of paragraph 11 of the Settlement Agreement
in  Natural  Resources  Defense Council, et.  al.   vs. Train,  8 ERC 2120
(D.D.C. 1976), modified, 12 ERC 1833 (D.D.C.  1979).

    The term  "water  quality criteria"  is used  in  two  sections of the
Clean Water Act, section 304  (a)(l) and section 303 (c)(2).  The term has
a different program impact  in each  section.   In section 304, the term
represents a  non-regulatory,  scientific  assessment of  ecological  ef-
fects. The criteria presented in  this  publication are  such  scientific
assessments.   Such water  quality criteria  associated with  specific
stream uses when  adopted as  State  water quality  standards under section
303 become  enforceable  maximum  acceptable  levels  of  a pollutant  in
ambient waters.  The water quality criteria adopted in the State  water
quality standards could have the same numerical   limits as the criteria
developed under section  304.  However, in many situations States may want
to adjust water quality  criteria developed under  section 304 to reflect
local   environmental  conditions   and  human exposure  patterns  before
incorporation  into  water  quality  standards.    It  is  not until  their
adoption as part  of the  State water quality standards that the criteria
become regulatory.

    Guidelines to  assist  the States  in  the  modification of criteria
presented  in  this  document,  in  the  development  of  water  quality
standards,  and in  other water-related programs of this Agency, are being
developed by EPA.
                                    STEVEN SCHATZOW
                                    Deputy Assistant Administrator
                                    Office of Water Regulations and Standards
                                   111

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                                   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Aquatic Life Toxicology:

    William A. Brungs, ERL-Narragansett
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
David J. Hansen, ERL-Gulf Breeze
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mammalian Toxicology and Human Health Effects:

    Gary Osweiler (author)
    University of Missouri

    John F. Risher (doc. mgr.) ECAO-Cin
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

    Jerry F. Stara (doc. mgr.) ECAO-Cin
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

    Rolf Hartung
    University of Michigan

    Terri Laird, ECAO-Cin
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

    Steven D. Lutkenhoff, ECAO-Cin
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Gordon Chesters
University of Wisconsin

Patrick Durkin
Syracuse Research Corporation

Terence M. Grady, ECAO-Cin
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Van Kozak
University of Wisconsin

Robert Lingg, HERL
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

David Ritter, OPP
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Technical Support Services Staff:  D.J. Reisman,  M.A.  Garlough,  B.L.  Zwayer,
P.A. Daunt, K.S. Edwards, T.A. Scandura, A.T. Pressley,  C.A.  Cooper,
M.M. Denessen.

Clerical Staff:  C.A. Haynes, S.J. Faehr, L.A. Wade,  D.  Jones,  B.J.  Bordicks,
B.J. Quesnell, T. Highland, R. Rubinstein.
                                           IV

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                              TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Criteria  Summary

 Introduction                                                        A_j

 Aquatic Life Toxicology                                             B_]_
      Introduction                                                   g_l
      Effects                                                        g~i
          Acute Toxicity                                            g_j_
          Chronic Toxicity                                          g_2
          Plant Effects                                             B_2
          Residues                                                  g_2
          Miscellaneous                                             g_2
          Summary                                                   g_3
     Criteria                                                       g_4
     References                                                     g_^

Mammalian Toxicology and Human Health Effects                       C-l
     Introduction                                                    £_]_
     Exposure                                                       Q_2
          Ingestion  from Water                                      Q_2
          Ingestion  from Food                                       Q_3
          Inhalation                                                Q_]_2
          Dermal                                                     Q_^5
     Pharmacokinetics                                                CI15
          Absorption                                                Q_^
          Distribution                                               r lfi
          ,.  , ,   . .                                                   L-ID
          Metabolism                                               ^_-^7
          Excretion                                                 r 10
     Effects                                                        ^"Jg
          Acute, Subacute,  and  Chronic  Toxicity                    C-18
          Synergism  and/or  Antagonism                               Q_22
          Teratogenicity  and  Mutagenicity                           C-22
          Carcinogenicity                                           £_22
     Criterion  Formulation                                          C-29
          Existing Guidelines and  Standards                         C-29
          Current Levels of Exposure                                C_2g
          Special Groups at Risk                                    c_30
          Basis and  Derivation of  Criterion                         r 30
    References

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                               CRITERIA DOCUMENT
                                2-CHLOROPHENOL
CRITERIA
                                 Aquatic Life
     The  available  data  for 2-chlorophenol  indicate  that acute  toxicity  to
freshwater  aquatic  life  occurs  at  concentrations as  low as 4,380  yg/1  and
would  occur at  lower  concentrations  among  species  that are more  sensitive
than those  tested.   No definitive data are  available  concerning  the chronic
toxicity  of 2-chlorophenol  to sensitive freshwater  aquatic  life but  flavor
impairment  occurs  in  one species of  fish  at concentrations as low  as  2,000
wg/1.
     No  saltwater  organisms  have  been tested  with  2-chlorophenol  and  no
statement can be made concerning acute or chronic toxicity.

                                 Human Health
     Sufficient  data  is  not available  for  2-chlorophenol  to derive a  level
which would protect against the potential  toxicity of this compound.
     Using  available  organoleptic data,  for controlling undesirable  taste
and  odor  qualities  of ambient  water, the estimated  level  is  0.1 ug/1.   It
should be  recognized  that  organoleptic data  as  a basis for establishing  a
water quality  criterion  have  limitations  and have no  demonstrated  relation-
ship to potential adverse human health effects.
                                      VI

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                                 INTRODUCTION

     2-Chlorophenol is  a  commercially produced chemical used entirely  as  an
intermediate  in  the production  of  other chemicals.   It represents  a  basic
chemical feedstock  in  the manufacture of higher chlorophenols  for  such uses
as  fungicides,  slimicides,   bactericides,   antiseptics,  disinfectants,  and
wood and glue  preservatives.  2-Chlorophenol  is  also  used  to form intermedi-
ates in  the production of phenolic  resins,  and  has been utilized  in  a pro-
cess for extracting sulfur and nitrogen compounds from coal.
     2-Chlorophenol (ortho- or  o-chlorophenol)  is  a  substituted  phenol hav-
ing  the  empirical  formula  CgHcOCl.    It  has  a  molecular  weight of  128.56,
a density of 1.2573 at 25°C,  and a vapor pressure of  1  mm  Hg at 12.1°C (Sax,
1975; Stecher, 1968).   2-Chlorophenol  melts  at 8.7°C and exhibits  a  boiling
point range of 175 to 176°C (Rodd, 1954; Judson and Kilpatrick,  1949).
     The spatial  configuration   and  resonance effect  of 2-chlorophenol  may
suppress the activity  of  the  halogen atom by  hydrogen  bonding,  which partly
accounts  for  the  lower  toxicity  than  the  3- and  4-chlorophenol  isomers
(Huang and Gloyna, 1968).
     In aqueous solution, 2-chlorophenol is  slightly  soluble (1,000 mg/1)  at
25°C and neutral  pH (Henshaw,  1971;  U.S. EPA, 1973).   The  log of  the  octa-
nol/water partition coefficient  for  2-chlorophenol  is 2.16  (U.S.  EPA,  1978).
2-Chlorophenol is weakly  acidic,  possesses  a pKa of  8.48  in water at  25°C,
and  dissociates  in alkaline solutions  (Judson and Kilpatrick,  1949;  Pearce
and  Simpkins,  1968).   Its monovalent  salts,  in particular,  are soluble  in
aqueous solutions, and the degree of  solubility is  pH-dependent.
     Information  concerning the  presence  and  fate  of 2-chlorophenol   is  in-
complete or nonexistent.  However, the generation  of waste  sources from  the
                                     A-l

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commercial  production  of  2-chlorophenol,   its  chemically derived  products,
and  the  inadvertent  synthesis  of  2-chlorophenol   due  to  chlorination  of
phenol  in  effluents and  drinking water  sources,  may  clearly  indicate  its
importance  in  potential  point source  and  non-point  source water  contamina-
tion.
     The  chlorination  of  phenol  from dilute  aqueous  solutions  (Aly,  1968;
Barnhart  and  Campbell,  1972)  and  from  sewage  effluents  (Jolley,  1973;
Jolley, et al.  1975) has  been demonstrated.
     Microbial  degradation of 2-chlorophenol under laboratory  conditions  has
been  reported.   Studies  on  the metabolism  of the  herbicide,  2,4-dichloro-
phenoxyacetic  acid  (2,4-D),   have  demonstrated the  dechlorination and  aro-
matic  ring  degradation  of 2-chlorophenol  by an Arthrobacter  species  (Loos,
et al.  1966).   Nachtigall  and Butler (1974) reported the  complete oxidation
of 2-chlorophenol  by Pseudomonas sp.  isolated from  activated  sludge.
                                     A-2

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                                   REFERENCES

 Aly,  O.M.   1968.  Separation  of phenols  in  waters by  thin-layer  chromato-
 graphy.  Water Res.  2: 587.

 Barnhart,  E.L.  and  G.R.  Campbell.   1972.   The  effect  of  chlorination  on
 selected organic  chemicals.   U.S.  Government  Printing  Office,  Washington,
 D.C.

 Henshaw, T.B.   1971.   Adsorption/filtration  plant  cuts  phenols from  efflu-
 ent.  Chem.  Eng.   78:  47.

 Huang,  J. and E.F. Gloyna.   1968.   Effect  of organic compounds on  photosyn-
 thetic  oxygenations.    I.  Chlorophyll  destruction  and  suppression  of  photo-
 synthetic oxygen  production.  Water  Res.  2: 317.

 Jolley,  R.L.   1973.  Chlorination effects  on  organic  constituents  in efflu-
 ents  from domestic  sanitary sewage  treatment plants.   Ph.D.  dissertation.
 University of Tennessee.

 Jolley,  R.L.,  et  al.    1975.   Chlorination of  cooling  water:  A source  of
 environmentally  significant   chlorine-containing  organic  compounds.   Proc.
 4th Natl. Symp. Radioecology.  Corvallis, Oregon.

