| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) |
59507
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| Synonyms | p-Chloro-m-cresol |
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4-Chloro-3-methylphenol | Phenol, 4-chloro-3-methyl- | Chlorophenol, 4-, methyl, 3- |
| Analytical Methods |
EPA Method 604 |
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EPA Method 625 |
EPA Method 8040A |
EPA Method 8250A |
| Molecular Formula | C7H7ClO |
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| Use | EXTERNAL GERMICIDES; PRESERVATIVE FOR GLUES, GUMS, PAINTS, INKS,
TEXTILE & LEATHER GOODS
MEDICATION: TOPICAL ANTISEPTIC; MEDICATION (VET): HAS BEEN USED AS
TOPICAL ANTISEPTIC
Used as disinfectant
MEDICATION (VET): IN TOPICAL MEDICAMENTS & IN INTRAUTERINE
LUBRICANTS AS ANTISEPTIC & PRESERVATIVE (0.1-0.2% CONCN).
CHLOROCRESOL & CHLORACETAMIDE ARE USED IN MEDICATIONS, GLUES, &
COSMETICS AS PRESERVATIVES.
Used in injectable formulations as preservative.
CHLOROCRESOL (P-CHLOROMETACRESOL) WAS FORMERLY UTILIZED AS
PRESERVATIVE & ANTIFUNGAL AGENT IN EYEDROPS
Fungicide
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| Apparent Color | DIMORPHOUS CRYSTALS; NEEDLES FROM PETROLEUM ETHER; WHITE
OR SLIGHTLY PINK CRYSTALS
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| Odor | SAID TO BE ODORLESS WHEN VERY PURE, BUT USUALLY A PHENOLIC
ODOR PERSISTS
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| Boiling Point | 235 DEG C
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| Melting Point | 66-8 deg C
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| Molecular Weight | 142.58
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| Odor Threshold Concentration | 0.1 mg/kg (detection in water)
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| Sensitivity Data | IRRITANT TO SKIN.
Not irritating to skin in concn of 0.5 to 1.0% in alcohol.
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| Environmental Impact | Environmental release of 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol may occur through inadvertent
formation in waters (potable water, wastewater, cooling water) which have undergone
chlorination treatment and by evaporation or waste releases from product formulation or
end-products containing 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol. If released to the atmosphere,
3-methyl-4-chlorophenol will degrade rapidly (half-life of 1.1 days) via reaction with hydroxyl
radicals. If released to water, photolysis and biodegradation appear to be capable of degrading
3-methyl-4-chlorophenol, although sufficient data are not available to predict rates at which these
processes may occur in the environment. Various screening tests have demonstrated that
3-methyl-4-chlorophenol is readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions, but not degradable
under anaerobic conditions. Aquatic hydrolysis, bioconcentration and volatilization are not
important. If released to soil, leaching is likely to occur along with aerobic biodegradation. In
various groundwaters where aerobic degradation is not viable, 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol may be
relatively persistent. Exposure of 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol to the general population may occur
through consumption of contaminated drinking water where the chemical has been inadvertently
formed during chlorination treatment. Dermal and inhalation exposure may be possible through
use of consumer products formulated with 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol.
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| Environmental Fate | Chlorinated phenols will undergo photolysis in aqueous solutions as a result of
ultraviolet irradiation and that photodegradation leads to the substitution of hydroxyl groups in
place of the chlorine atoms with subsequent polymer formation. Chlorinated phenols
TERRESTRIAL FATE: 3-Methyl-4-chlorophenol appears to be susceptible to significant
leaching in soil based on one experimental adsorption study , an estimated Koc of 50, and its
detection in groundwater. Biodegradation is probably the only relevant degradation mechanism in
soil. Various screening tests have demonstrated that 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol is readily
biodegradable under aerobic conditions, but not degradable under anaerobic conditions.
Therefore, in various groundwaters where aerobic degradation is not viable,
3-methyl-4-chlorophenol may be persistent.
AQUATIC FATE: Photolysis and biodegradation appear to be the important environmental fate
processes for 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol in water, although sufficient data are not available to
predict rates at which these processes may occur in the environment. 3-Methyl-4-chlorophenol
absorbs uv light in the sunlight spectrum; in addition, similar compounds have been shown to
photodegrade experimentally. Various screening tests have demonstrated that
3-methyl-4-chlorophenol is readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions, but not degradable
under anaerobic conditions. Aquatic hydrolysis, bioconcentration and volatilization are not
important.
ATMOSPHERIC FATE: If released to the atmosphere, 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol should
predominantly exist in the vapor phase. The dominant environmental fate process in the
atmosphere will be the vapor phase reaction with hydroxyl radicals which are photochemically
formed by sunlight. The half-life of this reaction in a typical ambient atmosphere has been
estimated to be 1.1 days.
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| Drinking Water Impact | DRINKING WATER: Qualitative detection of 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol has been
reported for an unspecified drinking water . 3-Methyl-4-chlorophenol was identified in
groundwater from 11 drinking water wells in areas of China irrigated with sewage effluents .
SURFACE WATER: 3-Methyl-4-chlorophenol was not detectable at various monitoring
locations on Lake Erie or Lake Michigan .
EFFL: CHLORINATION REACTION YIELDS OF CHLOROORGANIC PRODUCTS IN
COOLING WATER & SEWAGE EFFLUENTS ARE 0.5-3.1% (AS CL) IN STUDIES OF
TYPICAL PROCESSES. ANY OR ALL OF THE MANY CHLORINATION REACTIONS
MAY OCCUR DURING WATER CHLORINATION.
Chlorinated municipal sewage effluents have been observed to contain 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol
concentrations of approximately 2 ppb . 3-Methyl-4-chlorophenol levels of 73 ng/l, 154 ng/l,
and 0.22 mg/kg (dry wt) were detected in a final effluent from a treatment works, in a soil
leachate, and in a wastewater sludge, respectively, from the United Kingdom . Positive
detections have been reported for raw and treated wastewaters from the auto, iron and steel mfg,
aluminum forming, foundries, metal finishing, photographic, pharmaceutical mfg, paint and ink
formulation, soap and detergent mfg, and textile industries; mean concn varied widely from 0.01
to 100,000 ug/l . 3-Methyl-4-chlorophenol has been detected in the stack effluent from a
municipal waste incinerator .
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