Phenol

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Overview
NIOSH Chemical Resources
Related NIOSH Resources
Selected Publications
Related Resources
International Resources

Overview

CAS No. 108-95-2

Phenol (C₆H₆O or C₆H₅OH) is a colorless to light-pink, crystalline solid with a sweet, acrid odor. 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. Workers may be harmed from exposure to phenol.The level of harm depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.

Phenol is used in many industries. It’s 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 the following:

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

NIOSH recommends that employers use Hierarchy of Controls to prevent injuries. If you work in an industry that uses phenol, please read chemical labels and the accompanying Safety Data Sheet for hazard information. Visit NIOSH’s page on Managing Chemical Safety in the Workplace to learn more about controlling chemical workplace exposures.

The following resources provide information about occupational exposure to phenol. Useful search terms for phenol include “carbolic acid, “hydroxybenzene,” “monohydroxybenzene,” “phenyl alcohol,” “phenyl hydroxide.”

NIOSH Chemical Resources

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) helps workers, employers, and occupational health professionals recognize and control workplace chemical hazards.

Manual of Analytical Methods

The NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air, and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally exposed.

Health Hazard Evaluations

The Health Hazard Evaluation Program (HHE) conducts onsite investigations of possible worker exposure to chemicals. Search the HHE database for more information on chemical topics.

Related NIOSH Resources

NIOSHTIC-2 search results on phenol– A searchable database of worker safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.
Health concerns for workers who worked around Pentachlorophenolpdf icon. NIOSH Worker Health Study Summary, 2011.

Selected Publications

Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Phenol-DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 76-196 (July 1976)
Presents a standard to prevent the adverse effects of exposure to phenol over a working lifetime.
More articles from the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods:

Phenol: Documentation for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentration: Documents the criteria and information sources that have been used by NIOSH to determine immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations.

Related Resources

International Resources

Page last reviewed: June 22, 2019

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health