Judson, O.M. and  M.  Kilpatrick.  1949.  The effects  of substituents on  the
dissociation constants  of  substituted  phenols.   I.  Experimental  measurements
in  aqueous solutions.   Jour.  Am. Chem.  Soc.   74:  3110.
                                     A-3

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  Loos,  M.A.,  et al.   1966.   Formation of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4-dichloro-
  phenoxyacetate by Arthrobacter sp.  Can. Jour. Microbiol.  13: 691.

  Nachtigall,  M.H.  and  R.G.  Butler.  1974.  Metabolism  of  phenols  and chloro-
  phenols  by  activated  sludge  microorganisms.  Abstr.  Annu.  Meet.  Am.  Soc.
  Microbiol.   74: 184.

  Pearce, P.J. and R.J.J. Simpkins.  1968.   Acid strengths  of  some  substituted
  picric acids.  Can.  Jour.  Chem.   46:  241.

 Rodd, E.H.   1954.  Chemistry of Carbon Compounds.   III-A.  Aromatics.   Else-
 vier Publishing Co.,  Amsterdam.

 Sax, N.I.   1975.  Dangerous  Properties  of  Industrial Materials.   4th ed.
 Van  Nostrand  Reinhold  Co.,  New York.

 Stecher,  P.G. (ed.)    1968.  The  Merck Index.  8th  ed.  Merck  and Co., Rah-
 way,  New  Jersey.

 U.S.  EPA.   1973.   Preliminary environmental  assessment  of chlorinated naph-
 thalenes,  silicones,   fluorocarbons,  benzene  polycarboxylates,  and  chloro-
 phenols.   Syracuse Univ.  Res.  Corp., Syracuse,  New  York.   U.S.  Environ.
Prot. Agency.

U.S.   EPA.   1978.   In-depth studies  on health  and  environmental   impacts  of
selected  water  pollutants.  EPA  Contract  No.  68-010-4646.   U.S.  Environ.
Prot. Agency,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.
                                     A-4

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Aquatic Life Toxicology*

                                 INTRODUCTION

    Most  of the  toxicity data  available  for  2-chlorophenol  have  been  ac-

quired  under  static testing  conditions  without chemical  measurements.   Al-

though  this  compound is  quite  soluble  in  water, one would  expect  some  loss

of the  chemical  through  absorption  by the  animals and  by  the  testing envir-

onment, which  could result in a low  estimate  of toxicity.  Only one chronic

test has been conducted,  and  since  no threshold  level was  attained,  the  data

have limited value.  Although  2-chlorophenol does  not appear to be extremely

toxic to freshwater aquatic  life,  it  has  been  shown to  impair  the  flavor  of

the edible portions of fish at very low concentrations.

    No  data are  available  on  the effects  of  2-chlorophenol   on  saltwater

aquatic life.

                                    EFFECTS

Acute Toxicity

    Ten acute  tests have  been  conducted on four  fish   and  one  invertebrate

species (Table 1).  Of these, only  one was a flow-through  test  with  measured

concentrations.  The  LCgg values  ranged  from  2,580 yg/1  for  Daphnia magna

(U.S.  EPA,  1978)  to  20,170  yg/1  for the  guppy  (Pickering and  Henderson,

1966).   The species  mean  acute values  (in   ug/1)  were  4,380 for  Daphnia

magna,   8,210 for  bluegill,  12,370  for  goldfish,  12,400  for  the  fathead

minnow, and 20,170 for the guppy.
*The reader is referred to the Guidelines for  Deriving  Water  Quality Criter-
ia for the Protection of Aquatic  Life and Its Uses in order to  better under-
stand  the following  discussion  and  recommendation.    The  following  tables
contain the appropriate data  that  were  found in  the  literature,  and  at  the
bottom of each table  are  calculations  for deriving various measures  of  tox-
icity as described in the  Guidelines.


                                     B-l

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    The  96-hour  LC_n  values   for  chlorinated  phenols  and  bluegills  are
directly related  to,the degree of chlorination.  These  values  decrease from
6,590 ug/1 for 2-chlorophenol  and 3,830  ug/1  for 4-chlorophenol  to 60 and 77
ug/1 for pentachlorophenol.
    No acute tests have been conducted with  2-chlorophenol  and  any saltwater
species.
Chronic Toxicity
    One chronic test was conducted with  the  fathead  minnow  (U.S.  EPA, 1978),
but no  adverse  effects were observed  at the  highest  test concentration  of
3,900  ug/1  (Table 2).  There  are no  data  available  on chronic  effects  on
freshwater invertebrate species or on  any saltwater  species.
    Species mean acute and  chronic values are summarized in  Table 3.
Plant Effects
    Only one  test was  conducted  with plants  (Huang and Gloyna,  1967),  and
the effect  level   (500,000  ug/1)  for  a  freshwater  algal   species  indicates
that plants may not be sensitive to 2-chlorophenol  (Table 4).
Residues
    A  bioconcentration  factor  was  found only  for   the  bluegill   (U.S.  EPA,
1978).  The  test  was  conducted  using ^C-2-chlorophenol for  28 days  at  an
exposure  concentration  of   9.2  ug/1,   and   the   factor  dermined  was  214
(Table 5).  The depuration  rate was rapid  with a half-life of  less than  one
day.
Miscellaneous
    As  stated  in  the  introduction, 2-chlorophenol   was  found  to  impair  the
flavor of fishes  at  lower concentrations than  those  at which it had  a  toxic
effect  (Henderson, et  al.  1960; Shumway and Palensky,  1973)  (Table  6).   In
the former study,  bluegills  were exposed for periods of  one to  four weeks to
                                     S-2

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2,000  ug/1  of 2-chlorophenol and  various  concentrations  of a  number  of or-
ganic  nitriles.  A  taste  panel  of twelve members recorded  their  reaction to
the cooked  and coded  fish  samples.   The  only chemical  that  caused a definite
panel  reaction was  2-chlorophenol,  which reaction ranged from  mild  to quite
severe  nausea.   No  attempt was made  to  establish a level  of  exposure which
would  not cause  flavor  impairment.   The  other  experiment  (Shumway and  Palen-
sky, 1973), was  designed  to provide this information.  In  this study, rain-
bow trout were exposed  for  48  hours  to a range of concentrations  of 2-chlo-
rophenol, and a  panel of fifteen  judges  scored  the  flavor of the flesh on an
increasing  impairment  scale  of  0  to  6.   The  results  were  then  plotted
against  exposure concentrations  and  graphically interpreted to arrive  at an
estimate of the  highest concentration which would not  impair  the  flavor of
the flesh.   For  2-chlorophenol,  this  concentration  was  estimated  to be  60
ug/1 in the exposure water.
    The  additional  toxicity data  (Table 6)  do  not  appear to differ  dramat-
ically from the data already discussed.
Summary
    The  LCgQ  values for four  freshwater fish  and  one invertebrate  species
and 2-chlorophenol  range from 2,580 to 20,170 ug/1.  The  chronic  data  are of
little value  since  no threshold  level  was reached.  Flesh-tainting  data  in-
dicate that the  edible  portions  of fishes may  become  tainted  at water  con-
centrations  as low  as 2,000 ug/1.   No data  are available for  any  saltwater
species and  2-chlorophenol.
                                     B-3

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                                   CRITERIA

    The  available  data for  2-chlorophenol  indicate that  acute toxicity  to
freshwater  aauatic  life occurs  at  concentrations  as  low  as 4,380  yg/1  and
would  occur  at lower  concentrations  among species  that are more  sensitive
than those  tested.   No  definitive data are available  concerning the chronic
toxicity of  2-chlorophenol  to sensitive freshwater  aauatic  life but  flavor
impairment occurs  in  one  species of  fish  at  concentrations as  low  as  2,000
ug/1.
    No  saltwater   organisms   have  been  tested  with  2-chlorophenol  and  no
statement can be made concerning acute or chronic toxicity.
                                     B-4

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                                                        Table 1.  Acute values for 2-chlorophenol
CO
 I
CTI
LC50/EC50
Species Method* (|ig/l)
Species Mean
Acute Value
(ug/l) Reference
FRESHWATER SPECIES
Cladoceran, S, U 7,430
Daphnla magna
Cladoceran, S, U 2,580
Daphnla magna
Goldfish, S, U 12,370
Carasslus auratus
Fathead minnow S, U 11,630
Plmephales promelas
Fathead minnow S, U 14,480
Plmephales promelas
Fathead minnow, FT, M 12,400
Plmephales promelas
Guppy S, U 20,170
Poec ilia r et 1 cu 1 ata
Bluegill, S, U 6,590
Lepomis macrochirus
Bluegill, S, U 10,000
Lepomis macrochirus
Bluegill (juvenile), S, U 8,400
Lepomis macrochirus

Kopperman, et at.
1974
4,380 U.S. EPA, 1978
12,370 Pickering &
Henderson, 1966
Pickering i
Henderson, 1966
Pickering &
Henderson, 1966
12,400 Phipps, et at.
Manuscript
20,170 Pickering &
Henderson, 1966.
U.S. EPA, 1978
Pickering i
Henderson, 1966
8,210 Henderson, et al.
1960
                               * S = static,  FT = flow-through, U = unmeasured, M = measured


                                 No Final  Acute Value is calculable since the minimum data requirements  are  not met.

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00
 I
CTl
                                                 Table 2.  Chronic values for 2-chlorophenoI (U.S. EPA, 1978)

                                                                                                Species Mean
                                                                                     Limits     Chronic Value
                                             Species                      Method*    pig/I)        (ug/l)

                                                                    FRESHWATER SPECIES
                                             Fathead minnow,               E-L       >3,900
                                             Plmephales promelas
                                             * E-L = embryo-IarvaI

                                               No acute-chronic ratio  is calculable.

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                                           Table 3.   Species  mean acute and chronic values for 2-chlorophenol
 I
-J
Number
5
4
3
2
1
Spec 1 es
Guppy,
Poecllla reticulata
Fathead minnow,
Plmephales promelas
Goldfish,
Carassius auratus
Bluegll 1 (juvenl le)
Lepomls macrochirus
Cladoceran,
Daphnla inagna
Species Mean Species Mean
Acute Value* Chronic Value
(ug/l) (ug/l)
FRESHWATER SPECIES
20,170
12,400
12,370
8,210
4,380
Acute-Chronic
Ratio"
-
                                * Rank  from high  concentration  to  low concentration by  species mean acute value.


