Wood preservation facilites, pentachlorophenol thermal: chapter F, table 4

• Pentachlorophenol (PCP)

Range* from 0.039 µg/kg to 0.16 µg/kg

(Large variation can be explained by the various contaminated environments.)

Direct contact

Mist, vapour or splashes

• Redness
• Irritation of eyes

• Ulceration
• Potential carcinogenic action
• Severe burn
• Possible increased metabolism

Occasional direct contact with dust, liquid, vapours or mists

Worker with significant exposure, e.g., frequent skin contact, exposure to high dust levels, liquid, vapours or mists

• Irritation of skin, possible increased metabolism
• Profuse sweating, headaches, nausea, weakness, fever, intense thirst
• Increased body temperature

• Burning may result if PCP is not removed from skin
• Potential carcinogenic action
• Damage to immune system
• Dermatitis; chloracne; suspected damage to kidney, liver, nervous system; weight loss

Exposure to airborne contaminant or dust inhalation ^{FootnotebFootnotecFootnotedFootnotee}

ACGIHthreshold limit value-time weighted averages (TWA) and biological exposure indices (BEI) ^{FootnotegFootnoteh}

Inhalation of vapours in excess of threshold limit values (TLV)

TWA: 0.5 mg/m³ air

BEI for total PCP in urine: 2 mg/g creatinine sampled prior to last shift of workweek

BEI for free PCP in plasma: 5 mg /L sampled at the end of work shift

• Irritation of nose and throat

• Potential carcinogenic action
  (Potential contributions to overall exposure can occur through the cutaneous route including mucous membranes and eye either by airborne particles, or, more particularly, by direct contact with the substance.)

• Increased body temperature
• Damage to immune system, reproductive effects and developmental effects
• Suspected damage to kidney, liver, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract; weight loss
• The reported lethal dose of PCP for adults ranges from 1 to 3 g
• Death from heart failure

• The effects are more intense with longer exposure or more concentrated exposure

• Possibly carcinogenic to humans.
• In drinking water: could experience liver or kidney problems.
• increased risks of a number of diseases: chloracne, soft tissue sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and possibly abnormal births