Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Phenol is described by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) as both a manufactured chemical and a natural substance that is a solid when pure, but the commercial product is typically a liquid. Due to its commercial importance, millions of tons of it are produced each year across the globe.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that workers may be harmed from exposure to phenol with the level of harm depending upon the dose, duration and work being done. Routes of exposure include inhalation, oral and dermal.
Exposure to phenol may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, throat and nervous system. Some symptoms of exposure to phenol are weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, muscle aches and pain. Severe exposure can cause liver and/or kidney damage, skin burns, tremor, convulsions and twitching.
Phenol is used in many industries. NIOSH states that it is used for medicine as a slimicide, antiseptic and disinfectant, and to manufacture a number of products. Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to phenol include:
• Workers in the petroleum industry
• Workers in plants where nylon is manufactured
• Workers in plants that manufacture epoxy resins
• Workers in plants that manufacture herbicides
There are published workplace exposure limits meant to protect all workers. For the general population, ATSDR lists the following sources of exposure shown on the video.
These are just a few things to know about phenol and potential exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, air quality, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
Phenol is described by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) as both a manufactured chemical and a natural substance that is a solid when pure, but the commercial product is typically a liquid. Due to its commercial importance, millions of tons of it are produced each year across the globe.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that workers may be harmed from exposure to phenol with the level of harm depending upon the dose, duration and work being done. Routes of exposure include inhalation, oral and dermal.
Exposure to phenol may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, throat and nervous system. Some symptoms of exposure to phenol are weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, muscle aches and pain. Severe exposure can cause liver and/or kidney damage, skin burns, tremor, convulsions and twitching.
Phenol is used in many industries. NIOSH states that it is used for medicine as a slimicide, antiseptic and disinfectant, and to manufacture a number of products. Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to phenol include:
• Workers in the petroleum industry
• Workers in plants where nylon is manufactured
• Workers in plants that manufacture epoxy resins
• Workers in plants that manufacture herbicides
There are published workplace exposure limits meant to protect all workers. For the general population, ATSDR lists the following sources of exposure shown on the video.
These are just a few things to know about phenol and potential exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, air quality, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
