Pentachlorophenol
87-86-5
Hazard Summary
Pentachlorophenol was once one of the most widely used biocides in the United States, but it is now a
restricted use pesticide and is no longer available to the general public. It was primarily used as a wood
preservative. Pentachlorophenol is extremely toxic to humans from acute (short-term) ingestion and
inhalation exposure. Acute inhalation exposures in humans have resulted in neurological, blood, and liver
effects, and eye irritation. Chronic (long-term) exposure to pentachlorophenol by inhalation in humans has
resulted in effects on the respiratory tract, blood, kidney, liver, immune system, eyes, nose, and skin.
Human studies are inconclusive regarding pentachlorophenol exposure and reproductive effects. Human
studies suggest an association between exposure to pentachlorophenol and cancer. Oral animal studies
have reported increases in liver tumors and two uncommon tumor types. EPA has classified
pentachlorophenol as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.
Please Note: The main sources of information for this fact sheet are EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
(2), which contains information on oral chronic toxicity of pentachlorophenol and the RfD and the carcinogenic
effects of pentachlorophenol including the unit cancer risk for oral exposure, and the Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry's (ATSDR's) Toxicological Profile for Pentachlorophenol. (1)
Uses
s Pentachlorophenol was once one of the most widely used biocides in the United States, but it is now a
restricted use pesticide and is no longer available to the general public. (1)
s The principal use for pentachlorophenol is as a wood preservative; it is also used for the formulation of
fungicidal and insecticidal solutions and for incorporation into other pesticide products. (1)
Sources and Potential Exposure
a Exposure to pentachlorophenol in the indoor air of pressure-treated log homes brushed with
pentachlorophenol has been measured at 0.0005 to 0.01 parts per billion (ppb), and levels in the air of
industrially dipped, non-pressure-treated log homes have been measured at 0.034 to 0.01 04 ppb. Levels
in outdoor air are much lower, and the general population is estimated to breathe in about 0.063
milligrams per day (mg/day). (1)
a Workers at wood treatment facilities and lumber mills are estimated to breathe in about 1 0.5 to 1 54 mg/
day, and workers who handle treated lumber can absorb about 35 mg/day through the skin. (1)
a Pentachlorophenol has been detected at low levels in drinking water and food. (1)
a Exposure may also occur through dermal contact with pentachlorophenol or with wood products treated
with pentachlorophenol. (1)
Assessing Personal Exposure
¦ Pentachlorophenol and its breakdown products can be measured in blood, urine, and tissues. (1)
Health Hazard Information

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Acute Effects:
s Pentachlorophenol is extremely toxic when ingested by humans. (2)
s Acute inhalation exposure to pentachlorophenol in humans may result in effects on the cardiovascular
system, blood, liver (jaundice), and eyes (visual damage and irritation). (1,3)
s Neurological effects reported following exposure of humans to high levels of pentachlorophenol include
lethargy, tachypnea, tachycardia, delerium, and convulsions. (1)
a Animal studies have reported effects on the cardiovascular system, blood, liver, immune system, and
central nervous system (CNS) from acute oral exposure to pentachlorophenol. (1)
a Tests involving acute exposure of rats and mice have shown pentachlorophenol to have high toxicity from
inhalation exposure and extreme toxicity from oral exposure. (1,4)
Chronic Effects (Noncancer):
a Chronic exposure by inhalation to pentachlorophenol in humans has resulted in inflammation of the upper
respiratory tract and bronchitis, blood effects such as aplastic anemia, effects on the kidney and liver,
immunological effects, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and skin. (1,3)
a Chronic oral exposure to pentachlorophenol in animals has resulted in effects on the liver, kidney, blood,
endocrine, immune system, and CNS. (1,2,5)
a EPA has not established a Reference Concentration (RfC) for pentachlorophenol. (2)
a The Reference Dose (RfD) for pentachlorophenol is 0.03 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day
(mg/kg/d) based on liver and kidney pathology in rats. The RfD is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning
perhaps an order of magnitude) of a daily oral exposure to the human population (including sensitive
subgroups) that is likely to be without appreciable risk of deleterious noncancer effects during a lifetime. It
is not a direct estimator of risk but rather a reference point to gauge the potential effects. At exposures
increasingly greater than the RfD, the potential for adverse health effects increases. Lifetime exposure
above the RfD does not imply that an adverse health effect would necessarily occur. (2)
a EPA has high confidence in the study on which the RfD is based because a moderate number of
animals/sex were used in each of three doses, a comprehensive analysis of parameters was conducted, and
a reproductive study was also performed; medium confidence in the supporting database because only one
chronic study is available; and, consequently, medium confidence in the RfD. (2)
a The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA^has calculated a chronic inhalation reference
exposure level of 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m ) based on a route to route extrapolation of
EPA's RfD. (9)
Reproductive/Developmental Effects:
a One study reported that 22 out of 90 women with histories of spontaneous abortions, unexplained
infertility, or menstrual disorders were found to have elevated blood levels of pentachlorophenol and/or
lindane. However, a direct causal relationship with pentachlorophenol exposure cannot be inferred from
this study due to the presence of lindane in the blood and other possible confounding factors. (1)
a Oral animal studies suggest that exposure to pentachlorophenol decreases the survival of the offspring in
rats. Other oral animal studies have found evidence that pentachlorophenol produces maternal toxicity
(depressed maternal body weight), but does not cause birth defects. (1,2)
Cancer Risk:
a Case reports suggest a possible association between inhalation pentachlorophenol exposure and cancer
(Hodgkins disease, soft tissue sarcoma, and acute leukemia); however, concommittent exposure to other
toxic substances may have contributed to the reported carcinogenic effects. (1)
a Oral animal studies have reported increases in liver tumors (hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas) and
two uncommon tumors (adrenal medulla pheochromocytomas, hemangiosarcomas, and hemangiomas) in
mice. (1,2)
a EPA has classified pentachlorophenol as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen. (2)