                                **See the Guidelines  for  derivation  of this ratio.

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                                             Table 4.   Plant values for 2-chlorophenol  (Huang & Gloyna, 1967)


                                                                                                   Result
                                                                                   Effect          (ug/l)

                                                                                FRESHWATER SPECIES
 I
oo
                                                Alga,                               Reduction        500,000
                                                Chlorella pyrenoldosa              in chlorophyll
                                                                                   In 72 hrs

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                                                 Table 5.  Residues  for 2-chlorophenoI  (U.S.  EPA,  1978)

                                                                                     BioconcentratIon     Duration
                                                                       Tissue       	Factor	      (days)

                                                                     FRESHWATER  SPECIES
                                        Bluegill,                    Whole  body             214               28
                                        Lepomls macrochlrus
03
 I
>£>

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                                                         Table 6.   Other data for 2-chlorophenol
03
 I
Species
Rainbow trout,
Salmo gairdnerl
Goldfish,
Carassfus auratus
Goldfish,
Carasslus auratus
Fathead minnow,
Plmephales prone las
Bluegl 1 1,
Lepomls macrochlrus
Bluegl 1 1 ( juvenl le),
Lepomls macrochlrus

Duration
48 hrs
8 hrs
24 hrs
192 hrs
1 wk
48 hrs
Effect
FRESHWATER SPECIES
ETC*
42? mortality
LC50
LC50
F 1 a vor I mpa 1 rment
LC50
Result
(ug/l)
60
31,100
16,000
6,340
2,000
8,100
Reference
Shumway & Palensky,
1973
Gersdorff & Smith,
1940
Kobayashl, et al.
1979
Phlpps, et al.
Manuscript
Henderson, et al.
1960
Lammerlng & Bur bank,
1960
                              *ETC = the  highest estimated  concentration of material that will not  impair  the  flavor of
                                flesh of exposed fish.

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                                   REFERENCES

 Gersdorff,  W.A. and L.'E.  Smith.   1940.   Effect of introduction of  the  halo-
 gens into  the  phenol  molecule  on toxicity  to goldfish.   I.  Monochlorophe-
 nols.   Am.  Jour.  Pharmacol.   112:  197.

 Henderson,  C.,  et al.   1960.  The effect of  some  organic cyanides  (nitriles)
 on fish.  Proc.  15th  Ind.  Waste  Conf.,  Purdue Univ.,  Eng. Bull.  Ed.   45:  120.

 Huang,  J. and E.  Gloyna.   1967.   Effects of  toxic organics  of photosynthetic
 reoxygenation.  Environ. Health  Engin. Res.  Lab.   PB  216-729.

 Kobayashi,  «.,  et al.   1979.  Relation  between toxicity and accumulation of
 various chlorophenols in goldfish.  Bull. Japan Soc.  Sci.  Fish.  45:  173.

 Kopperman,  H.L.,  et al.   1974.  Aaueous  chloronation and ozonation  studies.
 I.  Structure-toxicity  correlations of  phenolic compounds to  Daphnia magna.
 Chem. Biol.  Inter.  9: 245.

 Lammering,  M.W. and  N.C.  Burbank.   1960.  The  toxicity  of phenol,  o-chloro-
 phenol  and  o-nitrophenol   to  bluegill  sunfish.  Engin.  Bull.,  Purdue  Univ.
 Engin. Ext.  Serv.   106:  541.

Phipps,  G.L., et  al.   The acute toxicity of phenol  and  substituted phenols
to the fathead minnow.   (Manuscript)
                                     B-ll

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 Pickering,  Q.H.  and C.  Henderson.   1966.   Acute toxicity  of  some important
 petrochemicals to fish.  Jour. Water Pollut. Control Fed.  38: 1419.

 Shumway, D.L. and J.R.  Palensky.   1973.   Impairment of the flavor of fish by
water  pollutants.   U.S. Environ.  Prot.  Agency,  EPA-R3-73-010,  U.S.  Govern-
ment Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

U.S. EPA.   1978.    In-depth  studies  on health and  environmental  impacts  of
selected water pollutants.   U.S.  Environ.  Prot.  Agency, Contract  No.  68-01-
4646.
                                    B-12

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Mammalian Toxicology and Human Health Effects
                                 INTRODUCTION

     The  potential  for  exposure of  man  to  any  synthetic  chemical  exists
through any  of  several modes.   These  modes  include:  1) exposure  of  indus-
trial workers during  synthesis,  formulation,  packaging,  or  transport;  2) ex-
posure  of users  of  the  product at  either   a  commercial  or  retail  level;
3) contact with residues  or  metabolites  of the product  as  a result of using
commodities or environments containing the material;  and 4) contact with the
chemical as a metabolite of some other product.
     To understand the route  of  entry  of a chemical, one must  first examine
the sources and properties of the material.   2-Chlorophenol  is  a commercial-
ly  produced  chemical  used  as an  intermediate  in  the  production   of  other
chemicals, and represents  a  basic  chemical feedstock for the manufacture of
higher chlorophenols.
     Direct  chlorination  of  phenol  leads to  the formation  of both  2- and
4-chlorophenols.  These isomers  can be separated  by  fractional  distillation,
since the  difference  in  their boiling points is  greater than 40°C.  Most of
the commercially used 2-chlorophenol in  the  U.S.  is  recovered as a  byproduct
of the manufacture of 4-chlorophenol by direct chlorination  of  phenol.
     The  chlorination  of  phenol  in  aqueous solutions to  form  2-chlorophenol
and higher  phenols  has been  demonstrated  under  conditions  similar  to  those
used for the disinfection of  wastewater  effluents  and may represent a  source
of  contamination  (Aly, 1968;  Barnhart  and Campbell, 1972).  Since chlorine
and phenol  do  not normally occur  in  stoichiometric amounts, the  concentra-
tions of  2-chlorophenol  actually   produced  in  FLO  are   likely  to   be  lower
than  those found  in  experimental  studies  (Barnhart and  Campbell,  1972).
                                     C-l

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 Higher  levels  of chlorination  become  increasingly less  favored.   2-Chloro-
 phenol  has  been synthesized  from  phenol and  chlorine  at concentrations  as
 low as  10 and 20 mg/1, respectively, within  one  hour  (Barnhart  and Campbell,
 1972).  Other studies have demonstrated  the  formation of  2-chlorophenol  (1.7
 ug/1)  and  numerous  other  chlorinated  compounds during  the  chlorination  of
 sewage  effluents and  power plant  cooling waters  (Jolley,  1973;   Jolley,  et
 al. 1975).
                                    EXPOSURE
 Ingestion from  Water
     2-Chlorophenol  may  exist in  the  aquatic environment  in  the  dissolved
 form,  associated with  suspended matter  and bottom sediments,  and absorbed  in
 biological  tissues.   Metal salts of  this compound have  greater water solu-
 bility,  and  if  introduced or  formed j£  situ  would  exist primarily  in  the
 dissolved  form.   Chlorophenols,  being  weak  acids tend  to ionize,   depending
 upon the pH  of  the system.  They are  almost  completely nonionized  in aqueous
 solutions with  a pH  lower than 5, and become increasingly dissociated as the
 pH  rises (Cserjesi, 1972).
     No  information  could be found  on the amounts  of  2-chlorophenol present
 in  finished water intended for human consumption.
     In  one  study, industrial  waste discharge was  the  principal  point source
of  water pollution.   During  the manufacture  of  chlorophenols and  2,4-D,
there  is chemical waste  generated  as the result of  incomplete reaction  of
the  starting reactants,  by-product formation,  and incomplete  recovery  of
desired  products.  Thus,  the wastes contain  a mixture of chlorophenols  and
other compounds.  Waste arising from the  manufacture of  phenoxyalkanoic  her-
bicides  showed  amounts  of 2-chlorophenol  ranging from a trace  to  6 percent
(Sidwell, 1971)  (Tables 1  and 2) of  the  total  phenols  and chlorophenols.
                                     C-2

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                                                 TABLE 1



                                 Chlorophenols in Industrial  Plant Waste*
0
1
oo




Date
Temp. °C
PH
Chlorophenols (mg/1)
Phenoxy Acids (mg/1)
Total Solids (mg/1)
25 January
12
7.5
68
167
6,960
3 March
18
7.6
118
183
40,100
21 April
21
7.4
125
241
76,320
28 May
28.5
7.4
112
235
104,860
27 August
24
7.0
74
199
11,000
*Source:  Sidwell, 1971

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                                                  TABLE 2



                            Relative Chlorophenol Content of Industrial Waste*
Date
Phenol Type
2-chloro
phenol
2,6-DCP
2,5-DCP
2,4-DCP
2,4,6-TCP
4-chloro
2,4,5-trichloro
25 January
2.9
3.4
9.9
trace
73.6
2.8
2.5
4.7
3 March 21 April 28 May
Percent of Total Phenols Present
6.1
6.2
41.7
6.2
17.9
9.9
12.1
trace
trace
1.7
38.8
1.7
20.0
19.5
18.3
trace
trace
24.8
30.5
trace
11.4
13.3
20.0
trace
27 August
trace
trace
3.0
1.8
89.0
3.4
2.8
trace
*Source:  Si dwell, 1971

