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OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL

FOREOWRD INTRODUCTION

M/P-CRESOL CATEGORY
m/p-Cresol CAS N°:15831-10-4
m-Cresol CAS No: 108-39-4
p-Cresol CAS No: 106-44-5

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OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL

SIDS Initial Assessment Report


For
SIAM 16
Paris, France, 27 – 30 May 2003
1. Category Name: m/p-Cresol
2. CAS Numbers: m/p-Cresol Category:
m-Cresol CAS No: 108-39-4
p-Cresol CAS No: 106-44-5
m/p-Cresol CAS No: 15831-10-4
3. Sponsor Country: Germany
Contact Point:
BMU (Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und
Reaktorsicherheit)
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlottmann
Postfach 12 06 29
D- 53048 Bonn-Bad Godesberg
4. Shared Partnership with:
5. Roles/Responsibilities of
the Partners:
• Name of industry sponsor Bayer AG, Germany
/consortium Contact person:
Dr. Burkhardt Stock
D-51368 Leverkusen
Gebäude 9115
• Process used see below
6. Sponsorship History
• How was the chemical or
category brought into the
OECD HPV Chemicals
Programme ?
7. Review Process Prior to last literature search (update):
the SIAM: 01.06.2002 (Human Health): databases medline, toxline; search
profile CAS-No. and special search terms
15.05.2002 (Ecotoxicology): databases CA, biosis; search profile
CAS-No. and special search terms
8. Quality check process: As basis for the SIDS-Report the IUCLID was used. All data
have been checked and validated by BUA.
9. Date of Submission: 19 February 2003
10. Date of last Update:

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11. Comments: OECD/ICCA - The BUA* Peer Review Process

Qualified BUA personnel (toxicologists, ecotoxicologists)


perform a quality control on the full SIDS dossier submitted by
industry. This quality control process follows internal BUA
guidelines/instructions for the OECD/ICCA peer review process
and includes:
− a full (or update) literature search to verify completeness
of data provided by industry in the IUCLID/HEDSET
− Review of data and assessment of the quality of data
− Review of data evaluation
− Check of adequacy of selection process for key studies for
OECD endpoints, and, where relevant, for non-OECD
endpoints by checking original reports/publications
− Review of key study description according robust
summaries requirements; completeness and correctness is
checked against original reports/publications
(if original reports are missing: reliability (4), i.e.
reliability not assignable)
− Review of validity of structure-activity relationships
− Review of full SIDS dossier (including SIAR, SIAP and
proposal for conclusion and recommendation for further
work)
− In case of data gaps, review of testing plan or rationale for
not testing

* BUA (GDCh-Beratergremium für Altstoffe): Advisory Committee on Existing Chemicals of the Association of
German Chemists (GDCh)

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SIDS INITIAL ASSESSMENT PROFILE

CAS No. 108-39-4 106-44-5 15831-10-4

Chemical Name m-Cresol p-Cresol m/p-Cresol mixtures

OH OH

Structural Formula CH3


CH3

m-Cresol p-Cresol

SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS OF THE SIAR

Category Rationale

m-Cresol, p-cresol and mixtures of both isomers can be considered as a single category because of their similarity
in physico-chemical properties, distribution between environmental compartments, degradation, ecotoxicity, and
toxicology.

Human Health

m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures are absorbed across the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and through
the skin, and are distributed throughout the body. The primary metabolic pathway for all cresol isomers is
conjugation with glucuronic acid and inorganic sulfates. All isomers are mainly eliminated by renal excretion in form
of conjugates. For p-cresol, oxidation to a reactive quinone methide intermediate was found in rat liver in vitro. The
oral LD50 of undiluted m-cresol in rats was 242 mg/kg bw; and the LD50 of undiluted p-cresol was 207 mg/kg bw.
Thus, it can be assumed that the LD50 of m/p-cresol mixtures is slightly above 200 mg/kg bw. Clinical signs
included hypoactivity, salivation, tremors, and convulsions. No mortality nor clinical signs of toxicity were seen
following exposure to saturated vapour concentration of either m-cresol or p-cresol. Inhalation of aerosols may
however cause death, and mean lethal concentrations in rats were reported to be 29 mg/m³ for p-cresol and 58 mg/m³
for m-cresol. Clinical signs included irritation of mucous membranes, excitation and convulsions. Haematuria was
reported at very high concentrations. Following dermal application in rabbits the LD50 of undiluted m-cresol was
2050 mg/kg bw and the LD50 of p-cresol was 300 mg/kg bw. It can be assumed that the LD50 of m/p-cresol
mixtures is between 300 and 2000 mg/kg bw.

m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures are corrosive to the skin and may cause serious damage to the eyes.
There is no indication of a sensitizing effect of p-cresol and m/p-cresol from a limited guinea pig study and a limited
human study. No sensitization test was available for m-cresol. In a survey article hypersensitivity reactions of some
individuals to cresol (isomer unspecified) have been mentioned.

In 28-day and 13-week feeding studies, m-cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol (60:40) had a very similar pattern of
toxicity in rats and mice with minimal effect levels of 1000 – 3000 ppm in the diet for increases in liver weight (rat,
mouse) and kidney weight (mouse, p-cresol). No increase in relative kidney weight was found for m-cresol. Atrophy
and regenerative changes in the nasal epithelia and forestomach were seen after exposure to p-cresol and m/p-cresol,
presumably as direct result of the irritant effects of the chemicals. The no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs)
for m-cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol were generally ≥ 50 mg/kg bw/day in rats and mice.

In vitro, m-cresol and p-cresol did not induce gene mutations in bacterial and mammalian cell systems and m/p-cresol
mixture did not induce gene mutations in bacteria. m-Cresol was negative for clastogenic activity in vitro, and in
vivo. p-Cresol was clastogenic in vitro, but has not been adequately tested in somatic cells in vivo. p-Cresol was,
however, negative for dominant lethal mutations in germ cells in male mice at clearly toxic exposure levels. A 60:40
m/p-cresol mixture did not increase the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes in the peripheral blood erythrocytes

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of mice. In vitro, it is possible that m- and p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixture have the potential to interact with DNA
either directly or indirectly via metabolites.

As for o-cresol, there are no adequate data available to assess the carcinogenic potential of m-cresol, p-cresol or m/p-
cresol mixtures. From tumour promotion studies in mice there are some indications that cresols may act as promoters.
Currently, the U.S. National Cancer Institute is performing a carcinogenicity feeding study on mice and rats with
cresols (mixture of ortho-, meta- and para-) within the National Toxicological Program (NTP).

Despite general toxicity (hypoactivity, ataxia, twitches, tremors, prostration, urine stains, audible respiration, perioral
wetness) fertility was not affected by treatment with m-cresol or p-cresol (NOAEL, rat: 450 mg/kg bw/day). The
NOAELs for general toxicity were determined as 30 mg/kg bw/day. Fertility effects including a 20% reduction in
pup survival as well as reductions in the weights of male reproductive organs were found following treatment of mice
with m/p-cresol mixture in a continuous breeding study at systemically toxic dose levels (reduced food consumption
and reduced body weights, increases in liver and kidney weights) (NOAEL, fertility and general toxicity: 0.25 % in
feed (ca. 375 mg/kg bw/day).

In developmental toxicity studies with m-cresol in rats and rabbits, no toxic effects on the developing organism could
be found despite of the toxic effects on the dams as evidenced by hypoactivity, ataxia, tremor, twitches, prone
positioning, audible respiration, perioral wetness, and a reduction in food consumption in rats, and audible
respiration, and ocular discharge in rabbits (NOAELs: 175 mg/kg bw (maternal toxicity) and 450 mg/kg bw
(developmental toxicity) for rats, and 5 mg/kg bw (maternal toxicity) and 100 mg/kg bw (developmental toxicity) for
rabbits, respectively. p-Cresol caused fetotoxicity (delayed ossification, decreased fetal body weight) at maternally
toxic dose levels in rats, but not in rabbits (NOAEL, rat, maternal toxicity, developmental toxicty: 175 mg/kg
bw/day). Based on the available data, it can be assumed that m/p-cresol mixtures may have the potential to induce
fetotoxicity in the presence of maternal toxicity.

In humans, the accidental oral uptake of cresols can induced irritation of mouth and throat, abdominal pains,
vomiting, haemolytic anemia, increased heart rate, liver and kidney damage, headaches, facial paralysis, drowsiness,
cramps, coma and death. Skin contact with cresols can result in corrosion, skin depigmentation, effects on the
nervous system, liver and kidneys, gastrointestinal bleeding, and can cause human fatalities.

There are some case reports about tumour development in connection with probable exposure against cresol isomers.
Since co-exposures to other substances cannot be excluded, no conclusion on a carcinogenic potential can be deduced
from these case reports.

Environment

m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures have a melting point of ca. 10 - 35°C, a water solubility in the range of
21.5 - 24.4 g/l (25°C), a density of about 1.03 g/cm³ (20°C), and a vapour pressure of 0.147 Pa (25°C). The
experimentally determined log Kow are in the range of 1.94 - 1.96.

According to a Mackay Level I model calculation, the main target compartment for m-cresol and p-cresol is the
hydrosphere (96.3%). In the atmosphere m-cresol and p-cresol are indirectly photodegradable by hydroxyl radicals
with half–lives t1/2 = 6.0 – 8.2 hours (OH concentration 5⋅10 5 molecules/cm³). The measured Henrys’ law constants
of 0.09 Pa⋅m³/mol (m-cresol) and 0.1 Pa⋅m³/mol (p-cresol) indicate slow volatilization from surface waters.
Adsorption onto soils and sediments are low, according to experimentally determined Koc values of 34.58 for m-
cresol and 48.66 for p-cresol.

With regard to the chemical structure m-cresol and p-cresol are not expected to hydrolyse under environmental
conditions. Aerobic biodegradation is considered to be the major removal mechanism in the hydrosphere, leading to
complete mineralization. From the available test results, m-cresol and p-cresol can be considered as being readily
biodegradable under aerobic conditions. In surface waters and sediments half-lives in the range of some hours to a
few days are expected. Photolytical degradation in surface waters as well as anaerobic degradation in lower
sediment layers are expected to be of minor importance.

For m-cresol, a BCF of 20 was obtained in a laboratory tests on fish, indicating a low bioaccumulation potential.
Because of the similarity of the log Kow the accumulation potential of m-cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures is
assumed to be low.

For the acute toxicity of cresols on aquatic species experimental results with m-cresol and p-cresol from tests with

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fish, daphnids and algae are available. Long-term tests were conducted for p-cresol with fish, algae and
invertebrates. Effect values with the same tested species indicate toxicity in the same order of magnitude, with p-
cresol being slightly more toxic. Therefore, it is assumed that the long-term toxicity of both isomers is similar as
well. No ecotoxicity tests are available for the isomeric mixture m/p-cresol. However, it is expected that the toxicity
of the isomeric mixture is covered by the data for m- and p-cresol.

In acute toxicity tests the following results were obtained with either m-or p-cresol:

fish (15 species): 48 - 96 h LC50 = 4.4 - 57.5mg/l;


invertebrates (4 species): 24 - 48 h LC50 = 4.9 - > 99.5 mg/l;
algae (2 species): 48 – 72 h EC50 = 21 - 127mg/l.

Results from long-term tests for p-cresol are available for fish, invertebrates and algae, the most sensitive species
being Pimephales promelas (NOEC = 1.35 mg/l), Daphnia magna (NOEC = 1 mg/l) and Scenedesmus subspicatus
(ErC10 = 4.6 mg/l, EbC10 = 2.3 mg/l). Applying an assessment factor of 10 to the lower value, a Predicted No
Effect Concentration (PNEC) for the aquatic compartment of 0.1 mg/l is determined for m- and p- cresol and the
isomeric mixture m/p-cresol.

Exposure

Cresols (mixed isomers) are widespread in nature, occurring, for instance, in many plants, petroleum, coal tar, crude
oil and volcanic actions. They are emitted from municipal incinerators, during coal and wood combustion, with
vehicle exhaust, from oil refineries and cigarette smoke. Cresols are also products of the photooxidation of toluene.
p-Cresol is an endogenous metabolite of the amino acid tyrosine in humans and warm-blooded animals.

The world production capacity amounts of about 28,500 tonnes for m-, 59,500 tonnes for p-, and 128,000 tonnes for
the m/p-cresol isomeric mixture. The largest part of cresols are used as intermediates in chemical processes for the
production of e.g. antioxidants, arylphosphates, synthetic Vitamin E and pesticides. m/p-Cresol isomeric mixture is
used as a process solvent for the production of wire enamels.

Direct uses of cresols are as bactericide in biotechnological processing, pesticide and other minor, wide dispersive
uses (< 1 % of worldwide production).

Information on releases into the environment from direct uses of cresols are not readily available.

RECOMMENDATION

The chemicals in this category are currently of low priority for further work.

RATIONALE FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AND


NATURE OF FURTHER WORK RECOMMENDED

Human Health: m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures possess properties indicating a hazard for human
health. Based on data presented by the Sponsor country, adequate risk management measures are being applied.
Countries may desire to check their own risk management measures to find out whether there is a need for measures
beyond those which are being applied already. Cresols (mixed isomers of ortho-, meta- and para-) are being tested
in carcinogenicity studies under the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP).

Environment: The chemicals possess properties indicating a hazard for the environment. Although these hazards
do not warrant further work as they are related to acute toxicity which may become evident only at very high
exposure level, they should nevertheless be noted by chemical safety professionals and users.