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•	EPA uses mathematical models, based on animal studies, to estimate the probability of a person developing
cancer from ingesting water containing a specified concentration of a chemical. EPA calculated an oral unit
risk estimate of 3 x 10 (|jg/L) . EPA estimates that, if an individual were to ingest water containing
pentachlorophenol at an average concentration of 0.3 (jg/L over his or her entire lifetime, that person
would theoretically have no more than a one-in-a-million increased chance of developing cancer as a
direct result of ingesting water containing this chemical. Similarly, EPA estimates that ingesting water
containing 3.0 (jg/L would result in not greater than a one-in-hundred thousand increased chance of
developing cancer, and water containing 30 (jg/L would result in not greater than a one-in-ten thousand
increased chance of developing cancer. For a detailed discussion of confidence in the potency estimates,
please see IRIS. (2)
-l
*	EPA has also calculated an oral cancer slope factor (CSF) of 0.1 2 (mg/kg/d) . (2)
Physical Properties
s Pentachlorophenol exists as colorless or white crystals (when pure) with a sharp, phenolic odor when hot,
but very little odor at room temperature. (1)
s The odor threshold for pentachlorophenol is approximately 1 2 parts per million (ppm). (1)
a Impure pentachlorophenol is dark gray to brown and exists as dust, beads, or flakes. (1)
a The chemical formula for pentachlorophenol is C HCI O, and its molecular weight is 266.35 g/mol. (1)
6 5
" The vapor pressure for pentachlorophenol is 0.00 01 1 mm Hg at 25 °C, and it has a log octanol/water
partition coefficient (log K ) of 5.01. (1)
ow
Conversion Factors:
3	3
To convert concentrations in air (at 2 5 °C) from ppm to mg/m : mc|/m = (ppm) x (molecular weight of the
compo3und)/(24.45). For pentachlorophenol: 1 ppm = 10.9 mg/m . To convert concentrations in air from |jg/m to
mg/m : mg/m = (jjg/m ) x (1 mg/1,000 |jg).
Health Data from Inhalation Exposure

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Regulatory, advisory
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Health numbers'
OSHA. pa,
ACGIH TLV,
NIOSH FEL
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ACGIH TLV—American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists' threshold limit value expressed as a
time-weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse
effects.
LC (Lethal Concentration )—A calculated concentration of a chemical in air to which exposure for a specific
50	50
length of time is expected to cause death in 50% of a defined experimental animal population.
NIOSH IDLH — National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's immediately dangerous to life or health
concentration; NIOSH recommended exposure limit to ensure that a worker can escape from an exposure condition
that is likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from the
environment.
NIOSH REL—NIOSH's recommended exposure limit; NIOSH-recommended exposure limit for an 8- or 1 0-h time-
weighted-average exposure and/or ceiling.
OSHA PEL—Occupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit expressed as a time-
weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse effect
averaged over a normal 8-h workday or a 40-h workweek.
The health and regulatory values cited in this factsheet were obtained in December 1999.
a
Health numbers are toxicological numbers from animal testing or risk assessment values developed by EPA.
b
Regulatory numbers are values that have been incorporated in Government regulations, while advisory numbers
are nonregulatory values provided by the Government or other groups as advice. OSHA numbers are regulatory,
whereas NIOSH and ACGIH numbers are advisory.
References
Summary created in April 1 992, updated in January 2000

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1.	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for
Pentachlorophenol (Update) (Draft). Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Atlanta, GA. 1 999.
2.	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on Pentachlorophenol.
National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.
1999.
3.	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB, online database).
National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1 993.
4.	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS,
online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.
1993.
5.	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health Effects Assessment for Pentachlorophenol. EPA/540/1-
86/043. Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment,
Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH. 1 988.
6.	Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Toxic
and Hazardous Substances. Code of Federal Regulations 29 CFR 1 91 0.1 000. 1 998.
7.	American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). 1 999 TLVs and BEIs. Threshold Limit
Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents. Biological Exposure Indices. Cincinnati, OH. 1999.
8.	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Cincinnati, OH. 1997.
9.	California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). Technical Support Document for the Determination
of Noncancer Chronic Reference Exposure Levels. Draft for Public Comment. Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment, Berkeley, CA. 1997.

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