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     Other  possible  point sources  are chemical  spills and  the washing  of
containers  or  drums  in which  chlorophenols or  the herbicide  2,4-dichloro-
phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) are stored.
     Contamination of  water  with 2-chlorophenol  may occur by  (1)  chlorina-
tion of phenol present  in natural  water and primary and secondary  effluents
of waste treatment plants  (Burttschell, et  al.  1959; Eisenhauer,  1964;  Barn-
hart and Campbell, 1972),  (2) direct addition of  the chemicals  or as  contam-
inants or  degradation  products  of 2,4-0  used  for  aquatic weed  control,  and
(3) wet and dry atmospheric fallout.
     No direct  data were found to  show  actual  measured  concentrations  of
2-chlorophenol in  water  courses, impoundments, wells,  or  other  human  water
supply sources.
     Based  on the relatively  limited  sources  of water  contamination  by
2-chlorophenol, as  well   as  the  demonstrated decomposition  in  many  aquatic
situations, water  should be a minor  route  of ingestion  of 2-chlorophenol.
     2-Chlorophenol may  be removed  from  water by  several  mechanisms.   One
study  (Ettinger   and   Ruchhoft,  1950)  indicates   that  the  dissipation  of
2-chlorophenol is   largely microbiological.  Persistence appears to  be  short,
but  limnological  factors, such  as oxygen  deficiency,  may delay  degradation
(Aly and  Faust, 1964).   Microorganisms found  in  activated  sludge  and  waste
lagoons have  been demonstrated  to  degrade 2-chlorophenol  rather  readily
(Sidwell,  1971; Nachtigall and Butler,  1974).
     Ettinger and   Ruchhoft (1950) found that low concentrations  (1 mg/1)  of
2-chlorophenol added to a usual dilution of  domestic sewage were  not  removed
during periods of  20 to 30 days, presumably  due  to  the  absence  of microorga-
nisms capable  of  attacking the chemical.   When  a  similar  concentration  was
added to  polluted river  waters, the compound  dissipated in  15 to 23  days.
                                     C-5

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 Addition  of a seed,  consisting  of  water from a previous persistence  experi-
 ment,  increased  significantly the  removal  of  2-chlorophenol.   Apparently,
 the seed  introduced  some organisms  already  adapted to  the  chemical.  This
 study  also  indicated that  the  removal of  monochlorophenols   requires  the
 presence  of  an adapted microflora.
     Ingols,  et  al.  (1966)  obtained  data  indicating  the  dechlorination  of
 2-chlorophenol  and  other monochlorophenols  within three  days of exposure  to
 an  activated sludge system (Table 3).
     Primary   treatment   consists  essentially  of  settling  solids,  after
 screening  off  large materials.  Settling may  not  remove  2-chlorophenol  from
 water, since it is adsorbed poorly on particulate or suspended matter.
     Secondary treatment involves the removal  of  organic matter  from waste
 water  by  biological  processes.   Since 2-chlorophenol  and 2,4-dichlorophenol
 (2,4-DCP)  are  known to  be easily biodegradable, secondary  treatment  should
 provide excellent removal of these chemicals.
     Baird, et al.  (1974),  employing Warburg  respiratory techniques,  demon-
 strated that biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol  at 1 mg/1  in  activated  sludge
 was  complete within  three hours.   Increasing  the  concentration  to  100  mg/1
 considerably reduced  the rate  of respiration  such  that only 20  percent was
 degraded  in  six  hours.   This   is  probably  due  to  microbial  toxicity  from
 2-chlorophenol  at this concentration.   In a  sludge not acclimated with  high
 levels  of  2-chlorophenol,  certain  amounts of the compound  may  be  degraded
 initially, while  oxidative  intermediates that  appear  subsequently  could be
 toxic to  the microbial  population.   This indicates  that  2-chlorophenol may
persist longer, due to direct or  indirect toxic  effects,  if  waste  containing
high levels of  the chemical  is  discharged into  an unacclimated body of  water.
                                     C-6

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                                                           TABLE 3

                               Degradation of Chlorophenols in Acclimated, Activated Sludgea>')
o
Compound
2-chlorophenol
3-chlorophenol
4-chlorophenol
2,4-DCP
2,5-DCP
2,4,6-TCP
NaPCP
Dichloroquinone
2,5-DCP benzoquinone
Amount of
of
%
100
100
100
100
52
100
0
100
30
ring degradation
compound
days
3
2
3
5
4
3
4
1
1
Development
%
100
100
100
100
16
75
0
50
0
of Chloride Ion
days
4
3
3
5
4
3
4
3
1
        aSource:  Modified from Ingols, et al. 1966
        bConcentration of 100 mg/1

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      While  a number of studies  indicate  rapid dissipation of 2-chlorophenol
 from waters  by several mechanisms, human  exposure  cannot be fully evaluated
 unless  studies  are conducted measuring the  2-chlorophenol  content in waters
 receiving  wastes  from  point  sources  of  chlorophenols  or  their precursors.
 Evidence of  such studies was not found.
 Ingestion from  Food
      Contamination  of  human foods with 2-chlorophenol  could  occur via soil,
 plants,  animals,  or  aquatic  sources.   In all  cases,  any  contamination  is
 probably  indirect  and  primarily a  result  of the use  and subsequent metabo-
 lism of phenoxyalkanoic herbicides.
      In 1971, U.S.  farmers  applied  almost  16,000,000 kg of 2,4-0, represent-
 ing  15  percent  of all  organic  herbicide  usage [U.S. Department of Agricul-
 ture  (USDA), 1974].
      Although 2-chlorophenol  appears  to  be short-lived  in soils,  the  data
 are  inconclusive,  and  factors  affecting its persistence  need  further  study.
 However, microbial  degradation  is  the apparent  major  route  of dissipation
 for  chlorophenols in soils.  For 2,4-OCP,  which  is  more  likely  to  reach  the
 soil  system  as  a  contaminant  and degradation product of  2,4-D,  its degrada-
 tion  under field  conditions  could  be faster  than degradation of  the  herbi-
 cide  itself.   The  role  of microorganisms  in the  degradation of  2,4-D  has
 been  conclusively demonstrated  (Loos,  1975),  and under favorable conditions
 2,4-D disappears from  soils  in  about  30 days  (Kearney, et  al.  1969).   Warm,
moist, well-aerated soils with ample organic matter  content  promote the  pro-
 liferation of microorganisms known  to metabolize 2,4-D.   One of  the  chemi-
cals  in  the  metabolic pathway  may be  2-chlorophenol.    Limited  information
 indicates  the  biodegradability of  2-chlorophenol  (Walker,  1954;  Baird,  et
al.  1974).   Several  genera of  bacteria isolated from  soil  are capable  of
                                     C-8

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 metabolizing  2-chlorophenol.    Pseudomonas  sp., Nocardia  sp., Mycobacterium
 coeliacum,  and Bacillus  sp.  were demonstrated to  oxidize  2-chlorophenol to
 3-chlorocatechol  (Spokes  and  Walker,  1974).   The fate of the catechol inter-
 mediate  was  elucidated  in a study by Evans, et  al.  (1971)  of the metabolism
 of  2,4-0 by  Pseudomonas  sp.   Using 2,4-D as  sole  carbon  source  for Pseudo-
 monas  strains isolated  from soil, the  herbicide was  metabolized  to 2,4-OCP,
 2-chlorophenol,  3,5-dichlorocatechol,   and a-chloromuconate,  which  was  fur-
 ther  metabolized  to  release  Cl" and unidentified  metabolites.   The appear-
 ance  in  culture of  2-chlorophenol  suggests  the nonoxidative  elimination of
 chlorine  from  2,4-OCP   or,   possibly,  2,4-0  itself.   The  accumulation  of
m-chloromuconate  is  probably  a  further  manifestation  of  this  phenomenon,
 since  it  is  likely  formed by  enzymatic  cleavage of 3-chlorocatechol, derived
 from either 2-chlorophenol or 3,5-dichlorocatechol.
     It  is  probable  that the  sorption  behavior of  2-chlorophenol  is similar
 to  2,4-0.   In natural soil systems, sorption  may  not be extensive, thereby
 favoring downward movement in  soil with  water.
     The persistence  of 2-chlorophenol  in soils was studied by Walker (1954)
 using  the percolation technique.  Solutions of 2-chlorophenol  (1.0 g/4  1  tap
water) were allowed  to  percolate through 100  g  of  a  Rothamsted  soil  (light
clay with a  pH  of 6.8), and the  disappearance  of the  initial  and  subsequent
doses was measured.   Two-thirds  of  the  initial dose disappeared in  10  days.
Disappearance of subsequent doses occurred approximately twice  as  rapidly as
that of  the first dose,  suggesting microbial  participation.   Further evi-
dence of microbial decomposition  was  indicated by  the more rapid  disappear-
ance of 2-chlorophenol in fresh than in  sterilized soil within  seven  days  of
percolation.
                                     C-9

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     Furthermore,  the  participation of  soil  microorganisms in  the  dissipa-
tion of  2-chlorophenol and other  chlorophenols was  reported by Alexander and
Aleem  (1961)  using suspensions of  two  silt  loam soils.   Metabolism  of the
chemicals was evidenced by more rapid  disappearance  of  incremental  additions
of  the  compounds than  initial enrichments.  Also,  inhibition  of degradation
occurred on addition of  sodium azide,  a toxic agent.   2-Chlorophenol  disap-
peared rapidly  in  suspensions of Dunkirk  and  Mardin silt  loams;  disappear-
ance was faster for the latter soil.
     No  information  was  found on the  uptake,  absorption,  and  translocation
of  2-chlorophenol  by  plants.   The  movement  of   2-chlorophenol  can  only  be
inferred from  the  few available  studies of 2,4-DCP  in  plants and from the
potential for  2-chlorophenol  to  occur  as  a  metabolic  intermediate   in  the
degradation of 2,4-0.
     The metabolism  of 2-chlorophenol  in vascular  plants  is not well  stud-
ied.  The only  available  report  demonstrated  that 2-chlorophenol may  be in-
activated by glycoside formation  in plant  tissue.  It has  been  demonstrated
that when certain  nonnaturally occurring chemicals  are  absorbed by  various
plants, glycoside formation takes place with the  foreign chemical  serving  as
the aglycon.  Miller (1941)  demonstrated that  the metabolic fate of  2-chlo-
rophenol  in  tomato plants included glycoside  formation.   s-o->chlorophenyl -
gentiobioside  (a glycoside of  2-chlorophenol)  was isolated  from  the roots  of
these tomato  plants.   No  evidence  for  the  formation of  this glycoside  in
shoots was found.  The fate  of this metabolic product  of  2-chlorophenol  in
plants is not  known and warrants further  investigation.
     Domestic  animals,  including poultry, could ingest feeds containing  pes-
ticides  or  drink  water  contaminated  directly  with  2-chlorophenol   and
2,4-DCP.   Although  some studies indicate the  appearance  and distribution  of
                                     C-10