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SIDS Initial Assessment Report

1 IDENTITY

1.1 Identification of the Substance


Chemical Names: m-Cresol
p-Cresol
m-/p-Cresol mixtures
CAS Numbers: m-Cresol CAS No: 108-39-4
p-Cresol CAS No: 106-44-5
m/p-Cresol CAS No: 15831-10-4
Molecular Formula: C7H8O
Structural Formula: OH OH

CH3
CH3

m-Cresol p-Cresol
Molecular Weight: 108.14 g/mol

m-Cresol, p-cresol and mixtures of both isomers are discussed in one SIAR because of their similar
properties in physico-chemical data, environmental fate, ecotoxicity, and toxicity. Both isomers as
well as their mixture are products of technical importance.
o-Cresol was subject of previous work in the OECD HPVC Programme. The Screening Information
Data Set (SIDS) has been published by OECD in 1998 (OECD 1998). Data for o-cresol are
therefore generally not included in this assessment.
Table 1 Identification of the 3 Cresol Products of Technical Importance

Substance Synonyms CAS-No. Composition


m-Cresol 3-Methylphenol 108-39-4 Purity > 99 %
p-Cresol 4-Methylphenol 106-44-5 Purity approximately 99.9 %
m/p-Cresol 15831-10-4 60 - 75 % m-Cresol,
mixtures 25 - 40 % p-Cresol

1.2 Physico-Chemical properties


The physico-chemical properties of the technical products are presented in table 2 (for references cf.
SIDS Dossiers).

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Table 2: Summary of Physico-Chemical Properties of Cresols

Substance m-Cresol p-Cresol m/p-Cresol


Melting point [°C] 11.8 35.5 ca.10
Boiling point (1013 hPa) [°C] 202.2 201.9 ca. 200
Density (20°C) [g/cm3] 1.0336 1.0178 ca. 1.035
Vapour pressure (25°C) [hPa] 0.147 0.147
Log Kow (exp.) 1.96 1.94 1.94 - 1.96
Water solubility (25°C) [g/l] 22.7 21.5 24.4
Dissociation constant pKa 10.09 10.26

Of particular importance for environmental behaviour and ecotoxicity are the values for partition
coefficient (log Kow), vapour pressure and water solubility. Water solubility, vapour pressure and
log Kow were experimentally determined for both isomers. The values are nearly identical for the
pure isomers, so the isomer mixture can be assessed as well.
Cresols are weak acids. The pKa values of 10.09 and 10.26 for m- and p-cresol resp. indicate that at
environmental relevant pH values (5-9) the substances are largely non-dissociated in aqueous
solution.

1.3 Category Justification


The category justification is presented in the Annex.

2 GENERAL INFORMATION ON EXPOSURE


About 40 % (decreasing tendency) of the world-wide required cresols are isolated from the natural
sources coal tar and spent refinery caustics. The separation of phenolics is essentially a recovery,
purification, and fractional operation (Ullmann 2002).
The most important processes to obtain synthetic cresol mixtures with an usable content of the m-
and p-isomers are
− alkaline chlorotoluene hydrolysis (higher m-cresol content)
− sulfonation of toluene and alkali fusion (higher p-cresol content)
− cleavage of cymene hydroperoxide (higher m/p- and low o-cresol content) (Ullmann 2002).
Only o-cresol can be separated directly from the crude cresol-mixtures by distillation. The m/p-
isomer mixture cannot be separated into the isomers by conventional distillation technology because
of the low difference in the boiling points of this two isomers. There are different industrial
methods to separate the m- and p-isomers:
− by distillation using an adsorption column process,
− butylation of the mixture, distillation and debutylation of the separated butylkresols,
− using a separation process via urea-cresol- adducts (Ullmann 2002).

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Table 3: Estimated Capacities and Their Locations

Region m/p-Mixture [1] Pure m-Cresol [2] Pure p-Cresol [2]


WORLD 128,000 t 100 % 28,500 t 100 % 59,500 100 %
SE-ASIA 58,000 t 45 % 14,500 t 51 % 31,000 52 %
W-EUROPE 30,000 t 23 % 8,000 t 28 % 13,000 t 22 %
N-AMERICA 18,000 t 14 % 6,000 t 21 % 12,500 t 21 %
OTHER 20,000 t 16 % 3000 t 5%
E-EUROPE 2000 t 2%
(Srour; 1 = stage October 2001, 2 = stage July 2000)
The largest part of cresols is used as intermediates in chemical processes:
Pure m-cresol (total processing in 1999 21,000 t) is mainly used as an intermediate for the
following products: for synthetic vitamin E (39 %), and in the synthesis of pesticides (insecticides,
herbicides, 29 %), fragrances and antioxidants (15 %), disinfectants and preservatives (12 %) and
other chemicals (5 %) (Srour 2000) (e.g. photographic chemicals and explosives, ATSDR 1992;
HSDB 1993).
Pure p-cresol (production and demand in 1999 31,400 t) is used in chemical synthesis for the
antioxidant BHT (49 %), other antioxidants (17 %), anisaldehyde (18 %), and other intermediates
(16 %) which are used for production of pharmaceuticals, plant protection agents and dyestuffs
(Srour 2000).
These figures for m- and p-cresol show that the actual production and demand is much below the
estimated capacities given in Table 3.
m/p-Isomer mix is used to produce antioxidants (e.g. BHT, about 15,000 t/a) and arylphosphates
(approximately 6000 t/a), the latter are used as plasticizers, flame retardants or special catalysts
(Srour 2001).
m/p-Isomer mix is used as a solvent in the wire enamels business (49,000 t) (Srour 2000). In a
closed process the solvent, which evaporates during the drying of the wires, is burned. The burning
heat is used for heating the drying unit. Due to the waterfree process significant releases into the
hydrosphere can be excluded. The emissions of cresols into the atmosphere from the application
wire enamels is controlled by national authorities in the EC (EC 1999).
Furthermore some direct uses of cresols are known (< 1 % of production):
− m-Cresol is used by professionals as bactericide in the biotechnological processing of
pharmaceuticals (Bayer AG 2003)
− m-Cresol is used as a preservative in pharmaceutical articles (injection solutions of insulin,
somatropin) (Rote Liste 2002)
− m-Cresol is used as a pesticide for the treatment of the stems of fruit trees and plants: This is a
registered application and exclusively performed by professionals (HSDB 1993).
− Cresols (all isomers) are used as disinfectants, preservatives or stabilizers in cleaning/washing
agents, surface treatment products, paints, solvents, adhesives, binding agents and fillers
(hardener), corrosion inhibitors, and impregnation materials. (Danish, Swedish, and Swiss
Product Register 2002)

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10,000 to 50,000 t/a cresol isomer mixture is produced at Bayer AG. Separation of the o-isomer
results in a m/p-cresol mixture yielding about 70 % m-cresol. More than 90 % of this product is
processed inside the company to produce pure m-cresol (5000 – 10,000 t/a by butylation process),
microbicides (chlorination), aroma stuffs (alkylation), plasticizers and pesticides. Production and
processing take place in closed systems. About 15 % of the raw cresol mixture ex Bayer AG are
sold as m/p-cresol mixture or as pure m-cresol.
Cresols occur widely in nature (many plants, cheese flavor and some other foods, petroleum, coal
tar [in the carbolic oil fraction and in carbolineum (Roempp 1999);], crude oil, wood tars [e.g. in
Juniper tar oil, birch oils], volcanic actions, putrefaction). Pulich et al. (1975) mention cresols as an
ingredient of crude and fuel oils with an concentration of less than 1 %. They are emitted from
municipal incinerators, during coal and wood combustion, with vehicle exhaust, and cigarette
smoke [e.g. component of the phenol fraction, which makes up 1 - 4 % of the smoke]. Cresols are
also products of the photooxidation of toluene in the atmosphere (Howard 1989).
In automotive exhaust m-cresol concentrations of 1.18 - 1.49 mg/m3 were detected (Kuwata et al.
1981). With 13 m3 exhaust gas per kg gasoline and a gasoline consumption of 56.5 Mio t/year for
Germany m-cresole emissions to the environment of 867 to 1094 t/year via automotive exhaust are
calculated.
p-Cresol is an endogenous metabolite of the amino acid tyrosine and a normal constituent of human
urine with levels of excretion ranging from 16 to 74 mg/24 hours (Bone et al. 1976; Renwick et al.
1988). Based on this data a p-cresol emission to the environment of 467 to 2160 t/year can be
calculated for the population of Germany (80 Mio).
The exhaust from production and processing of cresols in Germany are connected to exhaust
purification plants. Following the last Official German Emission Declaration in 2000 only 81 kg/a
Cresols were emitted into the atmosphere (Bayer AG 2000)
The emissions of cresols into the atmosphere from the application wire enamels is controlled by
national authorities in the EC (EC 1999).
In a special program the effluent of the waste water treatment plant at Bayer AG was monitored for
m-/p-cresols. All values of 22 effluent measurements were below the detection limit of 50 µg/l. For
the receiving water a PEC of < 7.1 x 10-2 µg/l is calculated taking into account the 10 percentile of
the river flow, the dilution factor, and the 90 percentile of the analysis measurements (Bayer AG
2003).
Recent monitoring data for cresols in the environment are not readily available. Older literature
shows data for areas which were mostly particularly polluted (Howard 1989). These data cannot be
used for a current evaluation.
Exposure to the environment may occur due to the use of cresol as a pesticide and other minor uses.
However, at present no quantification of the release is possible.

2.1 Environmental Exposure and Fate

2.1.1 Distribution
As the main physico-chemical properties of the cresol isomers are in the same order of magnitude,
the environmental distribution behaviour is expected to be similar.
The distribution of cresols in a ”unit world” was calculated according to the Mackay fugacity model
level I (Bayer AG 2002a, b) based on the physico-chemical properties listed in table 1.2. For both,

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m-cresol and p-cresol the main target compartment was estimated to be water (96.3 %) (Calculated
distribution between environmental compartments: m-cresol resp. p-cresol: air: 2.33 / 2.46 %,
water: 96.32 / 96.26 %, soil: 0.69 / 0.66 %, bottom sediment: 0.65 / 0.62 %, suspended sediment:
0.001 / 0.001 %, biota: 0.0004 / 0.0004 %). The distribution of cresols between aqueous solution
and air is described by the Henry’s law constant. Experimentally determined values of 0.09 Pa
m3/mol for m-cresol (Altschuh et al. 1999) and 0.10 Pa m3/mol for p-cresol (Gaffney et al. 1987)
are available. Both values indicate a low volatility from aqueous solution according to the criteria of
Thomas (1990).
The distribution between the organic phase of soil solids and water was determined in batch
equilibrium experiments similar to the OECD Guideline 106. For a clay loam soil Boyd (1982)
determined Koc values of 34.58 for m-cresol and 48.66 for p-cresol indicating a low sorption
potential for the cresol isomers according to the criteria of Blume and Ahlsdorf (1993).

2.1.2 Abiotic Degradation


With regard to its chemical structure m-cresols and p-cresols are not expected to hydrolyse under
environmental conditions.
Several investigations are available about the indirect photolysis by OH-radicals in the atmosphere.
In his critical review Atkinson (1994) recommended values for the reaction constant kOH at room
temperature of 6.4 x 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for m-cresol and 4.7 x 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1
for p-cresol. Based on a tropospheric OH radical concentration of 5 x 105 molecules cm-3
corresponding half-lives of 6.0 h for m-cresol and 8.2 h for p-cresol can be calculated. Semadeni et
al. (1995) determined the temperature dependency of the reaction constants in a smog chamber
experiment: the calculated half-life is 3.8 h both for m-cresol (299 K) and p-cresol (301 K).
Because of the presence of a chromophore cresols are expected to undergo photolytical degradation
in the hydrosphere. Scully and Hoigne (1987) determined the rate constants for the reaction of p-
cresol with singlet oxygen in a laboratory experiment. Solutions of p-cresol (<10-4 M) in 0.05 M
phosphate buffer were irradiated in a merry-go-round reactor, 5 mg/l rose bengal was used as a
sensitizer. The authors estimated a half-life of 21 d in surface water under noon summer sunlight
and the latitude of Switzerland.
However, under environmental conditions longer half-lives should be expected since the solar
irradiation is considerably weakened due to light absorption and dispersion at greater water depths,
cloudiness and the diurnal fluctuations of light intensity.

