Pentachlorophenol
Definition of pentachlorophenol (PCP):
Pentachlorophenol is a white organic solid with needle-like crystals and a phenolic odor.[1] It is an organochlorine compound used mainly as a fungicide. Sodium pentachlorophenate and pentachlorophenyl laurate (PCPL), are used for similar purposes.[2]
This is the common definition for pentachlorophenol (PCP), other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
Production of PCP in the EU ceased in 1992. In 1996, 378 tonnes of NaPCP and 30 tonnes of PCP were imported from the USA; there may possibly be other imports from Asia. NaPCP was mainly used in France, Portugal and Spain, as a control agent to protect newly cut wood surfaces against fungal attack. Treatment of wood and textiles resulted in release of PCP to the environment. Since 2008 no products which contain more than 0,1% of PCP can be sold.
Typical concentrations of PCP in the North Sea are around 0,07 µg/l, with a maximum detected concentration of 0,79 µg/l. These concentrations have been decreasing since 1983. [2]
Due to it's low water solubility PCP in the the marine environment will adsorb to sediments, where it is quite stable. In water it can be degraded by photolysis. PCP has a tendency to bioacumulate and biomagnifyCite error: Invalid <ref> tag;
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[1]
Environmental Fate
In air, pentachlorophenol will be lost due to photolysis and reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals. Bioconcentration in fish will be moderate. Pentachlorophenol is expected to bioconcentrate because of its low water solubility, but the bioconcentration factor will be dependent upon the pH of the water since pentachlorophenol will be more dissociated at higher pHs. The log BCF with goldfish varied from 0.30 at pH 10 to 1.75 at pH 7 to 2.12 at pH 5.5. Other reported log BCF values are 2.89 in fathead minnow; 2.4-3.73 in rainbow trout; 0.7-1.7 in sheepshead minnows; and 2.47 in mosquito fish; 2.85 in zebra fish; 2.62 in golden orfe. The accumulation increased with temperature in orfe and decreased with temperature in zebra fish. The BCF of PCP in humans was measured from daily intake of PCP and measured concentration in different tissues, giving the following results: 5.7, 3.3, 1.4, 1.4, and 1.0 in liver, brain blood, spleen and adipose tissue respectively.
Humans will be occupationally exposed to pentachlorophenol via inhalation and dermal contact primarily in situations where they use this preservative or are in contact with treated wood product. The general population will be exposed primarily from ingesting food contaminated with pentachlorophenol.