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                                                           fn)
2,4-OCP in tissues  of  animals fed with  2,4-0 and Nemacide0' [0-(2,4-dichlo-
rophenol)-0,0-diethylphosphorothioate]  (Clark, et  al.  1975;  Sherman, et  al.
1972), in none of  the  studies was there evidence  cited  to indicate  residues
of 2-chlorophenol.  Furthermore,  Bjerke, et  al.  (1972) reported no  contami-
nation of milk and cream from cows given  a  2,4-0  (100 to  1,000 mg/kg) diet.
     A bioconcentration factor (BCF) relates  the concentration  of  a  chemical
in aquatic  animals to  the  concentration  in  the water  in  which  they  live.
The steady-state BCF for  a  lipid-soluble compound  in the tissues  of various
aquatic animals seems to  be  proportional to  the  percent  lipid in the tissue.
Thus, the per capita ingestion  of a lipid-soluble chemical  can  be estimated
from  the  per  capita consumption  of fish and  shellfish,  the  weighted average
percent  lipids  of consumed  fish  and  shellfish,  and  a steady-state  BCF  for
the chemical.
      Data  from  a  recent survey  on fish  and shellfish  consumption in  the
United  States  were analyzed  by  SRI International  (U.S. EPA,  1980).   These
data  were used to  estimate  that  the  per  capita consumption  of freshwater and
estuarine  fish  and shellfish  in  the  United  States  is  6.5  g/day  (Stephan,
1980).   In  addition,  these  data  were  used with data  on the  fat  content of
the edible portion  of the same species to  estimate that  the  weighted average
percent  lipids  for consumed  freshwater  and estuarine  fish  and  shellfish
is 3.0.
      A measured steady-state bioconcentration factor of  214  was obtained for
2-chlorophenol, using bluegills containing about  1 percent  lipids  (U.S. EPA,
1978).   An  adjustment   factor  of 3.0/4.8 = 0.625  can  be used  to  adjust the
measured  BCF  from  the  3.0 percent lipids of   the bluegill to the 2.3 percent
lipids that  is  the weighted average for consumed  fish and  shellfish.  Thus,
                                     C-ll

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 the weighted average bioconcentration factor  for  2-chlorophenol  and  the edi-
 ble portion  of all  freshwater  and estuarine  aquatic  organisms consumed  by
 Americans is calculated to be 214 x 0.625 = 134.
 Inhalation
      The dispersal and  distribution  of  2-chlorophenol  in air has  apparently
 not been studied.   One  potential  source  of  environmental   pollution  by
 2-chlorophenol,  however,  is  the  manufacture of 2,4-D herbicides.  Secondly,
 since  2-chlorophenol  is volatile (1 mm  Hg at 12°C), any 2-chlorophenol  gen-
 erated  as a decomposition product  of  applied 2,4-0 could be subject to  gen-
 eral  environmental dispersal.  A third   possibility  for  inhalation  exposure
 could  be  the  burning of  containers,  trash, or  plant  material   contaminated
 with  2-chlorophenol.   No data addressing  the  monitoring  of  air  or workplace
 environments  for  2-chlorophenol  have  been  found.   Therefore,  the potential
 sources  for  human  exposure through  inhalation remain speculative.
     Because  of the volatility of  2-chlorophenol  and  the processes employed
 in  its  manufacture,  the  most  probable  source  of  inhalation   exposure to
 2-chlorophenol  would  occur in manufacturing  plants  producing 2-chlorophenol
 or  possibly  2,4-0.  The  separation  of  2-chlorophenol  from 2,4-dichlorophenol
 involves  fractional  distillation which,  if not  done  with  regard  to worker
 safety,  could  result  in exposure by inhalation.   The  potential  for airborne
 exposure  to  2-chlorophenol  in the  general  environment as a  result of  point
 source pollution has not been reported.
     Although  inhalation  exposure to 2-chlorophenol associated  with  related
 products  in  general  use  (e.g.,  2,4-D herbicide)  does not  seem likely,  no
 data to   verify  atmospheric  2-chlorophenol  presence or  absence under  such
conditions have been found.  Potential for  such exposure  seems quite  low for
several   reasons.   First,  the  principal   general  environmental  source  of
                                     C-12

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2-chlorophenol would  be  2,4-D  or its decomposition products.  Since there  is
little  evidence  of  2-chlorophenol   occurring  as   a  permanent soil  or plant
metabolite  of  2,4-D,  the amount available  to  be  volatilized would be either
limited  or  absent.   Secondly,  any  2-chlorophenol which  might be  formed  in
soil or  water  is rapidly degraded  by microorganisms  (see Ingestion section),
while 2-chlorophenol  in  plants is inactivated as a glycoside  (Miller, 1941).
     A  third  potential  route  of exposure, the burning  of chlorophenol-con-
taining  products,  has not been studied.   Incineration of  phenoxy herbicides
should  be  accompanied by  investigations  of potential formation  and/or  dis-
persal of 2-chlorophenol, as well as other chlorophenols.
     Direct studies  of  potential or actual exposure to  2-chlorophenol  have
not  been found.   However,  after considering the  nature of  the  production,
uses, and persistence of 2-chlorophenol,   inhalation exposure  of  the  general
population  does  not  seem a  significant  threat,  except for  specific  occupa-
tional  settings  in cases of large  accidental spills.  A  recent  case  involv-
ing  potential  exposure of  the  general  population to  2-chlorophenol   is  in-
cluded here  for reference purposes.
     On   January  11,  1979,  a chemical spill  occurred at  Sturgeon,  Missouri,
as a result  of a train derailment.   Ortho-chlorophenol and phenol  were major
components  of  the spilled material.  As a  result,  U.S. Environmental  Protec-
tion Agency personnel  were  asked  to supervise the  clean-up  of  the  spill.
                                    C-13

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 Values  of ortho-chlorophenol determined by  the  U.S.  EPA (Fairless, 1979)  at

 several  dates  after  the  spill  are  as  follows:


             Date of Collection          2-Chlorophenol  Concentration
             	1979	          	in Air  (ppm)	

                 January 11                        0.013
                 January 11                        0.004
                 January 11                        0.190

                 January 29                       <0.0005
                 January 29                       <0.0005
                 January 29                       <0.0005

                 March 6                          <0.0003
                 March 6                          <0.0003
                 March 6                          <0.0003
                 March 6                           0.0029


Analyses  for 2-chlorophenol  were made from  the  urine  of several  individuals

working  or  residing  in Sturgeon,  Missouri,  within  several months  after the

spill.   Results  of  those analyses  conducted for the American  Public  Health

Association (1979)  are as follows:

1.   Four  adult  males  assisting  in  clean-up operations  at the  spill
     site  had  a mean  2-chlorophenol   urine  concentration  of  1.98  ppm
     (range 1.4 - 2.6) on March  7,  1979.   By April  11,  1979, when  these
     same  four  individuals  were again  sampled,   all  had no detectable
     amount  of 2-chlorophenol  in   their  urine,   (detection limit  0.25
     ppm).

2.   Nine persons residing  in  Sturgeon,  Missouri within 40 to  200  feet
     of  the  spill site all  had  no detectable amount of 2-chlorophenol
     in their urine  when sampled on April  11,  1979.  These  nine persons
     had no history  of  direct  contact with  2-chlorophenol  at the  spill
     site and did not  assist  in  clean-up operations.  The  only  obvious
     source of exposure  to  2-chlorophenol  would  have  been via  inhala-
     tion of chlorophenol  from  the  atmosphere in  Sturgeon.

     It  should  be  noted  that  even   though extremely  low  levels of
     2-chlorophenol were measured by the U.S. EPA, a noticeable odor of
     chlorophenols  could  be  detected  for  several   months after   the
     spill.  Thus,  organoleptic detection of chlorophenols  is possible,
     even when  measurable  levels  in air  or  urine  cannot  be  found.
                                    C-14

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Dermal
     2-Chlorophenol dermal  absorption  data have  not  been found.   Since  the
compound is lipid soluble and likely to be  poorly ionized  at  an  environment-
al  pH  (Farquharson,  et al.  1958),  it  could be readily absorbed  through  in-
tact skin.  Dermal absorption and resultant body burdon merit  study.
     As  indicated  for  inhalation exposure, the only  potentially  significant
dermal exposure to 2-chlorophenol would occur  in  the  manufacture  of handling
of  2-chlorophenol or products which contain it.   Ordinary  and  accepted  meth-
ods  of  skin  protection  would be  expected to  prevent dermanl  exposure  to
2-chlorophenol.  Dermal exposure  to 2-chlorophenol from other sources  (soil
water, plant metabolites of 2,4-D)  is considered  to be  insignificant  for  the
same reasons as stated  in  the section  on inhalation.
                               PHARMACOKINETICS
Absorption
     Direct data on the absorption  of  2-chlorophenol  by man or  experimental
animals  have  not  been  found.  Chlorophenol compounds  are generally  consid-
ered readily absorbed,  as would be  expected from  their  high  lipid  solubility
and  low  degree of ionization at  physiological  pH (Doedens, 1963;  Farquhar-
son, et  al.  1958).   Although skin  irritation  and dermal  absorption  are  re-
ported as characteristic of monochlorophenols, direct quantitative  data con-
cerning the irritant potential of  2-chlorophenol  have not been found.  Tox-
icity studies to be discussed later indicate  that 2-chlorophenol can be  ab-
sorbed and can result in toxicosis; however, quantitative data for  2-chloro-
phenol absorption by  various routes  have not been  found.
     2-Chlorophenol may occur in  mammals as a metabolite of other  compounds.
Exposure  of   rabbits  to  chlorobenzene   has resulted  in  the formation   of
2-chlorophenol  (Lindsay-Smith, et  al. 1972).
                                     C-15