2.1.3 Biodegradation
Aerobic
Several standard tests on the aerobic biodegradation of the cresol isomers are available. Table 4
presents an overview of the results:

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Table 4: Standard Tests on Aerobic Biodegradation of Cresols

Method Duration m-Cresol p-Cresol Reference


OECD 301 D 28 d 65 - 90 % Bayer AG (2002c)
OECD 301 C 40 d 80 - 95 % 80 - 95 % Desai et al. (1990)
OECD 302 B 10 d 96 % 100 % Wellens (1990)
5d 95.5 % 96 % Pitter (1976)

A Closed-Bottle-Test (OECD 301 D) using m-cresol as test substance in two concentrations (0.8
mg/l and 2.4 mg/l) was performed (Bayer AG 2002c). While in two parallel experiments at a m-
cresol concentration of 0.8 mg/l nearly 90 % degradation was determined after 28 days incubation,
at the test concentration 2.4 mg/l about 65 % degradation was achieved in two parallel vessels. At
both concentrations the pass level of 60 % was reached within 28 days. The 10d- window was
fulfilled in all but one parallel tests indicating that m-cresol can be considered as readily
biodegradable.
Desai et al. (1990) determined the Monod kinetics of m- and p-cresol using an electrolytic
respirometry test comparable to OECD guideline 301 C. Activated sludge from a wastewater
treatment plant receiving predominantly domestic sewage was used as inoculum in a concentration
of 30 mg/l. Within an incubation period of 40 days degradation of both cresol isomers (initial
concentration 100 mg/l) was in the range of 80 % to 95 %. The specific oxygen uptake curves of the
cresols are not reported. However, the authors state that all test compounds revealed the same
pattern: the lag phase, biodegradation phase and the plateau region within a period of 10 days.
Therefore, it can be concluded from this test that m- and p-cresol are readily biodegradable. The
first order degradation constants ln(k) [h-1] were determined to be –5.77 (m-cresol) and –5.87 (p-
cresol). From these values half-lives of 9.3 d resp. 10.3 d can be calculated.
The inherent degradability of two cresol isomers was studied by Wellens (1990). In a test according
to the OECD guideline 302 B, m-cresol and p-cresol degraded to 95 % resp. 100 % within 10 days
after lag-periods of 2 days. Using a 5 days incubation period, Pitter observed that removal of each
96 % of both compounds occurred with the same initial degradation rate of 55 mg COD g-1 h-1.
Van Veld and Spain (1983) demonstrated that p-cresol is rapidly degraded in different parts of an
aquatic estuary system. From a river estuary, each 3 samples were taken from water, sediment and
intact eco-cores having an aerobic layer of detritus overlying anaerobic sediment. Water and
water/sediment samples were incubated in the laboratory with 14C-labelled p-cresol and shaken in
flasks at 18 °C in the dark. Based on HPLC and 14CO2 measurements, half-lives between 9.4 and
43 h for p-cresol in water and between 5.9 and 11 h in water/sediment systems were determined. In
intact eco-cores, p-cresol degraded with half-lives between 3.0 and 16 h.
The Closed-Bottle-Test (Bayer AG 2002c) reveals that m-cresol is readily biodegradable. As
demanded by the OECD guideline, the oxygen consumption was above 60 % after 10 and 28 days.
Desai et al. (1990) determined the degradation of both m- and p-cresol and found similar rate
constants for both isomers. From this study it can be concluded that both m- and p-cresol are readily
biodegradable.
Anaerobic:
The anaerobic degradation properties of a substance are important for the assessment of the
substance’s fate during secondary digesting of sewage sludge and the fate in anaerobic sediment
layers. A number of investigations on the anaerobic degradability of cresols is available. The most

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extensive study was conducted by Shelton and Tiedje (1981). Primary anaerobic sludges from 12
treatment plants receiving mainly domestic waste water were diluted to 10% in a mineral salt
medium and incubated with 30 mg cresol/l. Triplicate samples were incubated for 8 weeks.
Degradation was related to the theoretical CH4 and CO2 production. With m-cresol as the test
substance, no degradation was observed in 4 sludges, while in 6 sludges the degradation ranged
from 55 to 103 % after lag-periods of 4-6 weeks. For the experiments with 2 sludges the data were
insufficient. In tests with p-cresol a degradation in the range of 62-101% was observed after lag-
periods of 2 - 5 weeks (data for 1 sludge were insufficient). No explanation for the high variability
of degradation results is given by the authors (Most of the results of this extensive study were also
published in a journal; Shelton and Tiedje 1984). Monitoring the formation of methane and carbon
dioxide, Battersby and Wilson (1989) obtained about 75 % of the theoretical yield of methane and
carbon dioxide from m-cresol during a > 60 days incubation period including a lag phase of 40
days. For p-cresol the theoretical yield was 96 % during the same incubation period including a lag
phase of 7 days.
As concluded above, m- and p-cresol can be considered as being readily biodegradable under
aerobic conditions, thus it is unlikely that cresols released into waste waters or into surface waters
will reach the anaerobic zones. Therefore the anaerobic degradation is expected to be of minor
importance for the hazard assessment of cresols.

2.1.4 Bioaccumulation
Freitag et al. (1985) determined bioconcentration factors (BCF) of 14C-labelled m-cresol in fish
(Leuciscus idus melanotus). The fish were exposed to a 0.05 mg/l solution of the tests compound.
After the test period of 3 days radioactivity was measured in water medium and fish. A substance-
specific analysis was not applied. BCF values of 20 were obtained.
In the same study BCF-values of 40 and 4900 for algae are reported without explanation for the
difference. Higher BCF values with algae may be obtained due to adsorption of test substance to the
surface of the algae and due to the high surface-volume ratio in the test. Thus the algal data were
not used in the assessment of the bioaccumulation potential.
The low BCF value for fish is supported by a BCF, estimated on the basis of the log Kow. Based on
the equation log BCFfish = 0.85. log Kow – 0.70 (EC 1996), a bioaccumulation factor (BCF) of 9.3
is calculated from the log Kow of 1.96 (m-cresol).
Experimental data for p-cresol are not available. Because of the similar log Kow, a similar
accumulation behaviour is expected. For m-, p-cresols and the mixture the bioaccumulation
potential is considered to be low.

2.2 Human Exposure

2.2.1 Occupational Exposure


The primary occupational exposure during manufacture and processing is via skin contact and, to a
lesser extent, through inhalation of the vapours. No information is readily available on the total
number of sites, which manufacture, process, or use cresols.
In Germany the workplace limit concentration is 22 mg/m³ (= 5 ppm) as TWA for the sum of all
cresol isomers (TRGS 900, 2002). The German exposure limit value is in accordance with that of
the other European countries limit values and with the US-TLV value.

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Investigations on cresols at the workplace have to be performed according to German regulations


(TRGS 402). This includes regular surveys on exposure levels at different workplaces and
appropriate control measurements.
At Bayer AG, 27 measurements of the workplace concentration were made between 1996 and 2001.
All values were below 2.0 mg/m³. The measurements were performed at different workplaces
during production, processing, sampling, and filling/drumming of m/p-cresols. 11 measurements are
short time values (mostly during sampling), the others are total shift values.
To protect workers from exposure to cresols at workplace, several different precautionary and
protective measures are taken including engineering controls, periodical personnel training and
appropriate personal protection equipment for different work situations. Sampling takes place in an
automated manner with exhausting device. Filling/drumming is totally automated. In special
situations (e.g. maintenance/repair work) special personal protection equipment has to be worn (e.g.
self-contained breathing apparatus, full chemical protective clothing)
For on-site processing the m/p-cresols are transported in pipelines. For normal transport to
customers m/p-cresols are transported in road tank trucks or rail tank wagons. Less then 10 % are
filled in special rolling channel drums.
Down stream professional users of cresols are informed by way of a material safety data sheet on
the recommended safety measures, including personal protective equipment (such as goggles, face
shields, gloves, aprons, personal respirators), and local and/or general ventilation systems. No
exposure measurements were available for workers involved in down-stream uses of m-Cresol, p-
Cresol, and m/p-Cresol mixtures.

2.2.2 Consumer Exposure


The general public can be exposed to all isomers of cresol from air inhalation, food and beverage
ingestion and dermal contact.
Cresols (mixed isomers) are widespread in nature, occuring, for instance, in many plants,
petroleum, coal tar, crude oil and, volcanic actions. Foods, such as tomatoes, ketchup, asparagus,
cheeses, butter, bacon, and smoked foods, as well as beverages, such as red wine, raw and roasted
coffee and black tea, contain mixed cresols. Concentrations in spirit beverages were found to be
within the range of 0.01 -0.2 mg/l (IPCS 1995). They are emitted from municipal incinerators,
during coal and wood combustion, with vehicle exhaust, from oil refineries, and cigarette smoke
(ATSDR 1992). The amount in tobacco smoke is approximately 75 µg in a nonfilter cigarette
(IPCS, 1995), and exposure to m/p-cresol from environmental tobacco smoke has been estimated to
0.41 µg/m³ in adult Californian non-smokers (Miller et al. 1998). Cresols are also products of the
photooxidation of toluene (Howard 1989). m-Cresol and p-cresol were identified, but not
quantified, in the ambient outdoor air in the US (Shah and Singh, 1988). Combined m-/p-isomers
were detected in the ambient air of Portland/USA at a reported mean concentration of 1.3*10-7
µg/m³ (0.03 ppb) (Grossjean 1991) and at a mean concentration of 1.4 µg/m³ (0 - 4.1 µg/m³) in the
US (Kelly et al. 1993). Combined m-/p-isomers were detected at a concentration of 0.04 µg/m³ in
Switzerland (Tremp et al. 1988). m/p-Cresols were found in USA outdoor air in concentrations of
0.038 - 0.411 µg/m³ in Minneapolis (MN) and of 0.053 - 0.408 µg/m³ in Salt Lake City (UT) in the
winter months. The range shows the different influence of residential wood burning and of traffic
(Hawthorne et al. 1992). 3.9 x 10-4 µg/m³ (88 ppb) were found near a shale oil wastewater facility
(Hawthorne and Sievers 1984).
m/p-Cresol isomers were detected in cloud water in the Vosges mountains/France (altitude about
800 - 1000 m) at concentrations of 0.47 - 2.23 mg/m³ and at 0.11 - 1.21 mg/m³ in the rain (Levsen

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et al. 1993). m/p-Cresol was found in rainfall in Switzerland at a concentration of 4.5 mg/m³
(Tremp et al. 1988).
The lack of adequate monitoring data, however, makes quantitative estimates of daily intakes of
cresol from these sources practically impossible.
m-Cresol and p-cresol are permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption as
flavouring substances (EU 1999), and are used as perfumes and aromatic raw materials in cosmetic
products (SCCNFP 2000). m-Cresol is also used as preservative in cosmetics (BgVV 2001).
Exposure of humans is possible through the use of m-cresol as a preservative in pharmaceutical
injection solutions (e.g. insulin injection solution 1.6 - 3 mg/ml) (Rote Liste 2002).
p-Cresol is used in cleaning/washing agents and in surface treatment products at concentrations up
to 2 % (Danish Product Register 2002).

3 HUMAN HEALTH HAZARDS

3.1 Effects on Human Health

3.1.1 Toxicokinetics, Metabolism and Distribution


All cresol isomers are absorbed across the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract and through the
intact skin (Pereima 1977, Bray et al. 1950, Mandel 1971, DeBruin 1976, Roberts et al. 1977, IPCS
1995). Limited data indicate that cresols are widely distributed throughout the body after uptake
(IPCS 1995). Cresols are mainly conjugated with glucuronic acid and inorganic sulfate and excreted
as conjugates with the urine (Bray et al. 1950). Minor pathways include hydroxylation of the
benzene ring (all isomers) and, for p-cresol, side-chain oxidation to p-hydroxybenzoic acid (Bray et
al. 1950). For p-cresol, oxidation to a reactive quinone methide intermediate was also found in rat
liver in vitro (IPCS 1995, Thompson et al. 1996).
At physiological pH, the conjugated metabolites are ionized to a greater extent than the parent
compound, which reduces renal reabsorption and increases elimination with the urine (Mandel
1971). In addition to urinary excretion, cresols are excreted in the bile, but the most part undergoes
enterohepatic circulation (IPCS 1995, Deichmann and Keplinger 1981, Scheline 1973). There are
known species differences in the specific conjugation reactions of cresol isomers and the relative
amounts of glucuronide and sulfate conjugates therefore differ between species and also vary with
dose (Mandel 1971, Scheline 1973, IPCS 1995).
p-Cresol is an endogenous product of protein breakdown in humans. The anaerobic microflora of
the ileum reportedly produces this isomer from the amino acid tyrosine (Bone et al., 1976). p-Cresol
is a normal constituent of human urine with levels of excretion ranging from 16 to 74 mg/24 hours
(Bone et al. 1976, Renwick et al. 1988, Schaltenbrand and Coburn 1985).
Conclusion:
m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures are absorbed across the respiratory and gastrointestinal
tracts and through the skin, and are distributed throughout the body. The primary metabolic
pathway for all cresol isomers is conjugation with glucuronic acid and inorganic sulfates. All
isomers are mainly eliminated by renal excretion in form of conjugates. For p-cresol, oxidation to a
reactive quinone methide intermediate was found in rat liver in vitro.

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3.1.2 Acute Toxicity


There are no studies with m-, p-, or m/p-cresol mixtures according to the current OECD Test
guidelines, but there are studies which are adequately documented and are considered of sufficient
quality to allow an evaluation of this endpoint:
Oral
m-Cresol:
LD50 (male rat): 242 mg/kg bw (undiluted). Until 4 hours post application the animals showed
hypoactivity, tremors, convulsions, salivation and prostration. Gross autopsy revealed inflammation
of the gastrointestinal tract, and hyperemia of lungs, liver and kidneys only in the decedents
whereas the survivors showed no significant findings at the end of the 14 day observation period
(BioFax 1969a). Given as 10 % olive oil solution the LD50 (rat) was 2020 mg/kg bw (Deichmann
and Witherup 1944).
p-Cresol:
Application of 100 - 316 mg/kg bw undiluted substance to 5 male rats/dose resulted in an LD50 of
207 mg/kg bw. As signs of intoxications were observed hypoactivity, tremors, lacrimation, dyspnea,
cyanosis, hemorrhagic rhinitis, convulsions, prostration and finally death occurred. Gross autopsy
revealed inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract in the survivors at the end of the 14 d observation
period. Haemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract, hyperemia of lungs, liver and kidneys were reported
from decedents (BioFax 1969b). Given as 10 % olive oil solution the LD50 (rat) was 1800 mg/kg bw
(Deichmann and Witherup 1944).
m/p-Cresol:
There are no studies available using a m/p-cresol mixture.
Conclusion:
Following oral application the LD50 of undiluted m-cresol in rats was 242 mg/kg bw; and the LD50
of undiluted p-cresol was 207 mg/kg bw. Thus, it can be assumed that the LD50 of m/p-cresol
mixtures is slightly above 200 mg/kg bw. Clinical signs included hypoactivity, salivation, tremors,
and convulsions.
Inhalation
m-Cresol:
In an 8 hour inhalation study rats were exposed to saturated vapour which was generated at room
temperature. No mortality occurred and no signs of intoxication were observed (Mellon Inst. Ind.
Res. 1949). These observations were in accordance with the inhalation study reported by BioFax
(1969a): 6 male rats were exposed to 710 mg/m3 for 1 hour and then observed for 14 days. No rat
died and no signs of intoxication were observed. From gross autopsy, no pathological findings were
reported. From a study in which m-cresol aerosols were used, the mean lethal concentration in rats
was reported to be 58 mg/m³ (exposure time not mentioned).. Clinical signs of toxicity included
irritation of mucous membranes, neuromuscular excitation and convulsions. Haematuria was
reported at very high concentrations (Pereima 1975).
p-Cresol
The exposure of 6 male rats to 710 mg/m3 p-cresol for 1 hour caused no mortality, and no signs of
intoxication. From gross autopsy no significant findings were reported (BioFax 1969b). From a

