Phenol

Besides headache, giddiness, and dizziness, the person will have irritation of the respiratory tract, renal and lung irritation, eye irritation, cardiac arrhythmias, and blood clotting inhibition. It takes long-term exposure to have liver damage and things like scleroderma-like skin changes or Raynaud phenomenon. Peripheral neuropathy can be seen. It may affect male sexual performance and there is an increase in birth defects among women who have exposure while pregnant. Long-term exposure can lead to angiosarcoma of the liver, which is otherwise rare in non-exposed individuals.

PHENOL

Phenol is an aromatic compound found naturally in the environment as well as in manufacturing. The most common route of exposure is through the skin, although it is found in mouthwashes, throat lozenges, and antiseptic lotions. People who live near coal-powered or petroleum-fueled facilities and people who live near incinerators have a high risk for phenol exposure. It is a part of automobile exhaust so high-traffic areas will have phenol in the air. Smog will increase the phenol concentration in the air. It is found in drinking water, ground water, surface water, hazardous waste sites, and urban runoff. It filters rapidly through the soil. It degrades quickly in air but is found for longer in groundwater.

It has been studied in mice with equivocal effects on offspring except for decreased fetal weight. Studies in wood industry workers show a slight increase in respiratory cancers and Hodgkin disease, as well as other cancers. There is an increase in pheochromocytomas and blood cancers in rats exposed to low doses. Because the risk is low, it is a Group D human carcinogen, which means it is not classifiable. The main affects to health are hypersensitivity reactions, asthma, and chronic bronchitis with repeated exposure. It is mainly an irritant to the respiratory tract but it can increase the liver transaminases with no obvious liver damage.