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      In  addition,  Selander,  et al.  (1975) reported the conversion of chloro-
 benzene  to a mixture of monochlorophenols  in  perfused rat liver.  Apparent-
 ly,  three different enzyme  systems catalyze  the  conversion of chlorobenzene
 to  2-, 3-, and  4-chlorophenols.
      Investigation  of  2,4-D metabolism  in  mammals (Clark, et  al.  1975)  has
 not  indicated  2-chlorophenol  to  be  a  metabolite of  such  exposure,  while
 2,4-OCP  is considered the major metabolite.
 Distribution
      Direct  information  about  the  distribution and transportation of 2-chlo-
 rophenol  is  not available.   However,  at least two  reports  (Spencer  and Wil-
 liams, 1950;  von Oettingen,  1949) on  the rabbit  and dog,  respectively,  indi-
 cate  urinary  excretion of 2-chlorophenol.   Furthermore, since metabolites  of
 2-chlorophenols  are  identified as  glucuronide and  sulfate  conjugates,  it  is
 possible  that  the  liver  might  contain  proportionally  large  amounts   of
 2-chlorophenol.  Two reports  concerning lesions  induced by 2-chlorophenol
 (Patty,  1963;  Bubnov,  et al.  1969)  indicate  changes in  liver  and  kidney,
 thus  visually confirming the renal  and  hepatic distribution.   No  information
 concerning hepatic excretion or any indication of  an  enterohepatic cycle was
 found.   While  compounds  of  high  lipophilia  (which would include 2-chloro-
 phenol) are often considered to accumulate in  adipose  tissue, no  information
 to  this  effect was  found  for  2-chlorophenol.  In  fact,  related compounds
 (2,4-dichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) are considered to  have relatively
 short half-lives (Clark, et  al.  1975; Osweiler,  et al. 1977).  Whether this
 is true  for  2-chlorophenol  remains  to  be  established.  Since  animals  dosed
with  2-chlorophenol  display  convulsive  activity  within  several  minutes  of
exposure   (Farquharson,  et al.  1958; Angel  and Rogers, 1972),  it  can be as-
sumed that the compound traverses the blood brain  barrier  and is  distributed
                                     C-16

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in part in the central nervous  system.   The  concentrations  of  2-chlorophenol
in brain  and  other organs or  tissues  during toxicosis  remain  to be  deter-
mined.
Metabolism
     The metabolism of 2-chlorophenol  in man is not known.   n  experimental
animals, von Oettingen (1949)  cites  work by Karpow (1893)  showing that  dogs
excreted  87  percent of  administered  2-chlorophenol  as conjugates with  sul-
fate  and  glucuronic acid.  The rabbit  also  apparently conjugates 2-chloro-
phenol  derived  from chlorobenzene exposure  (Lindsay-Smith,  et  al. 1972)  by
formation  of  sulfate  and glucuronide  conjugates.   However,  2-chlorophenol
was  reported  as  only a minor  metabolite  of  chlorobenzene in  the  rabbit
(Lindsay-Smith,  et  al.  1972).  Furthermore,  only a  small portion  of  the
chlorophenols formed were monochlorophenols,  and  less  than 6 percent  of  the
free and metabolized chlorophenols was the 2-chlorophenol  isomer.
     Selander, et al.  (1975) demonstrated  that  chlorobenzene is  converted  to
o-, m-, and p-chlorophenols in  perfused  rat  livers,  as well as  by noncellu-
lar systems including  microsomes,  post  mitochondrial supernatant,  and  recon-
stituted  soluble  hemoprotein-monooxygenase  systems.   Pretreatment  with  the
inducing  agents 3-methylcholanthrene  and phenobarbital increased the  forma-
tion  of  chlorophenols,  while  carbon  monoxide  and   SKF  525A^  (e-diethyl-
aminoethyl diphenylpropylacetate)  inhibited formation of o-, m-,  and  p-chlo-
rophenols.  The  approximate j_n vivo  ratios for  formation of  o-,  m-,  and
p-chlorophenol were 1:2:4,  respectively.  Thus, formation  of  2-chlorophenol
via metabolism of chlorobenzene does not  appear to be  a  significant or major
route of  exposure.  While it  is possible  that  2-chlorophenol  could  form  in
man or  animals  as  a   result of exposure  to phenoxyacetic acid  herbicides,
there  are no data  to  support this  conjecture.   In  fact,  Clark,   et  al.
                                     C-17

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(1975),  in  studies of  the metabolism  of phenoxy  herbicides,  reported  the
major metabolite  to  be 2,4-OCP  and  did not  mention  detection of  2-chloro-
phenol.
     Based on  experimental  work  in  two species  (dogs  and rabbits),  it  ap-
pears that mammalian metabolism  of 2-chlorophenol follows  the  expected route
for  phenol  metabolism  (i.e.,  formation  of  conjugates  of glucuronides  and
sulfates, with detection of these metabolites  primarily in the  urine).
Excretion
     Studies of  the  excretion  route or  rate  for 2-chlorophenol  in  man  were
not found.  As mentioned  before, von Oettingen  (1949)  reviewed the  data  of
Karpow (1893), in which dogs given 2-chlorophenol excreted 87  percent of the
compound in urine as sulfate and  glucuronide  conjugates.   However,  data  were
not developed from which  the  rate of excretion  or  half-life could  be calcu-
lated.  Lindsay-Smith,  et al.  (1972) identified  phenolic  metabolites  in  rab-
bit urine after administration of chlorobenzene.  Of  the  free  and conjugated
forms of chlorophenols  in  rabbit urine, less  than  6  percent was present  as
2-chlorophenol.
     No  data  have been found  concerning measurement  of  tissue  residues  of
2-chlorophenol,   either  from  direct  administration  or   by formation  as  a
metabolite of other compounds, nor have  sufficient  data  accumulated  to allow
calculation of a half-life for  2-chlorophenol.
                                   EFFECTS
Acute, Subacute,  and Chronic Toxicity
     The acute toxicity of 2-chlorophenol has  been studied in a variety  of
organisms.  The compound is considered to be  an  uncoupler of oxidative phos-
phorylation (Mitsuda, et  al.  1963)  and  a convulsant  poison (Farquharson,  et
al. 1958;  Angel  and  Rogers, 1972).   No reports of  the  subacute or  chronic
                                     C-18

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 toxicity of 2-chlorophenol have  been  found.   This represents  a  serious  data
 gap in the toxicologic evaluation of 2-chlorophenol.
      Mammalian toxicity of 2-chlorophenol  has  not been well  studied.   There
 are no  reports of  human  or  domestic animal  toxicoses  from accidental  or
 intentional  exposure  to  2-chlorophenol.   Furthermore,  there   is no  evidence
 linking 2-chlorophenol exposure  in  industrial  workers  to  the chloracne,  an
 effect often  associated  with higher  chlorophenols  (Huff  and  Wassom,  1974),
 nor is there evidence to  suggest that the toxic dioxins are contaminants  of,
 or  are formed  from,  2-chlorophenol.
      Doedens (1963)  briefly  characterized  the  toxicity of 2-chlorophenol  as
 being  "likely" to be  corrosive  and irritating  to  the  eyes  and  skin.  How-
 ever,  specific data on the  effects  of  2-chlorophenol were  not  presented.
 The data from relatively few  acute  toxicological  studies  in  laboratory ani-
 mals  are  the  only  ones from which an  evaluation  of  2-chlorophenol  can  be
 made  (Table  4).  It  may be seen  by inspection of Table 4 that  the  subcutane-
 ous minimum  lethal dose  (MLD) of 2-chlorophenol  in the rabbit  (950 mg/kg)  is
 approximately  8 times  that  of the intravenous MLD,  implying  that the subcu-
 taneous  route  retards  bioavailability  of 2-chlorophenol.  At a physiological
 pH  of  7.4,  however,  2-chlorophenol  is approximately only  5  percent  ionized
 (Farquharson,  et  al.  1958);  such a low  degree  of ionization  would  not ac-
 count for this lessening of toxicity by the subcutaneous route.
     The  LD5Q  data  in Table  4  indicate that  2-chlorophenol   is more  toxic
by  the oral  than  the  subcutaneous  route.   At  relatively  acidic  pH  (e.g.,
stomach),  the  pKa  of  2-chlorophenol (8.65) would  allow for a highly union-
ized state,  which  is conducive to ready  absorption  from the  stomach  or  the
less acidic  upper  intestine.   This  effect  could  explain  the greater  oral
toxicity of 2-chlorophenol.
                                     C-19

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                                           TABLE 4



                   Lethal Doses of 2-Chlorophenol for Experimental Animals
Animal
Rat
Rat
Albino rat
Rabbit
i
INJ
0
Rabbit
Mouse
Guinea pig
Blue fox
Unknown mammal
Route of Administration
Oral
Subcutaneous
Intraperitoneal
Subcutaneous
Intravenous
Oral
Subcutaneous
Oral
Oral
LD50
(mg/kg)
670
950
2303
950
1203
670
8003
440
440
Source
Deichmann, 1943
Deichmann, 1943
Farquharson, et al .
1958
Christensen and
Luginbyhl, 1975
Kuroda, 1926,
cited in
von Oettingen,
1949
Bubnov, et al . 1969
Christensen and
Luginbyhl, 1975
Bubnov, et al . 1969
Christensen and
Luginbyhl, 1975
aMLD (minimum lethal  dose)  values