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study in which p-cresol aerosols were used, the mean lethal concentration in rats was reported to be
29 mg/m³. Clinical signs of toxicity included irritation of mucous membranes, neuromuscular
excitation and convulsions. Haematuria was reported at very high concentrations (Pereima 1975).
m/p-Cresol:
There are no data available using a m/p-cresol mixture.
Conclusion:
No mortality nor clinical signs of toxicity were seen following exposure to the saturated vapour
concentration of either m-cresol or p-cresol. Inhalation of aerosols may however cause death, and
mean lethal concentrations in rats were reported to be 29 mg/m³ for p-cresol and 58 mg/m³ for m-
cresol. Clinical signs of toxicity included irritation of mucous membranes, excitation and
convulsions. Haematuria was reported at very high concentrations.
Dermal
m-Cresol:
1000 - 3160 mg/kg bw undiluted m-cresol was applied to the skin of 5 rabbits per dose (exposure
time not mentioned, observation time: 14 days) yielding an LD50 of 2050 mg/kg bw. From 4 hours
post application up to 12 hours the animals showed lacrimation, salivation, hypersensitivity,
convulsions and hypoactivity; the treated skin showed severe erythema and burns. At gross autopsy,
the decedents showed hyperemia of lungs and kidneys whereas survivors showed no significant
findings. (BioFax 1969a). This result is in accordance with the results of another study, in which 24
hr exposure to the neat material was followed by a 14-day observation period. The LD50(rabbit) was
reported to be 2830 mg/kg bw (Vernot et al. 1977).
p-Cresol:
215 - 681 mg/kg bw undiluted p-cresol was applied to the skin of 5 rabbits per dose (exposure time
not mentioned, observation time: 14 days) yielding an LD50 of 300 mg/kg bw. From 4 hours post
application up to 12 hours the animals showed tremors, salivation, sedation and finally died. At the
application site severe subdermal hemorrhaging and severe erythema were observed. At gross
autopsy, the decedents showed inflammation of the kidneys whereas survivors showed no
significant findings (BioFax,1969b). This result is in accordance with the results of another study,
in which 24 hr exposure to the neat material was followed by a 14-day observation period. The
LD50(rabbit) was calculated to be 300 mg/kg bw (Vernot et al. 1977).
m/p-Cresol:
There is no study available using m/p-cresol-mixtures.
Conclusion:
Following dermal application in rabbits the LD50 of undiluted m-cresol was 2050 mg/kg bw and the
LD50 of p-cresol was 300 mg/kg bw. It can be assumed that the LD50 of m/p-cresol mixtures is
between 300 and 2000 mg/kg bw.

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3.1.3 Irritation
Skin Irritation
There is no study according to the current OECD Test guideline, but the available studies are
adequately documented and are considered of sufficient quality to allow an evaluation of this
endpoint:
m-Cresol:
Application of 0.5 ml of the undiluted liquid to the intact or abraded skin of each of 6 rabbits caused
within 24 hours severe erythema and edema in each rabbit, which did not disappear within the 72
hours observation time (mean score value: 8.00/8.00) (BioFax 1969a). Using semi-occlusive
dressing for 4 hours, the visible tissue damage was indicative of corrosive effects (Vernot et al.
1977).
p-Cresol:
Application of 0.5 ml of the undiluted liquid to the intact or abraded skin of each of 6 rabbits caused
within 24 hours severe erythema and edema in the skin of each rabbit, which did not disappear
within the 72 hours observation time (mean score value: 8.00/8.00) (BioFax 1969b). Using semi-
occlusive dressing for 4 hours, the visible tissue damage was indicative of corrosive effects (Vernot
et al. 1977).
Application of 0.5 % p-cresol to the skin for 6 weeks resulted in permanent depigmentation of the
skin and hair in black and agouti mice (Shelley 1974).
m/p-Cresol:
Undiluted m/p-cresol mixture was applied to the clipped intact skin of three male and female rabbits
for four hours covered by semiocclusive dressing and evaluated as corrosive because necrosis with
severe edema was noted 4 hours post application and eschar formation developed within 24 hours
(Younger Lab 1974).
Conclusion:
m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures are corrosive to the skin.
Eye Irritation
m-Cresol:
0.1 ml of the undiluted liquid caused highly irritating effects in the cornea, iris and conjunctivae of
all 6 treated rabbits. There was no recovery during the 72 hours observation period, and the mean
irritation score at 72 hours was 87.3/110 (BioFax 1969a).
p-Cresol
0.1 ml of the undiluted liquid caused highly irritating effects in the cornea, iris and conjunctivae of
all 6 treated rabbits. The effects did increase in severity during the 72 hours observation period, and
the mean irritation score at 72 hours was 93.0/110 (BioFax 1969b).
m/p Cresol:
There is no study available using a m/p-Cresol-mixture.

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Conclusion:
The instillation of undiluted m- or p-cresol into the rabbit eye according to the Draize method
resulted in extreme irritation with the risk of serious eye damage.

3.1.4 Sensitisation
m-Cresol:
There is no study available using m-cresol.
p-Cresol:
A modified Draize test was performed on 10 guinea pigs (males and females). Preliminary irritation
studies were performed to determine the suitable concentrations: the intradermal injection challenge
concentration was a 0.1 % solution and the application challenge concentration was a 10 %
solution. p-cresol did not induce sensitization in guinea pigs (Sharp 1978).
Human data:
A maximization test was conducted on 25 volunteers using a 4 % concentration of p-cresol in
petrolatum. The maximization test involved an induction phase of 5 consecutive 48-hr covered
patch tests, sometimes separated by 24-hr periods of treatment with a mild irritant, followed 10 - 14
days later by a 48-hr challenge patch using the same concentration. There were no sensitization
reactions in any of the volunteers (Kligman 1972).
m/p-Cresol:
In a study in which a 7.5 % solution of a mixture of m- and p-cresol in acetone was repeatedly
applied to the skin of guinea pigs, sensitization was not observed (DECOS, 1998).
Conclusion:
There is no indication of a sensitizing effect of p-cresol and m/p-cresol from a limited guinea pig
study and a limited human study. No sensitization test was available for m-cresol. In a survey article
hypersensitivity reactions of some individuals to cresol (isomer unspecified) have been mentioned
(Deichmann and Keplinger 1981).

3.1.5 Repeated Dose Toxicity


Oral application
Regenerative changes in the nasal epithelia as a result of the irritant effects were the predominant
signs of toxicity following repeated dosing of rats and mice with p-cresol or with the 60:40 m/p-
cresol with the feed in 28-day and 13-week studies. At minimum effect levels of 1000 ppm in the
diet (mouse, ca. 200 mg/kg bw/day) and 3000 ppm in the diet (rat, ca. 250 mg/kg bw/day), the liver
was the target organ for the toxic action of m-cresol, p-cresol and the 60:40 m/p-cresol mixture. A
dose-dependent increase in liver weight was observed, but histopathological effects or changes of
parameters indicative of liver toxicity were seen with p-cresol at high doses only. In the 13-week
feeding study with m/p-cresol transitory increases in serum total bile acids, alanine
aminotransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase near the start of the study suggested that
hepatocellular injury with a decrease in hepatocellular function may have occurred and regressed in
the course of the study. Kidney weights were increased in male mice after feeding p-cresol for 28
days at 3000 ppm (469 mg/kg bw/day), and lengthened estrous cycles were noted in rats fed with
the m/p-cresol at 7500 ppm (509 mg/kg bw/day) in the 13-week study. In feeding studies bone

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marrow hypoplasia was found in rats after exposure to p-cresol at ≥ 3000 ppm (256 mg/kg bw/day),
with m/p-cresol at 15,000 ppm, and in mice after exposure to p-cresol and m/p-cresol at 30,000
ppm.
Increased colloid within thyroid follicles in female rats were observed with m/p-cresol only at ≥ 509
mg/kg bw/day, but the biological significance of this observation is uncertain.
Based on the data from the subacute and subchronic studies there is no evidence to suggest that a
significant increase in toxicity occurs with longer exposures
In a poorly documented neurotoxicity study in rats with m-cresol and p-cresol, convulsions were
seen only in the groups treated with ≥ 450 mg/kg bw/day. Hypoactivity, rapid labored respiration
and excessive salivation were observed sporadically at doses of ≥ 50 mg/kg bw/day. In spite of the
observed clinical signs, few significant changes were found in performance on neurobehavioural
test batteries, no brain weight changes were noted, and no gross or histopathological lesion in the
brain or other nervous tissues were found for any isomer (TRL 1986 as cited in IPCS 1995).
Results of repeated dose oral toxicity studies with m-cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol (60:40) are
summarized in the following tables:

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Table 5: m-Cresol: Repeated Dose Toxicity Rat/Mouse

Study-Description NOAEL Effects Reference


Rat
5 rats/sex/dose, 28 d, feeding 3000 ppm No mortality, no clinical signs of toxicity NTP 1991
0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10,000, (252
30,000 ppm mg/kg 30,000 ppm, m, f: decreased body weight gain and
bw/day) final body weight, decreased food consumption,
(m: 0, 25, 85, 252, 870, 2470
minimal to mild uterine atrophy in 4/5 females; no
mg/kg bw/day;
histopathological changes in other organs
f: 0, 25, 82,252, 862, 2310
mg/kg bw/day),
≥ 10,000 ppm: increased rel liver weights
30 rats/sex/dose, 13 w gavage Males: 50 450 mg: 1 male died (gavage error), lethargy, tremor, Microbiolo
0, 50, 150, 450 mg/kg bw/day in mg/kg hunched posture, dyspnoe, reduced body weight gain, gical
bw/day decreased food consumption (m); no histopathological Associates
corn oil
changes Inc 1988a
Females:
150 150 mg: reduced bw gain (m)
mg/kg
bw/day
10 rats/sex/dose, 13 w gavage * 450 mg: reduced food consumption (m,f) convulsions, TRL 1986
20 rats/sex as control death of 1 female, urination ↑ (f)
0, 50, 150, 450 mg/kg bw/day
in corn oil ≥ 50 mg: clinical signs as salivation, urine wet
neurotoxicity study abdomen, hypoactivity, rapid and labored respiration,
myoclonus, hyperreactivity
available as summary only
Mouse
5 mice/sex/dose, 28 d feeding 1000 ppm Mortality: 1/5 control male; 30,000 ppm: 2/5 f, 2/5 m; NTP 1991
0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10,000, (m: 193 10,000 ppm: 1/5 f
30,000 ppm mg/kg
bw/day), 30,000 ppm, m,f: reduced body weight gain, and final
(m: 0, 53, 193, 521,1730, 4710
< 300 body weight, decreased food consumption, thin
mg/kg bw; ppm (f, 66 appearance, lethargy, tremor, hypothermia (f only), in
f: 0, 66, 210, 651, 2080, 4940 mg/kg females atrophy of mammary gland, ovaries, uterus;
mg/kg bw) bw/day) no histopathological changes in liver and kidneys

≥ 10,000 ppm, m,f: hunched posture, rough hair coat,


laboured breathing(only f)

≥ 3000 ppm: increased rel liver weight (m)


≥ 300 ppm: increased rel liver weight (f)

* due to limitations in the study documentation, NOAELs were not derived

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Table 6: p-Cresol: Repeated Dose Toxicity: Rat/Mouse

Study Description NOAEL Effects Reference


Rat
5 rats/sex/dose, 28 d feeding Systemic: No mortality NTP 1991
0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10,000, 30,000 ppm,m,f: decreased feed consumption,
30,000 ppm 1000 ppm (m: decreased bw gain and final bw; hunched posture,
87 mg/kg rough hair coat, increased rel. liver and kidney weight,
(m:0, 25, 87, 256, 835, 2180
bw/day, f: 83 uterus atrophy in 3 of 5 females; no histopathological
mg/kg bw/day; changes in liver or kidney.
mg/kg
f: 0, 25, 83, 242, 769, 2060 bw/day) and
mg/kg bw/day) 1000 ppm ≥10,000 ppm: increased rel liver, mild bone marrow
(local) hypocellularity, in males increased rel kidney weight,

≥3000 ppm: effects in nasal cavity indicative of


irritation; mild bone marrow hypocellularity in 1 of 5
males, increased rel liver weight in females
30 rats/sex/dose, 13 w gavage 50 mg/kg 600 mg: in females death of 3 animals, lethargy, Microbiolo
0, 50, 175, 600 mg/kg bw/day in bw/day salivation, tremor, convulsion, decreased body weight gical
gain, decreased food consumption (m), increased Associates
corn oil
SGPT (f) and SGOT (f), decreased ovary weight, Inc 1988b
increased rel. liver weight (m) and increased rel
kidney weight, effects on trachea indicative of
irritation
≥175 mg : decreased body weight gain (m), increased
serum protein (m), decreased red blood cell count, Hb-
, hematocrit-values (f)

chronic nephropathy in all male animals, including the


controls
10 rats/sex/dose, , 13 w gavage * 600 mg: increased mortality (4m and4f; due to TRL 1986
20 rats/sex as control aspiration), reduced body weight gain (m), reduced
food consumption, reduced locomotor activity
0, 50, 175, 600 mg/kg bw/day in
corn oil
neurotoxicity study ≥ 50 mg: clinical signs as salivation, tremor, urine wet
available as summary only abdomen, hypoactivity, myoclonus, rapid and labored
respiration, hyperreactivity
Mouse
5 mice/sex/dose, 28 d feeding 1000 ppm 30,000 ppm: death of all dosed mice: renal and hepatic NTP 1991
0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10,000, (systemic; necrosis, bone marrow hypocellularity and renal
163/207 tubular necrosis and liver cell necrosis; in females
30,000 ppm
mg/kg hunched posture, rough hair coat, lethargy,
(m.: 0, 50, 163, 469, 1410, n.d.* hypothermia, laboured breathing, paleness
bw/day)
mg/kg bw/day;
f.: 0, 60, 207, 564, 1590,n.d.*
300 ppm 10,000 ppm: 1 m died,
mg/kg bw/day)
(local; m) in males hunched posture, rough hair coat, lethargy,
* not determined hypothermia, laboured breathing, paleness, lowered
bw gain and final bw, depressed food consumption at
< 300 ppm
the beginning; rel. liver- and heart-weight increased,
(local, f)
in females depressed food consumption

≥3000 ppm, in females rel. liver weight increased, in


males rel. kidney weight increased

22 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
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≥300 ppm, f and ≥1000 ppm, m: nasal lesions


indicative of irritation

* due to limitations in the study documentation, NOAELs were not derived

Table 7: m/p-Cresol (60:40): Repeated Dose Toxicity: Rat

Study Description NOAEL Effects Reference


Rat
5 rats/sex/dose, 28 d, feeding Systemic: No mortality NTP 1991
0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10,000, 1000 ppm
30,000 ppm (m;90 30,000 ppm, m, f: reduced bw gain, reduced food
(m: 0, 26, 90, 261, 877, 2600 mg/kg consumption, thin appearance, bone marrow
mg/kg bw/day bw/day; f;
hypocellularity, no histopathological changes in liver or
f: 0, 27, 95, 268, 886,2570 95 mg/kg
kidney
mg/kg bw/day) bw/day)

≥ 10,000 ppm,f: increased rel. liver and kidney weight,


300 ppm
(local) local effects at forestomach (m)

≥ 3000 ppm: slightly increased rel. liver weight, (m,f)


increased colloid within follicles of the thyroid gland.
effects on oesophagus and forestomach (f only)
indicative of irritation

≥ 1000 ppm (f) and ≥ 3000 ppm (m): effects in the


nasal cavity indicative of irritation
20 rats/sex/dose, 13 week Males: No mortality NTP 1991
feeding 1880 ppm
0, 1880, 3750,7500, 15,000, females: 30,000 ppm: rough hair coat , urine stained fur, and
30,000 ppm,
3750 ppm thin appearance (f only), reduced feed consumption,
(m: 0, 123, 241, 486, 991, 2014 increased rel kidney weights (f), bone marrow
(systemic,
mg/kg bw/day; f: 0, 131, 254, hypocellularity (f), decreased 5'Nucleotidase, increased
123/254
509, 1024, 2050 mg/kg bw/day) serum bile acids; no histopathological changes in liver
mg/kg
bw/day) or kidney

< 1880 ppm ≥ 15,000 ppm reduced terminal body weight and
(local) decreased body weight gain(f only), increased rel testes
weight, bone marrow hypocellularity (m), uterus
atrophy, increased colloid within thyroid follicles

≥7500 ppm: increased rel liver weight and kidney


weight (m), increased colloid within thyroid follicles (f
only), lengthened oestrous cycle

≥3750 ppm: increased abs. liver weight (m)

≥1880 ppm: histological changes in nasal epithelium


indicative of irritation

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Table 8: m/p-Cresol (60:40): Repeated Dose Toxicity: Mouse

Study Description NOAEL Effects Reference


Mouse
5 mice/sex/dose, 28 d feeding Males: No mortality NTP 1991
0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10,000, 300 ppm
30,000 ppm females: 30,000 ppm: alopecia, dehydration, hunched posture,
(m: 0, 50, 161, 471, 1490, 4530 1000 ppm hypothermia, lethargy, rough hair coat, thin appearance,
mg/kg bw/day; reduced food consumption, weight loss, minimal
(systemic; changes in lung, oesophgus and forestomach indicative
f: 0, 65, 200, 604, 1880, 4730 50/200
mg/kg bw/day) of local irritation, hypocellularity of the bone marrow,
mg/kg in females atrophy of ovaries and uterus; no
bw/day) histopathological changes in other organs

Males: ≥ 10,000 ppm (m) and 30,000 ppm (f): reduced body
3000 ppm. weight gain
Females:
1000 ppm ≥ 1000 ppm (m) and ≥ 3000 ppm (f): increased rel. liver
(local) weights

≥ 3000 ppm (f) and ≥ 10000 ppm (m): effects in the


nasal cavity indicative of irritation
10 mice/sex/dose, 13 week Systemic: No mortality NTP 1991
feeding 5000 ppm
0, 625, 1250, 2500, 5000, (m, 776 10,000 ppm: rough fur (f), decreased food consumption,
10,000 ppm mg/kg reduced terminal body weight; no histopathological
(m: 0, 96, 194, 402, 776, 1513 bw/day), changes in liver and kidney
mg/kg bw/day; f: 0, 116, 239, 2500 ppm
472, 923, 1693 mg/kg bw/day) (f, 472
mg/kg ≥ 5000 ppm (m) and 10000 ppm (f): increased liver
bw/day) weights

2500 ppm ≥ 5000 ppm (m) and ≥ 2500 ppm (f): effects in the nasal
(local) cavity indicative of irritation

Inhalation Route
In two studies, rats were administered the cresol isomers (isomers not specified) by the inhalation
route for 3 - 4 months at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 10 mg/m³. In each study a decrease in
body weight gain, and histological changes in the liver and kidney were reported. Because of the
limited documentation regarding exposure methods, number of animals and results, these studies
cannot be adequately evaluated (IPCS 1995).
Dermal Route
No data available.
Conclusion:
In 28-day and 13-week feeding studies, m-cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol (60:40) had a very similar
pattern of toxicity in rats and mice with minimal effect levels of 1000 - 3000 ppm in the diet (ca.
200 mg/kg bw/day in mice, ca. 250 mg/kg bw/day in rats) for increases in liver weight (rat, mouse)
and of 3000 ppm for increases in kidney weight (p-cresol; mouse, ca. 469 mg/kg bw/day). No
increase in relative kidney weight was found for m-cresol.

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Atrophy and regenerative changes in the nasal epithelia and forestomach were seen after exposure
to p-cresol and m/p-cresol, presumably as direct result of the irritant effects of these chemicals.
The no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) for m-cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol (28d- and
90d-studies) were generally ≥ 50 mg/kg bw/day in rats and mice:
Table 9: NOAEL Values for Systemic Toxicity From Repeated Dose Toxicity Studies

NOAELs m-Cresol p-Cresol m/p-Cresol


Rat(m, f):
28d, feeding, 252 mg/kg bw/day (m, f) 87 mg/kg bw/day (m) 90 mg/kg bw/day (m),
83 mg/kg bw/day (f) 95 mg/kg bw/day (f)
13 w, feeding 123 mg/kg bw/day (m)
254 mg/kg bw/day (f)
13 w gavage 50 mg/kg bw/day (m) 50 mg/kg bw/day(m, f)
150 mg/kg bw/day (f)
Mouse (m, f)
28 d feeding 193 mg/kg bw/day (m) 163 mg/kg bw/day (m) 50 mg/kg bw/day (m)
66 mg/kg bw/day (f; LOEL: 207 mg/kg bw/day (f) 200 mg/kg bw/day (f)
increase in relative liver weight
without histopathological
correlate)
13 w feeding 776 mg/kg bw/day (m)
472 mg/kg bw/day (f)

The NOAEL for repeated dose (90d-study) of o-cresol was 50 mg/kg bw/day for mice and rats
(UNEP 1998).

3.1.6 Mutagenicity
in vitro
(A) Gene mutation
m-Cresol
m-Cresol was tested negative in several Ames tests with various Salmonella typhimurium strains
and using preincubation or standard methodology (e.g. Haworth et al. 1983, Pool and Lin 1982).
The studies gave no indication of gene mutation with and without metabolic activation.
In addition, there is a mouse lymphoma assay with a negative result (with and without S9-mix,
Hazleton Lab. Am. 1988a).
p-Cresol
p-Cresol was tested negative in several Ames tests with various Salmonella typhimurium strains and
using preincubation or standard methodology (e.g. Haworth et al., 1983, Pool and Lin, 1982). The
studies gave no indication of gene mutation with and without metabolic activation.
In addition, there is a mouse lymphoma assay (with and without S9-mix) with a negative result
(Hazleton Lab. Inc. 1988e).

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m/p-Cresol
An Ames test was performed without S9-mix and with S9-mix from rat and hamster livers. The
studies gave no indication of gene mutations (NTP 1991).
Conclusion:
In vitro, m-,and p- cresol did not induce gene mutations in bacterial and mammalian cell systems
and m/p-Cresol mixture did not induce gene mutations in bacteria, both in the presence or absence
of metabolic activation.
(B) Cytogenicity
m-Cresol:
There is a study on cytogenicity (Chromosome aberration) using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO)
cells in vitro which corresponds to the current OECD guideline 473 (Hazleton Lab. Am. 1988b).
The study gave no indication of any clastogenic activity of the substance.
In addition, there is a mouse lymphoma assay (Hazleton Lab. Am. 1988a) with a negative result. In
a Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE) test on human fibroblasts without metabolic activation no
increases in exchange rates were seen (Cheng and Kligerman 1984).
p-Cresol
There is a study on cytogenicity (Chromosome aberration) using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO)
cells in vitro which corresponds to the current OECD guideline 473 Incubated without metabolic
activation the assay was positive in all doses. The metabolic activated cultures which were
incubated for 10 hours yielded negative results and those which were incubated for 20 hours yielded
positive results (Hazleton Lab. Inc. 1988f). In addition, there is a mouse lymphoma assay with a
negative result both in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (Hazleton Lab. Inc. 1988e).
In a Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE) tests with human lymphocytes using a treatment time of up
to 90 hours (Jansson et al. 1986) and with human fibroblasts incubated with p-cresol for two hours
(Cheng and Kligerman 1984), no increases in exchange rates were seen.
m/p-Cresol
There are no cytogenetic assays in vitro with a m/p cresol mixture.
Conclusion:
m-Cresol did not induce chromosomal aberrations in vitro, whereas p-cresol had clastogenic
activity in CHO cells in both the presence or absence of S-9 mix. It is therefore possible that m/p-
cresol mixture has the potential to induce chromosomal aberrations in vitro. Neither m- nor p-cresol
did increase SCE in vitro.
(C) Indicator test
m-Cresol
No induction of Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (UDS) was found in rat primary hepatocytes m
(Hazleton Lab. Am. Inc. 1988c). In contrast, UDS was induced in SHE cells, but only in the
presence of a metabolic activation system (Hamaguchi and Tsutsui 2000).

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p-Cresol
p-Cresol inhibited both UV-induced DNA repair synthesis and semiconservative DNA synthesis as
evidenced by a reduction in radiolabelled thymidine incorporation (Daugherty and Frank 1986).
Induction of UDS was reported in Human Lung fibroblasts (Crowley and Margard 1978).
In vitro activation of p-cresol with either horseradish peroxidase or PB-induced rat liver
microsomes followed by incubation with calf-thymus DNA resulted in DNA adducts which are the
same as that produced by the quinone methide of p-cresol (Gaikwad and Bodell 2001).
m/p-Cresol
There are no data available using a m/p-cresol mixture.
Conclusion:
In vitro, p-cresol may induce unscheduled DNA synthesis, and the in vitro metabolite quinone
methide can form DNA adducts. Contradictory results for UDS induction were reported with m-
cresol from two studies both suffering from deficiencies. Thus, it is possible that m- and p-cresol
and m/p-cresol mixtures have the potential to interact with DNA either directly or indirectly via
metabolites.
in vivo
(A) Gene mutation
m-Cresol
There are no data available
p-Cresol
A Drosophila melanogaster SLRL test was negative following oral feeding of adult males with 0,
60, 300 or 600 µg/ml for three days (Hazleton Lab. Am. 1989).
m/p-Cresol
There are no data available using a m/p-cresol mixture.
Conclusion
p-Cresol did not induce gene mutations in Drosophila melanogaster.
(B) Cytogenicity
m-Cresol:
There is a study on cytogenicity (chromosome aberration) in 5 mice/sex/group following single oral
application by gavage (0, 96, 320 and 960 mg/kg bw in corn oil) according to OECD guideline 475.
Signs of toxicity were observed for the two highest dose groups and included scruffy coats, squinty
eyes and difficulties in breathing. 3 male mice of the 960 mg-group were found dead during the
study observation. m-Cresol revealed no clastogenic activity in bone marrow cells (Hazleton Lab.
Am. 1988d).
p-Cresol
To determine the potential of p-cresol to induce dominant lethal mutations in germ cells male mice
received single oral doses by gavage of 0, 100, 275 or 650 mg/kg bw suspended in corn oil.
Because of the excessive toxicity within the first week after dosing high dose animals were
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 27
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removed from the study and 550 mg/kg bw was assigned as the new high dose to be evaluated. p-
Cresol did not induce dominant lethal mutations in the germ cells of male mice (Hazleton 1989a)
Single intraperitoneal injection of 0.75 mg/kg bw dissolved in sunflower oil was given to 2 or 3
intact or hepatectomized male mice. Negative and positive controls received sunflower oil (intact
and hepatectomized mice) and cyclophosphamid (intact mice), respectively. p-Cresol did not induce
significant increases in SCE frequencies in any of the cell types examined (Cheng and Kligerman
1984).
m/p-Cresol
Groups of 10 mice/dose were given 0, 625, 1250, 2500, 1000 and 10,000 ppm of a m/p-cresol
mixture (60:40). The mean test substance intake was 0, 96, 194, 402, 776, 1513 mg/kg bw/day for
males and 0, 116, 239, 472, 923, 1693 mg/kg bw/day for females, respectively. To determine the
frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes smears were prepared from blood
samples obtained by cardiac puncture of dosed and control mice at the termination of the 13 week
study. No significant elevation in the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes was observed in
either male or female mice (NTP 1991).
Conclusion:
In vivo, m-cresol showed no clastogenic activity in mouse bone marrow cells, even at clearly toxic
dose levels (up to 960 mg/kg bw by gavage). p-Cresol did not induce dominant lethal mutations in
germ cells of mice after single oral doses that elicited marked toxicity (up to 550 mg/kg bw by
gavage). The sister chromatid exchange rate was not increased in mice after intraperitoneal injection
of 0.75 mg p-cresol/kg). m/p-Cresol mixture (60:40) did not elevate the frequency of
micronucleated erythrocytes in peripheral blood of mice fed for 13 weeks with up to 10,000 ppm.
Overall evaluation
In vitro, m- and p- cresol did not induce gene mutations in bacterial and mammalian cell systems
and m/p-Cresol mixture did not induce gene mutations in bacteria. m-Cresol was negative for
clastogenic activity in vitro, and in vivo. p-Cresol, was clastogenic in vitro, but has not been
adequately tested in somatic cells in vivo. p-Cresol was, however, negative for dominant lethal
mutations in germ cells in male mice at clearly toxic exposure levels. A 60:40 m-/p-Cresol mixture
did not increase the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes in the peripheral blood erythrocytes
of mice. In vitro, it is possible that m- and p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures have the potential to
interact with DNA either directly or indirectly via metabolites.
Table 10: Results of Mutagenicity Tests

m-Cresol p-Cresol m/p-Cresol


Geno- In vitro negative negative negative
toxicity
In vivo negative
Clasto- In vitro negative positive
genicity
In vivo negative negative negative

o-Cresol can induce chromosomal aberrations and increase SCE in vitro but not in vivo (UNEP
1998).