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      Among the various species tested by the same route,  there  is  a  surpris-
 ing similarity  among  acute toxicities.  This  would  imply  that initial  ab-
 sorption,  metabolism,  detoxification,  and  affected  organs are quite  similar
 among  various  species.    It  would  be  expected  then that  chronic  toxicity
 would  vary according to ability  of  a species to metabolize,  inactivate,  and
 excrete  2-chlorophenol  on  a long term basis.  Unfortunately,  studies  of  long
 term or  chronic  effects  have not  been reported.
      Signs  of 2-chlorophenol  intoxication  in rats are  similar,  whether  the
 compound  is administered  subcutaneously, intraperitoneally,  or  orally.   The
 toxicological  picture  includes restlessness  and increased rate  of respira-
 tion within a few miniutes  following  administration.  Somewhat  later, motor
 weakness  develops,   and  tremors  and  convulsions induced  by  noise  or touch
 occur.   Eventually,  dyspnea and  the  appearance of coma  result  and continue
 until  death (Farquharson,  et al. 1958).  Following  fatal  poisoning,   lesions
 in  the rat include  marked kidney injury, red  blood  cell casts  in  the tub-
 ules,  fatty  infiltration  of  the liver, and hemorrhages  in the  intestine
 (Patty,  1963).   Bubnov,  et al. (1969) report a  similar  pathological   picture
 in  the blue  fox and  the  mouse.  At  lethal concentrations,  2-chlorophenol
 caused fatty degeneration  of the  liver,  renal  granular dystrophy,  and necro-
 sis  of the  stomach  and intestinal mucosa.   These  signs  are very  similar to
 acute phenol toxicosis  (Patty,  1963).
     The convulsive  action of  2-chlorophenol  in mice was studied by Angel
 and  Rogers  (1972).   Following  intraperitoneal   administration of  2-chloro-
 phenol, a rapid  onset  of convulsions was noted.  A  simple exponential decay
of the convulsive effect was noted,  which the authors speculated  could  have
been a result  of removal  from  the central  nervous  system (CNS)  by a  simple
chemical  reaction.   However, no  information  directly addressing this  point
is available.
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      Farquharson,  et  al,  (1958) state that  as  phenol  is progressively chlo-
 rinated,  the molar  toxicity  shows  a  tendency to increase when pK value falls
 below 7.   Furthermore,  convulsions  are. the  most characteristic  effect of
 chlorophenols with  pK values of 8.65  or  higher.   Thus,  it may  be  that  con-
 vulsions  are  in some way associated with  undissociated  molecules.   No stud-
 ies were  found  which  attempted  to  evaluate the passage of chlorophenols  with
 different pK values across the blood-brain barrier.
 Synergism and/or Antagonism
      Reports  of studies  directly  assessing  the  synergism or  antagonism of
 2-chlorophenol  by other compounds  were not  found.   Since 2-chlorophenol  is a
 weak  uncoupler  of oxidative phosphorylation  (Mitsuda,  et al.  1963),  it  may
 be expected that  concomitant exposure  to  other uncouplers (e.g. pentachloro-
 phenol,  dinitrophenol)  would enhance that effect.  In  addition,  exposure to
 chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, with  their  characteristic  convulsant
 activity, might also produce a magnified response.
      Any  agent  causing liver damage  sufficient to decrease  the  conjugation
 of  2-chlorophenol  with glucuronide  or sulfate could  conceivably  alter  the
 excretion  and/or  toxicity of  the parent  compound.  However,  there  are no
 specific studies  to  reflect  such  an effect,  it is  only  speculative that  the
 general  tendency  of conjugation to  render  a  compound  less  toxic  and  more
 amenable to excretion would also operate in the case of 2-chlorophenol.
 Teratogenicity and Mutagenicity
      Pertinent  data  could not  be  located in  the  available  literature  con-
 cerning the teratogenicity and  mutagenicity of 2-chlorophenol.
 Carcinogenicity
      The report of  Boutwell  and Bosch  (1959)  is the only one  found dealing
with  the  tumorigenicity of 2-chlorophenol,   Repeated  application  of  phenol
                                     C-22

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 and  some  substituted  phenols  has  been  reported to  promote  skin  tumors  in
 mice after  a  single  initiating dose of dimethylbenzanthracene  (DMBA).   Pap-
 illomas have  developed  in  mice  treated  with phenol  alone  (not exposed  to
 DMBA).   In  the studies  of  Boutwell and  Bosch  (1959),  two  trials  included
 evaluation of  2-chlorophenol.   In  one  of  these,  25 \i1 of a 20  percent  solu-
 tion of 2-chlorophenol  was applied twice weekly to female Sutter mice two  to
 three months  of  age  for  15  weeks.   This  application followed  an  initiating
 dose of 0.3 percent  DMBA in benzene.  Tumorigenic  response  was measured  as
 fo11ows:
      (1)   The  percentage of surviving mice bearing one or more  papillo-
           mas  was  ascertained.
      (2)   The   total  number  of papillomas  on all  surviving mice was
           counted  and  divided  by  the  number  of^urvivors to  give the
           average  number of  papillomas  per mouse.
      (3)   The  number  of mice  bearing malignant  tumors was determined.
      Results  of  the  promoter  trial  with 2-chlorophenol  are  presented   in
 Table 5.   Related promoter experiments with  phenol,  as well  as the benzene
 control,  are  included  for  comparative purposes.   Based  on  the  data,  the
 authors concluded  that  the  promoting  activity of 2-chlorophenol  is similar
 to that of phenol.
      In a  second  experiment,  Boutwell and  Bosch  (1959)  administered  in  a
 similar manner  20 percent 2-chlorophenol  in  dioxane, but for  12 weeks  and
 without an  initiator.   Results  of  this  trial  are also included  in  Table  5.
 In both trials, 2-chlorophenol  was associated  with a high incidence  of  pap-
 illomas.   When  DMBA was  used  as an initiator, 10 percent  of the  survivors
developed  carcinoma at  the skin site of application; however when  2-chloro-
phenol alone was used, no carcinogenic  response was observed.
     Since  the  study  was  designed  primarily  to  detect  promoting  activity,
the  effect  of  2-chlorophenol as a primary carcinogen  is  not well  defined.
                                     C-23

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                                                                    TABLE  5

                                Appearance  of  Skin Tumors  in Mice  Treated  Cutaneously with  Phenols  following  a
                                       Cutaneous Dose of 0.3X  Dimethylbenzanthracene  (DMBA)  in Acetone  a
Treatments'*
Benzene control
10% phenol in
benzene. No DMBA.
^itX phenol in
acetone.
20% phenol in
benzene.
20% 2-chlorophenol
in benzene.
20% ?-chlorophenol
in dioxane. No DMBA.
Time Animals
Examine
(weeks)
12
20
12
24
15
12
No. of mice
(survivors/total )
12/12
24/30
21/24
10/33
31/35
28/30
Survivors
with Papillomas
0
33
56
100
61
46
Average
Papillomas
per Survivor
0
0.62
_
3.20
1.48
0.64
Survivors with
Epithelial Carcinomas
*
0
1 t
5
20
10
0
aSource:  Modified from Boutwell and Bosch,  1959
^All received DMBA except where stated

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 The  study  uses  dermal  applications  of a phenolic compound at 20 percent con-
 centration  in  organic  solvents.  The concentration  is  high  enough that hair
 follicles  and  sebaceous  glands  are  destroyed,  and the papillomatous response
 observed may have developed  in  response to chemical  and/or  physical  damage
 from  application  of an  irritant  compound.   Even with  this  harsh  treatment,
 no malignant neoplasia  were observed, except when  DMBA had been  used  as  an
 initiator.   The only neoplasia observed  were  at the site of  the  direct ap-
 plication.   This  study  does  not  evaluate  systemic  carcinogenesis, and  the
 route of administration  is  not  appropriate  to  the prescribed  models for car-
 cinogenic  risk assessment.   The route  of  administration  (dermal)  has  no
 established  relationship to oral exposure.
     Odor and taste  thresholds  for  2-chlorophenol  in water have been  report-
 ed by a number  of  investigators.  Hoak  (1957)  reported the odor threshold  of
 phenol and 19 phenolic compounds.   In this  study conducted at  the  Mellon In-
 stitute in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  a  panel of  two  or four  persons  sniffed
 samples of pure phenolic compounds  in odor-free  water,  which  had  been  heated
 to 30  or  60°C.  A flask of plain odor-free water was  provided for compari-
 son.  The various  samples  were  placed in random order before the  test  per-
 sons, and the flask  with the  lowest perceptible  odor was noted by  each  indi-
 vidual sniffer.  The lowest concentration  detected was considered  to be the
 threshold of the  chemicals  tested; chlorinated  phenols  were the  compounds
most easily  detected.  The  odor thresholds  reported for  2-chlorophenol  were
 0.33 ug/1 at 30°C and  2.5  wg/l at  60°C (Hoak,  1957).  Hoak speculated  that
odor should  be  expected  to  become more  noticeable as  temperature  increases;
however,  in  evaluating  a series of chlorophenols  and cresols, it  was  found
that some compounds  had  higher odor  thresholds  at  30°C,  while others  were
higher at  60°C.
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     Burttschell, et  al  (1959) made  dilutions  of 2-chlorophenol in  carbon-
filtered tap water and used  a  panel of  from  four to six persons  to  evaluate
odor and  taste.   Tests were carried  out  at  room temperature, which  the  in-
vestigator estimated to be 25°C.  If  a  panel member's  response was  doubtful,
the sample was considered negative.   The  geometric mean  (2  u9/l  for  odor  and
   yg/1  for  taste)  of  the  panel  responses  was  used as  the  organoleptic
thresholds.  Since the data  presented did not indicate a range of responses,
it  is  very possible that the  odor  threshold for  some people in the  Burtt-
schell  group was near the 0.33  ug/1  value  of  Hoak.
     Campbell, et al.  (1958) studied  the taste  thresholds  of six  odor-pro-
ducing  chemicals.   Solutions  of  the  chemicals  were  prepared  using  redis-
tilled water.  Panels of 21  or 22 experienced judges participated in  differ-
ent organoleptic  tests of  the triangle  type.   Concentrations  of  chemicals
chosen for the triangle tests were such that the odd sample would be  identi-
fied by more than 35, but less than 100 percent  of the judges.   Samples were
served in  25  ml  portions,  and the judges were  asked only  to  identify  odd
sample.  When 50 percent of  the  judges correctly separated the samples in  a
given triangle test,  the concentration of 2-chlorophenol  used  in that test
was considered to be  the  threshold  level.  Although a number of  judges were
able to detect the presence  of 2-chlorophenol at a concentration of  2 yg/1,
a threshold level of 6 yg/1  was reported  based on  the  experimental methodol-
ogy used.  It is interesting to note  that, in this same  study, a concentra-
tion of 1 ug 2-chlorophenol/I was determined to  be the threshold  for  impair-
ment of  coffee  brew, while  eight  of  the tasters noted some impairment  at
0.5 wg/l.
     Dietz and Traud (1978)   used a panel  composed of 9 to  12  persons  of both
sexes and  various  age  groups to test the organoleptic detection thresholds
                                     C-26