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3.1.7 Carcinogenicity
m-Cresol
There is no study available to assess the carcinogenic potential of m-cresol.
The promoting ability of m-cresol was investigated in the mouse skin painting model. The treatment
did induce an increase in skin papillomas, but not in carcinomas. The presence of benzene, which
was used as vehicle, did not appear to affect the results, since no papillomas were found in benzene
treated controls (Boutwell and Bosch 1959).
m-Cresol did not induce cell transformations in BALB/c-3T3 cells (Hazleton 1988g,h).
p-Cresol
There is no study available to assess the carcinogenic potential of p-cresol.
The promoting ability of p-cresol was investigated in the mouse skin painting model. The treatment
did induce an increase in skin papillomas, but not in carcinomas. The presence of benzene, which
was used as vehicle, did not appear to affect the results, since no papillomas were found in benzene
treated controls (Boutwell and Bosch 1959).
p-Cresol induced cell transformations in an in vitro cell transformation assay using mouse BALB/c-
3T3 cells without a metabolic activation system (Hazleton 1988g, h).
m/p-Cresol
There is no study available to assess the carcinogenic potential of a m/p-cresol mixture.
Conclusion:
As for o-cresol, there are no adequate data available to assess the carcinogenic potential of m- or p-
or m/p-cresol mixture. From tumour promotion studies in mice there are some indications that
cresols may act as promoters.
Currently, the U.S. National Cancer Institute is performing a carcinogenicity feeding study on mice
and rats with o/m/p-cresol mixture within the National Toxicological Program (NTP).

3.1.8 Toxicity for Reproduction


m-Cresol
Reproductive toxicity was examined in a two-generation study on Sprague-Dawley rats given 0, 30,
175 or 450 mg/kg bw/day in corn oil by gavage (BRRC 1989).
Effects on reproductive function or on morphology of reproductive tissues were not detected even at
doses producing overt toxicity in adult rats (hypoactivity, ataxia twitches, tremors, prostration urine
stains, audible respiration and perioral wetness). The NOAEL (fertility) was 450 mg/kg bw/day.
The NOAEL toxicity was 30 mg/kg bw/day.
In F1 and F2, litter size, sex ratio, and litter viability was unaffected by treatment. In F1 the female
pups had reduced body weights in the highest dose tested, but pup survival was not affected. In F2,
pup body weight, pup body weight gain and pup lactational index were reduced and pup mortality
was increased at the highest dose. Thus, the NOAEL (developmental effects) was 175 mg/kg
bw/day.

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In the 13 week gavage study (0, 50, 50, 450 mg/kg bw/day in corn oil) with rats no effects on
reproductive organs were reported, neither in males nor in females (Microbiological Association
1988a).
p-Cresol
Reproductive toxicity was examined in a two-generation test on Sprague-Dawley rats given 0, 30,
175 or 450 mg/kg bw/day in corn oil by gavage (BRRC 1989).
Reproductive function was not affected in either of the two generations even at doses producing
overt toxicity in adult rats (hypoactivity, ataxia twitches, tremors, prostration urine stains, audible
respiration and perioral wetness). NOAEL (fertility): 450 mg/kg bw/day. NOAEL (toxicity): 30
mg/kg bw/day. p-Cresol caused increased stillbirths in the F1 and F2 generations: in F1 pups at 175
(but not 450 mg/kg bw/day) and in F2 pups at 30 and 450 (but not at 175) mg/kg bw/day. There was
some variability in the number of stillborn in control groups in the F1 and F2 generation (2 versus
0) and there was no clear dose-dependent effect in both generations (control/low/mid/high dose: F1
pups: 2/4/13/6; F2 pups:0/7/4/9). In F2 (but not F1) live birth indices were reduced at 30 and 450
(not 175) mg/kg bw/day. Without any other effects, especially in the 30 mg/kg bw/day-group, it is
unclear whether the effects on live birth indices were substance related. Pup survival indices in both
generations were not affected by treatment. A developmental NOAEL could therefore not be
determined from this study.
At 600 mg/kg bw/day a decrease in ovary weights and an increase in testes weights was observed in
a 13-week gavage study with rats (Microbiological Associated 1988a).
m/p-Cresol
Male and female Swiss CD-1 mice were exposed to m/p-cresol (60:40) in the diet to assess
reproduction and fertility using the NTP continuous breeding protocol (RTI 1992):
Groups of 20 breading pairs received 0, 0.25, 1 and 1.5 % in feed for 7 days prior to cohousing and
for 98 days of continuous breeding. 40 breeding pairs received food only. The average daily intake
is calculated to be 0, 375, 1500 and 2250 mg/kg bw/day.
m-/p-Cresol mixture did not significantly affect most measures of reproductive competence in the
F0-generation, including initial fertility, the proportion of pups born alive or the sex of pups born
alive. Adjusted live pup weight and the number of live pups per litter were decreased by 5 and 20
%, respectively and cumulative days to the fifth litter were increased by almost 3 days in the high
dose group compared to controls. Therefore the NOAEL (F0, fertility) was 1 % (approximately
1500 mg/kg bw/day).
F0 body weight and feed consumption were decreased at the 1.0 and 1.5 % dose levels, especially in
delivering and lactating dams. At the 1.5 % level decreased body weight and increased kidney and
liver weights of F0 animals were noted. Toxicity to reproductive organs at the 1,5 % dose level was
observed in form of decreased epididymal and seminal vesicle weights by 10 and 21 %,
respectively, with no changes in testes weight, sperm parameters or testicular and epididymal
histopathology. The NOAEL (F0, general toxicity) was 0.25 % (approximately 375 mg/kg bw/day).
In F1 animals of the high dose group, birth weights were decreased (5 %), and decreased
preweaning growth by 26 % and postweaning survival by 39 % were noted. Treatment related
clinical signs were reduced size, dehydratation, lethargy and rough coat in the high dose group. At
both, 1.0 and 1.5 % dose level male body and reproductive organ weights (prostate, seminal vesicle,
testes) were decreased and relative liver and kidney weights were increased but there were no
effects on sperm parameters or histology. Female terminal body weights were reduced at the two
highest dose levels as was the ovarian weight in all three dosed groups while liver and kidney
30 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
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weights were increased in all dosed groups. There was no effect of treatment on estrous cyclicity or
ovarian, liver or kidney histopathology. NOAEL (F1, general toxicity): 0.25 % (approximately 375
mg/kg bw/day).
In F1, m/p-cresol mixture had no effect of mating index, fertility index, pregnancy index. Number
of live F2 pups per litter, proportion of F2 pups born alive, and sex ratio of F2 pups was not
affected. Only live F2 pup weights and the adjusted live F2 pup weights of the 1.5 % dose group
was significantly reduced. Thus, the NOAEL (F1, fertility) was 1 % (approximately 1500 mg/kg
bw/day).
No effects on sperm motility and concentration, and on oestrus cycle and vaginal cytology were
found following 13 weeks of feeding, groups of 10 mice/sex doses of up to 10,000 ppm (1513
mg/kg bw/day for males and 1693 mg/kg bw/day for females, respectively) (NTP 1991).
Following 13 weeks of feeding groups of 10 rats/sex doses up to 30,000 ppm (ca. 2014 mg/kg
bw/day for males and 2050 mg/kg bw/day for females) the only finding in males was a biologically
insignificant decrease (4 %) in mean sperm motility values which occurred at the high dose level. In
females, a dose-related increase in oestrous cycle length was observed at 7500 ppm (approximately
509 mg/kg bw/day) and 30,000 ppm; slight uterine atrophy was noted at 15,000 ppm (NTP 1991).
Conclusion
Despite general toxicity (hypoactivity, ataxia, twitches, tremors, prostration, urine stains, audible
respiration, perioral wetness), fertility was not affected by treatment with m-cresol or p-cresol
(NOAEL, rat: 450 mg/kg bw/day). The NOAELs for general toxicity were determined as 30 mg/kg
bw/day. Fertility effects including a 20 % reduction in pup survival as well as reductions in the
weights of male reproductive organs were found following treatment of mice with m/p-mixture in a
continuous breeding study at systemically toxic dose levels (reduced food consumption and reduced
body weights, increases in liver and kidney weights) (NOAEL, fertility and general toxicity: 0.25 %
in feed (ca. 375 mg/kg bw/day)).

3.1.9 Developmental toxicity/Teratogenicity


m-Cresol
Developmental toxicity was examined in Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits
(BRRC 1988a, b).
m-Cresol was given to 25 pregnant rats/group by gavage on gestation day 6 - 15 at doses of 0, 30,
175 or 450 mg/kg bw/day dissolved in corn oil. At 450 mg/kg bw/day, there was a significant
reduction in periodic maternal body weights and weight gain during the dosing period. Clinical
signs of toxicity at 450 mg/kg bw/day included hypoactivity, ataxia, tremor, twitches, prone
positioning, audible respiration, perioral wetness, and a reduction in food consumption. m-Cresol
did not induce fetotoxicity or malformations at any dose level tested. The NOEL for maternal
toxicity was 175 mg/kg bw/day and the NOEL for developmental toxicity was 450 mg/kg bw/day.
No fetotoxicity and no treatment-related effects on the incidence of any malformation (external,
visceral, skeletal) was found in the progeny of 14 rabbits/group, dosed by gavage on gestation day
6 - 18 with doses of 0, 5, 50, 100 mg/kg bw/day dissolved in corn oil. Clinical signs of toxicity were
observed at 50 mg/kg bw/day (audible respiration and ocular discharge). The NOEL for maternal
toxicity was 5 mg/kg bw/day and the NOEL for developmental toxicity was 100 mg/kg bw/day.

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 31
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p-Cresol
Developmental toxicity was examined in Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zeeland White rabbits
(BRRC 1988a, b).
p-Cresol was given to 25 pregnant rats/ group by gavage on gestation day 6 - 15 at doses of 0, 30,
175 or 450 mg/kg bw/day dissolved in corn oil. At 450 mg/kg bw/day, there was a significant
reduction in maternal body weight gain during the dosing period. Clinical signs of toxicity at 450
mg/kg bw/day included hypoactivity, ataxia, tremors, twitches, prone positioning, audible
respiration, and peroral wetness. p-Cresol caused fetotoxicity at 450 mg/kg/day, as evidenced by
reduced ossification in three skeletal districts. In addition, fetal body weight was reduced at 450
mg/kg/day. There was no treatment-related increase in the incidence of malformations (external,
visceral, skeletal) at any dose level. Gestational parameters which were unaffected by treatment
included number of ovarian corpora lutea, number of total, nonlive or live implants and sex ratio per
litter. Thus, the NOEL for maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity was 175 mg/kg bw/day.
No treatment-related effects on the incidence of any malformations (external, visceral, skeletal) was
found in the progeny of 14 rabbits / group, dosed by gavage on gestation day 6 - 18 with 0, 5, 50,
100 mg/kg bw/day dissolved in corn oil. Clinical signs of toxicity were observed at 50 and 100
mg/kg bw/day (audible respiration and ocular discharge, hypoactivity, gasping and cyanosis). There
were no treatment-related effects on food consumption and no treatment-related lesions in does or
any changes in maternal organ weights. Gestational parameters were unaffected by treatment (no
treatment related abortions, early deliveries or resorptions, and no changes in total, nonlive or live
implants per litter or fetal body weight per litter). Thus, the NOEL for maternal toxicity was 5
mg/kg bw/day and the NOEL for developmental toxicity was 100 mg/kg bw/day.
m/p-Cresol
There is no study available using a m/p-cresol-mixture.
Conclusion:
In developmental toxicity in rats and rabbits, no toxic effects on the developing organism could be
found despite of the toxic effects of m-cresol on the dams as evidenced by hypoactivity, ataxia,
tremor, twitches, prone positioning, audible respiration, perioral wetness, and a reduction in food
consumption in rats, and audible respiration, and ocular discharge in rabbits (NOELs: 175 mg/kg
bw/day (maternal toxicity) and 450 mg/kg bw/day (developmental toxicity) for rats, and 5 mg/kg
bw/day (maternal toxicity) and 100 mg/kg bw/day (developmental toxicity) for rabbits,
respectively).
p-Cresol caused fetotoxicity (delayed ossification, decreased fetal body weight) at maternally toxic
dose levels in rats (NOAEL maternal toxicity, developmental toxicity: 175 mg/kg bw/day). In
rabbits, p-cresol caused no developmental effects even at doses that were maternally toxic (NOEL
maternal toxicity, developmental toxicity: 175 mg/kg bw/day).
Based on the available data it can be assumed that the m-/p-cresol mixtures may have the potential
to induce fetotoxicity in the presence of maternal toxicity.

3.1.10 Other relevant information


Experience with human exposure
The effects of (intentional or accidental) oral intake of cresols (all isomers) are described in several
case reports. The effects comprise irritation of mouth and throat, abdominal pains, vomiting,
haemolytic anemia, increased heart rate, liver and kidney damage, headaches, facial paralysis,
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drowsiness, cramps, coma and death (Bruce et al. 1976, Cote et al. 1984, Minami et al. 1990,
DECOS 1998).
Skin contact has also resulted in effects on the nervous system, liver and kidneys, and caused
human fatalities (DECOS 1998). A cresol solution, unintentionally poured over the trunk, caused
gross haematuria, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and septic shock with severe jaundice and
renal failure (Lin and Yang 1992).
Accidental dermal exposure of both legs and face of a 47 old man to m-cresol resulted in corrosion
of 15 % of his body surface and he developed acute polyuric renal failure (Evers et al. 1994).
Skin depigmentation (chemical leukoderma) has been reported after local exposure to cresols (NTP
1991).
No data on systemic effects following acute and short-term occupational exposure to cresol vapours
or aerosol were located (DECOS 1998). 7 workers who were exposed to unknown concentrations of
cresol vapour for 1½ to 3 years, suffered from frequent headaches, nausea and vomiting. Four of the
workers had high blood pressure, impaired renal function, abnormal blood calcium levels an
marked tremor (DECOS 1998).
No epidemiological studies or case reports on occupationally exposure to cresols were found
containing adequate details on exposure levels. Anomalous menstrual cycles and hormonal
disorders were reported for women who were employed in the production of enamelled wire or of
tricresyl phosphate and were exposed in the process to a variety of compounds, including
chlorobenzenes and phosphoryl chloride. It was claimed that the incidence of perinatal child death
was increased and that developmental disorders were frequent among the new-born babies. Since no
data on exposure levels and duration of exposure are given, and data on controls were not provided,
a relationship between the described effects and cresol exposure cannot be deduced (DECOS 1998).
The human lethal dose (LD) is reported to be 50 - 500 mg/kg bw (Gleason et al. 1969).
The development of tumours in persons who had been exposed occupationally to cresol
(unspecified isomer) has been reported, and two cases of transitional cell bladder carcinoma were
described after long-term exposure to cresol (Garrett 1975). Another case involved a worker in an
oil refinery who was exposed to cresol, dichlorooctane and chromic acid for a long period and who
developed a squamous epithelial carcinoma of the vocal cords (DECOS 1998). Since no
information on exposure levels are available, and since co-exposure to other substances cannot be
excluded, a carcinogenic potential of the cresol isomers cannot be deduced from these case reports
(DECOS 1998).
According to the results of studies in cancer patients, endogenous p-Cresol does not contribute
significantly to the development of human bladder cancer (32 patients vs 32 age/sex-matched
controls, Renwick 1988) or large bowl cancer (18 patients versus 10 normal healthy persons, Bone
et al. 1976).
Conclusion:
In humans, the accidental oral uptake of cresols can induce irritation of mouth and throat,
abdominal pains, vomiting, haemolytic anemia, increased heart rate, liver and kidney damage,
headaches, facial paralysis, drowsiness, cramps, coma and death. Skin contact with cresols can
result in corrosion, skin depigmentation, effects on the nervous system, liver and kidneys,
gastrointestinal bleeding, and can cause human fatalities. There are some case reports about tumor
development in connection with probable exposure against cresol isomers. Since co-exposures to
other substances cannot be excluded, no conclusion on a carcinogenic potential can be deduced
from these case reports.
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3.2 Initial Assessment for Human Health


m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures are absorbed across the respiratory and gastrointestinal
tracts and through the skin, and are distributed throughout the body. The primary metabolic
pathway for all cresol isomers is conjugation with glucuronic acid and inorganic sulfates. All
isomers are mainly eliminated by renal excretion in form of conjugates. For p-cresol, oxidation to a
reactive quinone methide intermediate was found in rat liver in vitro.
The oral LD50 of undiluted m-cresol in rats was 242 mg/kg bw; and the LD50 of undiluted p-cresol
was 207 mg/kg bw. Thus, it can be assumed that the LD50 of m/p-cresol mixtures is slightly above
200 mg/kg bw. Clinical signs included hypoactivity, salivation, tremors, and convulsions. No
mortality or clinical signs of toxicity were seen following exposure to the saturated vapour
concentration of either m-cresol or p-cresol. Inhalation of aerosols may however cause death, and
mean lethal concentrations in rats were reported to be 29 mg/m³ for p-cresol and 58 mg/m³ for m-
cresol. Clinical signs included irritation of mucous membranes, excitation and convulsions.
Haematuria was reported at very high concentrations. Following dermal application in rabbits the
LD50 of undiluted m-cresol was 2050 mg/kg bw and the LD50 of p-cresol was 300 mg/kg bw. It
can be assumed that the LD50 of m/p-cresol mixtures is between 300 and 2000 mg/kg bw.
m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures are corrosive to the skin and may cause serious damage
to the eyes. There is no indication of a sensitizing effect of p-cresol and m/p-cresol from a limited
guinea pig study and a limited human study. No sensitization test was available for m-cresol. In a
survey article hypersensitivity reactions of some individuals to cresol (isomer unspecified) have
been mentioned.
In 28-day and 13-week feeding studies, m-cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol (60:40) had a very similar
pattern of toxicity in rats and mice with minimal effect levels of 1000 – 3000 ppm in the diet for
increases in liver weight (rat, mouse) and kidney weight (mouse, p-cresol). No increase in relative
kidney weight was found for m-cresol. Atrophy and regenerative changes in the nasal epithelia and
forestomach were seen after exposure to p-cresol and m/p-cresol, presumably as direct result of the
irritant effects of the chemicals. The no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) for m-cresol, p-
cresol and m/p-cresol were generally ≥ 50 mg/kg bw/day in rats and mice.
In vitro, m-cresol and p-cresol did not induce gene mutations in bacterial and mammalian cell
systems and m/p-cresol mixture did not induce gene mutations in bacteria. m-Cresol was negative
for clastogenic activity in vitro, and in vivo. p-Cresol was clastogenic in vitro, but has not been
adequately tested in somatic cells in vivo. p-Cresol was, however, negative for dominant lethal
mutations in germ cells in male mice at clearly toxic exposure levels. A 60:40 m/p-cresol mixture
did not increase the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes in the peripheral blood erythrocytes
of mice. In vitro, it is possible that m- and p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixture have the potential to
interact with DNA either directly or indirectly via metabolites.
As for o-cresol, there are no adequate data available to assess the carcinogenic potential of m-
cresol, p-cresol or m/p-cresol mixtures. From tumour promotion studies in mice there are some
indications that cresols may act as promoters. Currently, the U.S. National Cancer Institute is
performing a carcinogenicity feeding study on mice and rats with cresols (mixture of ortho-, meta-
and para-) within the National Toxicological Program (NTP).
Despite general toxicity (hypoactivity, ataxia, twitches, tremors, prostration, urine stains, audible
respiration, perioral wetness) fertility was not affected by treatment with m-cresol or p-cresol
(NOAEL, rat: 450 mg/kg bw/day). The NOAELs for general toxicity were determined as 30 mg/kg
bw/day. Fertility effects including a 20% reduction in pup survival as well as reductions in the
weights of male reproductive organs were found following treatment of mice with m/p-cresol
mixture in a continuous breeding study at systemically toxic dose levels (reduced food consumption
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and reduced body weights, increases in liver and kidney weights) (NOAEL, fertility and general
toxicity: 0.25 % in feed (ca. 375 mg/kg bw/day).
In developmental toxicity studies with m-cresol in rats and rabbits, no toxic effects on the
developing organism could be found despite of the toxic effects on the dams as evidenced by
hypoactivity, ataxia, tremor, twitches, prone positioning, audible respiration, perioral wetness, and a
reduction in food consumption in rats, and audible respiration, and ocular discharge in rabbits
(NOAELs: 175 mg/kg bw (maternal toxicity) and 450 mg/kg bw (developmental toxicity) for rats,
and 5 mg/kg bw (maternal toxicity) and 100 mg/kg bw (developmental toxicity) for rabbits,
respectively. p-Cresol caused fetotoxicity (delayed ossification, decreased fetal body weight) at
maternally toxic dose levels in rats, but not in rabbits (NOAEL, rat, maternal toxicity,
developmental toxicty: 175 mg/kg bw/day). Based on the available data, it can be assumed that
m/p-cresol mixtures may have the potential to induce fetotoxicity in the presence of maternal
toxicity.
In humans, the accidental oral uptake of cresols can induced irritation of mouth and throat,
abdominal pains, vomiting, haemolytic anemia, increased heart rate, liver and kidney damage,
headaches, facial paralysis, drowsiness, cramps, coma and death. Skin contact with cresols can
result in corrosion, skin depigmentation, effects on the nervous system, liver and kidneys,
gastrointestinal bleeding, and can cause human fatalities.
There are some case reports about tumour development in connection with probable exposure
against cresol isomers. Since co-exposures to other substances cannot be excluded, no conclusion
on a carcinogenic potential can be deduced from these case reports.

4 HAZARDS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

4.1 Aquatic Effects


For the effects assessment of cresols on aquatic organisms their ready biodegradability in aqueous
solutions has to be taken into account. In static tests with analytical monitoring Falk-Petersen et al.
(1985) found less than 10 % loss of the test substance after 4 days, thus short term tests without
analytical monitoring can be accepted as valid.
Fish
Valid tests on acute toxicity to fish are available for 14 freshwater and 1 marine species. An
overview is presented in table 4.1.
A flow-through test on the acute toxicity of p-cresol to Pimephales promelas was conducted by
Geiger et al. (1986). The fish were exposed in Lake Superior water to 5 test substance
concentrations. Analytical measurements revealed that the cresol concentrations were stable during
the test period. Based on measured concentrations a 96h-LC50 of 16.5 mg/l was obtained. The
affected fish lost schooling behaviour, swam near the tank surface, were hyperactive and
overreactive to external stimuli, they had increased respiration and lost equilibrium prior to death.
DeGraeve et al. (1980) conducted flow-through bioassays on the toxicity of m- and p-cresol to
Pimephales promelas and Oncorhynchus mykiss. The fish were exposed in well-water to 7
concentrations of the test substances and one control. O. mykiss was the more sensitive species with
LC50 values of 8.9 mg/l for m-cresol and 7.9 mg/l for p-cresol; the LC50 values for P. promelas
were 55.9 mg/l for m-cresol and 28.6 mg/l for p-cresol. All effect values are based on measured
concentrations.

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Table 11: Toxicity of m- and p-Cresol to Fish in Short-term Tests

Species Test type Exposure Effects [mg/l] Reference


period
m-Cresol p-Cresol
Pimephales promelas flow through 96 h EC50 = 16.5 (e) Geiger et al. (1986)*
flow through 96 h LC50 = 55.9 (e) LC50 = 28.6 (e) DeGraeve et al. (1980) *
static 96 h LC50 = 15.5 (n) Howland (1969)
static 96 h LC50 = 19 (n) Mattson et al. (1976)
Oncorhynchus mykiss flow through 96 h LC50 = 8.9 (e) LC50 = 7.9 (e) DeGraeve et al. (1980) *
flow through 96 h LC50 = 7.5 (e) Hodson et al. (1984)
static 96 h LC50 = 8.6 (n) LC50 = 7.4 (n) Howland (1969)
Brachydanio rerio static 96 h LC50 = 15.9 (n) Wellens (1982)
Lepomis macrochirus static 96 h LC50 = 7.1 (n) Howland (1969)
Leuciscus idus static 48 h LC50 = 17 (n) LC50 = 11 (n) Ruebelt et al. (1982)
Salmo trutta static 96 h LC50 = 8.4 (n) LC50 = 4.4 (n) Howland (1969) *
Salvelinus fontinalis static 96 h LC50 = 7.6 (n) LC50 = 5.8 (n) Howland (1969) *
Poecilia reticulata semistatic 96 h LC50 = 23.1 (n) Saarikoski andViluksela(1982)
Cyprinus carpio static 96 h LC50 = 13.3 (n) Howland (1969)
Gadus morrhua (eggs) static 96 h EC50 > 30 (e) EC50 = 5.0 (e) Falk-Petersen et al. (1985)
Ictalurus melas static 96 h LC50 = 57.5 (n) Howland (1969)
Ictalurus punctatus static 96 h LC50 = 39.7 (n) Howland (1969)
Perca flavescens static 96 h LC50 = 10.0 (n) Howland (1969)
Gambusia affinis static 96 h LC 50 =33 (n) Sangli and Kanabur (2000)
Lepidocephalichthys guntea semistatic 96 h LC50 = 14.0 (n) Kanabur and Sangli (1998)