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 for  126  phenolic compounds.   To test for  odor  thresholds,  200 ml  samples of
 the  different  test concentrations were  placed  in stoppered  odor-free  glass
 bottles,  shaken  for approximately  five minutes,  and  sniffed at room tempera-
 ture  (20 to  22°C).  For each test,  water  without the  phenolic  additive  was
 used  as  a background  sample.  The odor  tests  took  place in several individ-
 ual  rooms in which phenols and other substances  with intense odors  had  not
 been  used previously.   Geometric  mean values were used  to  determine  thresh-
 old  levels.  To  determine  taste threshold  concentrations of selected  phenol-
 ic compounds,  a  panel  of four  test individuals  tasted water samples contain-
 ing  various  amounts of phenolic  additives.  As a point  of  comparison,  water
 without  phenolic additives was tasted  first.   Samples  with  increasing  phe-
 nolic  concentrations   were then  tested.   Between   samples,  the  mouth  was
 rinsed with  the comparison  water  and the test  person ate several bites  of
 dry  white bread to "neutralize" the  taste.   Geometric  mean  detection  level
 values for both  tests  provided threshold levels  of  0.1 ug/1  for  taste and 10
 ug/1 for odor for 2-chlorophenol.
     None  of the four  organoleptic  studies  described above, however,  indi-
 cated whether  the  determined  threshold  levels  made the  water undesirable  or
 unfit for consumption.
     Studies on  the  impairment of  fish  flavor  by  2-chlorophenol  have also
 been reported.   Henderson,  et al.   (1960) found that  a  concentration of  2,000
ug/1  caused  impaired flavor  of bluegill sunfish  after a 28-day static,  re-
newal  exposure.   Only  one  concentration  was  tested,  so  no   dose-related
threshold was  determined.  Shumway and  Palensky  (1973)  found 60 ug/1 to  be
an estimated threshold  concentration  during  a  48-hour flow-through exposure
of rainbow trout.  Schulze (1961)  determined that 15 ug/1 affected the fla-
vor of carp after a 3-day flow-through exposure.  Boetius  (1954) studied  the
                                     C-27

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flavor  impairment  of eels and  oysters  (species unspecified)  in  static sys-
tems,  and  found flavor impairment  in  brackish water  at a  concentration  of
0.125  ug/l  after 11  days  for eels  and  four days for  oysters.   Methodology
for  determining flavor impairment  was  particularly lacking  in  the  Boetius
paper.  Because of the subjectivity of  flavor impairment,  test  methodology
(especially in  the selection  of,  and evaluation by,  the test  panel)  is par-
ticularly important in the critical  evaluation of  a flavor  impairment study.
                                    C-28

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                             CRITERION FORMULATION
 Existing Guidelines and Standards
     As  can be  determined from  the available  literature,  no  standards or
 guidelines  exist for 2-chlorophenol.
 Current Levels of Exposure
     Overall,  exposure  of the  general   population  to  2-chlorophenol  would
 most likely occur  in  the  form of consumption of phenol-containing chlorinat-
 ed  drinking water.  This  would limit exposure  primarily to  water  supplies
 contaminated  by  a point  source of  2-chlorophenol.   Such sources  should be
 relatively  easy  to  identify  and  monitor,  since analytical  techniques  for
 detection of 2-chlorophenol  are  available.   Apparently, such  monitoring is
 not being done.
     Since  2-chlorophenol  is  not  a  universally reported metabolite of 2,4-D,
 exposure of  the general population  through  use of 2,4-0 is  only speculative.
 If  small  amounts  of  2-chlorophenol  are  formed  and  gain  access to  ground
 water or the soil, they are not expected  to  persist,  in view of 2-chlorophe-
 nol 's ready susceptibility to microbial  attack.
     Inhalation or dermal  exposure  have  not been  identified  as  significant
 routes of exposure for the general  population.   Since  2-chlorophenol  is  not
 used directly for any  broad  environmental application,  it is  logical  to  ex-
 pect little exposure   for  the  general population.   However,  due to  lack of
 atmospheric  monitoring data,  any  estimates  of potential exposure  are  purely
 speculative.  There have been  no reported  investigations of  the persistence,
movement,  and fate of 2-chlorophenol in  the atmosphere (U.S.  EPA, 1979).
     For  industrial workers  manufacturing or  handling  2-chlorophenol,  inha-
 lation  exposure should be  considered a  possible  hazard, since  the  compound
 is volatile.  Dermal  exposure  could  also  occur,  since  both phenol  and cer-
                                     C-29

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 tain  chlorophenols  are  known  to be  dermally  absorbed.   However, specific
 absorption  studies for 2-chlorophenol  were  not found  (Doedens,  1963).  Ac-
 cording  to  a recent review by  the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "No
 data  on  the  routes  or  rates of  entry of 2-chlorophenol in humans were  found"
 (U.S. EPA, 1979).
      Due  to the  lack  of monitoring data or  human  body burden  values, the
 extent of human exposure cannot be determined.
 Special Groups at  Risk
      The  only special  group expected  to  be  at  risk  of  high  exposure to
 2-chlorophenol is  industrial workers involved  in the manufacture or handling
 of  2-chlorophenol.   No data  were found to relate  exposure  or body burden to
 conditions of contact with 2-chlorophenol.
 Basis and Derivation of Criterion
      Insufficient  data exist  to  indicate  that 2-chlorophenol  is  a carcino-
 genic agent.   The only study performed (Boutwell and  Bosch, 1959) was de-
 signed to detect  the promoting  activity of 2-chlorophenol  with dimethylbenz-
 anthracene-initiated   tumors.    (Under   certain   environmental   conditions,
 2-chlorophenol  may  produce a small amount  of dibenzo-p-dioxins.)   The  recent
 National  Cancer Institute (NCI, 1978) bioassay report of possible carcinoge-
 nicity of  dibenzo-p-dioxin  has concluded  that  it was not carcinogenic for
 Osborne-Mendel  rats  or B6C3F1  mice.   Due  to the absence of  sufficient tox-
 icological  data on which to base a criterion,  the  ambient water  quality cri-
 terion for 2-chlorophenol  is based on organoleptic data.  As  substantive and
 reliable  human and  other  mammalian  toxicity data become available,  a  crite-
rion level  based  upon health  effects  may be postulated.
     The  data from Hoak  (1957),  Burttschell,  et al.  (1959),  and  Oietz and
Traud (1978) all   indicated that low  microgram  concentrations  of  2-chlorophe-
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no! in water  are capable of  producing  a discernible odor.  Burttschell,  et
al. (1959), Campbell, et al.  (1958),  and  Oietz  and fraud  (1978) further  ob-
served a distinct flavor  alteration  of  water at low microgram  or  sub-micro-
gram levels of this chemical.  The Burttschell,  et al.  (1959)   and  Dietz  and
Traud  (1978)  odor  studies  did  not  indicate  a  range of responses;  however,
because of the variability inherent in such procedures, it  is certainly  pos-
sible  that  the odor threshold  for  some evaluators  (at  least   in the  Burtt-
schell, et  al.  group)  would  extend  downward  toward the 0.33  ug/1  value  of
Hoak.  Similarly,  Burttschell,  et  al.   (1959)  did not indicate  a range  of
concentrations in their taste test,  and Campbell, et al. (1958) did  not  test
concentrations of 2-chlorophenol  below  2 u9/l;  so  it  is also  possible  that
some of the tasters  in  these tests  could have  at  least  been capable  of  de-
tecting,  if not actually detecting  in  the case of the  Burttschell,  et  al.
group, concentrations of 2-chlorophenol  down near the 0.1  ug/1  taste  thresh-
old determined  by  Dietz  and  Traud  (1978).   Thus,  the  data from these  four
studies are considered  to  be reasonably mutually  supportive   (i.e.,  Hoak's
0.33 pg/1  for odor;  Burttschell,  et  al.  group's geometric mean values of  2
ug/1  for  odor  and  4  ug/1   for  taste;   Campbell,   et  al.'s derived  6  ug/1
threshold for  taste; and  Dietz  and  Traud's geometric mean  values of  10  ug/1
for odor and 0.1 ug/1  for taste).
     The taste threshold determined by Oietz and Traud  (1978) for  the detec-
tion of 2-chlorophenol  in water  is  used as the  basis  for  the   ambient water
quality criterion.   The Dietz  and  Traud study  was chosen  for a  number  of
reasons.   These authors present a recent study  involving well-defined  proce-
dures  and  a  number  of  documented  controls.   This study  utilized  "fresh"
water  from the  base  outlet  of the Verse  Dam  (Germany)  for  all  experiments.
The water  was described as  clear and neutral with  respect to   both odor  and
                                     C-31

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 taste.   These  conditions  are  considered  to more closely approximate the con-
 ditions  of ambient  water found  in  lakes,  rivers,  and  streams than  would
 those  of the  Hoak  (1957),  Burttschell,  et  al.  (1959), or Campbell,  et  al.
 (1958)  studies,  which utilized  carbon-filtered  laboratory distilled  or  re-
 distilled  water.   The 20 to  22°C  temperature  of the water in the  Dietz  and
 Traud odor and taste  tests  might also more  closely  approximate  the tempera-
 ture  at  which  water  is normally consumed  than do the  30*C or 25°C tempera-
 tures  used  in  the  studies  of Hoak  (1957) and  Burttschell,  et  al.  (1959),
 respectively [Campbell,  et  al.  (1958)  did not  indicate  the  temperature  of
 the water used in their study].  However,  it is  recognized  that  the tempera-
 ture of  water  consumed by humans  is  quite obviously variable,   and  no  study
will represent  the temperature of water consumed by all  Americans.
     Therefore, based  on  the  prevention  of undesirable organoleptic  charac-
teristics, the criterion level for 2-chlorophenol  in water is 0.1  ug/1.   It
should be emphasized  that this criterion is based on aesthetics rather than
health effects.
                                    C-32

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                                            ft V S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE • 19BO 720-016/4359
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