(n): nominal concentration * : studies which are flagged as key studies


(e): effective concentration

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The most sensitive fish species in acute toxicity tests belong to the salmonids. Howland (1969)
conducted static tests on the toxicity of m-cresol to three trout species and of p-cresol to 9 fish
species. Among the tests with m-cresol Salvelinus fontinalis was most sensitive exhibiting a LC50
of 7.6 mg/l, while with p-cresol as the test substance the lowest LC50 was found for Salmo trutta
(4.4 mg/l).
The effect values from tests on m- and p-cresols indicate toxicity in the same order of magnitude,
with p-cresol being slightly more toxic.
A chronic toxicity test (early life stage) with P. promelas was conducted with p-cresol over a period
of 32 days. A NOEC of 1.35 mg/l was obtained. This is a nominal concentration (Barron and
Adelman 1984). It has to be regarded that Pimephales promelas was not the fish species being most
sensitive in short-term tests.
Invertebrates
The acute toxicity of m-cresol to Daphnia magna was determined in a static immobilization test
after an exposure period of 24 h. Duplicate samples with each 10 individuals of 24 h old daphnids
were exposed to the test solutions. Analytical control was not performed. The nominal EC50 was
reported to be 25 mg/l (graphically determined) (Bringmann and Kühn 1982).
A comparable test was conducted with p-cresol. Kühn et al. (1988, 1989a) exposed each 20
daphnids in 4 replicates to p-cresol, the nominal EC50 was graphically determined to 4.9 mg/l.
The 3 valid test results, available for the short-term toxicity of m- and p-cresol on Daphnia magna,
allow a comparison of the acute toxicity of both substances on this species. The results demonstrate
a similar toxicity of both isomers.
Long-term tests to invertebrates are only available for p-cresol. In a semi-static test with Daphnia
magna, each 20 individuals (24 h old) in 4 replicates were exposed to p-cresol in a concentration
range of 0.003 - 10 mg/l. The test solutions were renewed 3 times per week, their stability was
controlled by analytical monitoring. After 21 days of exposure a NOEC of 1 mg/l was determined
(Kühn et al. 1988, 1989a).
Aquatic Plants
The cell multiplication inhibition of p-cresol on the alga Scenedesmus subspicatus was tested by
Kühn and Pattard (1990). The algae were exposed to concentrations between 0.8 and 100 mg/l.
Analytical control was not performed. Based on nominal concentrations a 48 h-EC50 of 21 mg/l and
an EC10 of 4.6 mg/l (both related to growth rate) were determined.
In a study with macrophytes (Nobel 1983) NOEC-values for the endpoint photosynthesis (oxygen
production) of 0.22 mg/l to 1.08 mg/l for m-cresol and < 0.22 mg/l to 1.08 mg/l for p-cresol are
reported and provide a hint towards higher sensitivity of macrophytes to cresols. However, as no
information is given about substance application, test design (no. of plants per vessel and
replication) and control performance, the study is considered invalid and is not used for the PNEC
derivation.

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Table 12: Tests on Acute Toxicity of m-and p-Cresol to Invertebrates

Species Test type Exposure Effects [mg/l] Reference


period
m-Cresol p-Cresol
Daphnia magna Static 24 h EC50 = 4.9 (n) Kühn et al. (1988, 1989a) *
Static 48 h EC50 = 7.7 (n) Kühn et al. (1989b)
Static 24 h EC50 =19.2 (n) EC50 =12.4 (n) Devillers et al. (1987, 1988)
static 24 h EC50 = 25 (n) Bringmann and Kühn (1982) *
static 24 h EC50 = 8.9 (n) Bringmann and Kühn (1977a) *
Daphnia pulicaria flow through 48 h EC50 > 99.5 (e) EC50 = 22.7 (e) DeGraeve et al. (1980) *

(n): nominal concentration


(e): effective concentration
*: studies which are flagged as key studies

Table 13: Tests on Long-term Toxicity of m-and p-Cresol to Fish and Invertebrates

Species Test type Exposure Effects [mg/l] Reference


period
m-Cresol p-Cresol
Pimephales promelas Early life stage 32 d NOEC = 1.35 (n) Barron and Adelmann (1984)*
Daphnia magna semistatic 21 d NOEC = 1.0 (n) Kühn et al. (1988, 1989a) *
Dugesia tigrina semistatic 80 d LC10 =2.0 (n) Solski and Piontek (1987)
(aquatic flatworm) LC0 = 1.0 (n)

(n): nominal concentration


(e): effective concentration
*: studies which are flagged as key studies

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Table 14: Toxicity of m- and p-Cresol to Aquatic Plants

Species Exposure Effects [mg/l] Endpoint Reference


period
m-Cresol p-Cresol
Scenedesmus subspicatus 48 h EbC10 = 2.3 (n) Biomass Kühn and Pattard (1990) *
ErC10 = 4.6 (n) Growth rate
EbC50 = 7.8 (n)
ErC50 = 21 (n)

Chlorella pyrenoidosa 72 h EC50 = 127 (n) EC50 = 116(n) Chlorophyll Huang and Gloyna (1968)
content

(n): nominal concentration


(e): effective concentration
*: studies which are flagged as key studies

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Summary of aquatic effects:


The available ecotoxicity data for m- and p-cresol show that the toxicity of the two isomers is in the
same order of magnitude within the uncertainty range of laboratory effect tests. Long-term tests are
only available for p-cresol. However, from the similarity in acute toxicity testing, it can be expected
that the long-term toxicity of both isomers is similar as well. For the isomeric mixture m/p-cresol no
ecotoxicity data are available. However, it is expected that the toxicity of the isomeric mixture is
covered by the data for m- and p-cresol. Therefore, for the hazard assessment of this category, all
available ecotoxicity tests are considered together, independent from the isomer for which they
were determined.
Determination of PNECaqua
Results from long-term tests are available for fish, invertebrates and algae, the most sensitive
species being Pimephales promelas (NOEC = 1.35 mg/l), Daphnia magna (NOEC = 1 mg/l) and
Scenedesmus subspicatus (ErC10 = 4.6 mg/l). Applying an assessment factor of 10 to the lower
value, the Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC) for the aquatic compartment is determined for
m- and p-cresol and the isomeric mixture m/p-cresol: PNECaqua = 0.1 mg/l.
QSAR estimations using ECOSAR for phenolic compounds result in the following values:
fish: 30d-NOEC = 2.216 mg/l
90d-NOEC = 0.121 mg/l
daphnia: 21d-NOEC = 1.571 mg/l
The values for the 30d fish test and the 21d daphnia test are in good agreement with the
experimentally determined values. Therefore, it cannot be excluded that a prolongation of the
exposure period in fish tests would result in a NOEC that is about an order of magnitude below the
available NOEC of 1.35 mg/l. This would have also consequences for the PNECaqua.
Microorganisms
In a respiration inhibition test using activated sludge according to OECD 209 with m-cresol as test
substance, a 3 h-EC50 of 461.4 mg/l was obtained (Klecka and Landi 1985). In a similar test with p-
cresol, the 2 h-EC50 was 439.5 mg/l (Chan et al. 1999). Tomlinson (1966) studied the inhibition of
the first nitrification step (oxidation of NH4 to NO2) and obtained 4 h-EC75 values of 11.4 mg/l for
m-cresol and 16.5 mg/l for p-cresol.

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Table 15: Toxicity of Cresols to Microorganisms

Species Exposure Effects [mg/l] Endpoint Reference


period
m-Cresol p-Cresol
Domestic sewage sludge 2h EC50 = 439.5 respiration Chan et al. (1999) *
3h EC50 = 461.4 respiration Klecka andLandi (1985) *
4h EC75 = 11.4 EC75 = 16.5 nitrification Tomlinson (1966) *
Nitrosomonas sp. 24 h EC50 = 0.78 ** EC50 = 27 nitrification Blum and Speece (1991)
Pseudomonas putida 16 h EC3 = 53 cell multipl. Bringmann and Kühn (1976)
Tetrahymena pyriformis 24 h EC50 = 157 growth Schultz et al. (1996)
(protozoa) 24 h EC50 = 160 growth Yoshioka et al. (1985)
Entosiphon sulcatum 72 h EC5 = 31 cell multipl. Bringmann (1978)
(protozoa)
Chilomonas paramaecium 48 h EC5 = 114 cell multipl. Bringmann et al. (1980)
(protozoa)
Uronema parduzci 20 h EC5 = 62 cell multipl. Bringmann and Kühn (1980)
(protozoa)

(n): nominal concentration


(e): effective concentration
*: studies which are flagged as key studies
** This effect value has to be considered as invalid. The authors state that in the lower range (log IC50 < 1.5 µmol/l) the accuracy of the results are questionable.

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4.2 Terrestrial Effects


The toxicity of m-cresol to Lactuca sativa according to the OECD-Guideline 208 was examined by
Hulzebos et al. (1993). After an exposure period of 14 days, a nominal EC50 of 96 mg/kg soil (dw)
was obtained. The authors state that during the test period, the soil concentrations of most tested
phenols dropped to < 20 % of the initial soil concentration. It is not clear whether this is also true
for m-cresol.

4.3 Other Environmental Effects


No reliable data available.

4.4 Initial Assessment for the Environment


Environmental behaviour:
According to a Mackay Level I model calculation both m- and p-cresol are mainly distributed to
water (96.3 %). Experimentally determined values for the Henrys’ law constant indicate slow
volatilization from surface waters. The experimentally determined Koc values of 34.58 for m-cresol
and 48.66 for p-cresol indicate a low sorption potential.
In the atmosphere, indirect photodegradation by hydroxyl radicals is expected with estimated half-
lives of 6.0 – 8.2 hours.
With regard to its chemical structure m-cresols and p-cresols are not expected to hydrolyse under
environmental conditions.
Aerobic biodegradation is considered to be the major removal mechanism in the hydrosphere,
leading to complete mineralization. From the available test results m-cresol and p-cresol can be
considered as being readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions.
In surface waters and sediments half-lives in the range of some hours to a few days are expected.
Photolytical degradation in surface waters as well as anaerobic degradation in lower sediment layers
are expected to be of minor importance.
For m-cresol, a BCF of 20 was obtained in a laboratory tests on fish, indicating a low
bioaccumulation potential. Because of the similarity of the log Kow the accumulation potential of
all cresols is assumed to be low.
Environmental effects:
Ecotoxicity data are available for both m- and p-cresol. Effect values with the same tested species
(fish and daphnids) indicate toxicity in the same order of magnitude, with p-cresol being slightly
more toxic.
For the acute toxicity of cresols on aquatic species reliable experimental results from tests with fish,
daphnia, algae and microorganisms are available. Long-term tests were conducted for all three
trophic levels , the most sensitive species was Daphnia magna exhibiting a NOEC of 1 mg/l.
Applying an assessment factor of 10, a PNECaqua of 0.1 mg/l for m-, p-cresols is obtained.

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5 RECOMMENDATIONS
Environment
m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures are currently of low priority for further work. The
substances possess properties indicating a hazard for the environment. Although these hazards do
not warrant further work as they are related to acute toxicity which may become evident only at
very high exposure levels, they should nevertheless be noted by chemical safety professionals and
users.
Human Health:
m-Cresol, p-cresol and m/p-cresol mixtures possess properties indicating a hazard for human health.
Based on data presented by the Sponsor country, adequate risk management measures are being
applied. Countries may desire to check their own risk management measures to find out whether
there is a need for measures beyond those which are being applied already. Cresols (mixed isomers
of ortho-, meta and para-) are being tested in carcinogenicity studies under the U.S. National
Toxicology Program

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6 REFERENCES
Altschuh, J. et al. (1999) Chemosphere 39(11), 1871-1887
Atkinson R (1994) Gas-Phase Tropospheric Chemistry of Organic Compounds. J Phys Chem Ref
Data Monograph No. 2
ATSDR (1992) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for
cresols: o-cresol, p-cresol, and m-cresol. Atlanta, GA. NTIS no. PB93-110732
Barron MG and Adelman IR (1984) Canad. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 41(1): 141-150
Battersby NS and Wilson V (1989) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55: 433-439
Bayer AG (2002a) Calculation of the environmental distribution of m-cresol according to fugacity
model Mackay level I
Bayer AG (2002b) Calculation of the environmental distribution of p-cresol according to fugacity
model Mackay level I
Bayer AG (2002c) Ready Biodegradability: Closed Bottle Test, m-Cresol
Bayer AG (2003) m-/p-Cresols - internal data on production, processing, use pattern, and workplace
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ANNEX: CATEGORY JUSTIFICATION


Identity:
Chemical name: m-Cresol
p-Cresol
m/p-Cresol mixtures
Since o-cresol was assessed earlier within the OECD HPV program, it is not included here (UNEP
(United Nations Environmental Program) (1998), Chemical Screening Information Data Sets
(SIDS) for High Volume Chemicals: o-Cresol, Vol. 5/I)
Structural Formula:
OH OH

CH3
CH3

m-Cresol p-Cresol
Molecular Formula: C 7 H 8O
Molecular weight: 108.14 g/mol
m-Cresol, p-cresol and mixtures of both isomers are considered as a category because of their
similarity in physico-chemical properties, environmental fate, ecotoxicity and toxicity. Both
isomers as well as their mixture are products of technical importance. m-Cresol, p-cresol and
mixtures of both isomers are produced > 1000 t/y.
The 3 cresol products of technical importance considered here, are:

Substance Synonyms CAS-No. Composition


m-Cresol 3-Methylphenol 108-39-4 Purity > 99 %
p-Cresol 4-Methylphenol 106-44-5 Purity approx. 99.9 %
m/p-Cresol 15831-10-4 60 - 75 % m-Cresol,
mixtures 25 - 40 % p-Cresol

Category Justification
Environment
Of particular importance to environmental effects are the values for partition coefficient (log Kow),
vapour pressure and water solubility.

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Available Physico-Chemical Data for Cresols:

Substance m-Cresol p-Cresol m/p-Cresol


Vapour pressure (25°C) 0.147 hPa 0.147 hPa
Log Kow 1.96 1.94 1.94 -1.96
Water solubility (25°C) 22.7 g/l 21.5 g/l 24.4 g/l
Dissociation constant pKa 10.09 10.26

Vapour pressure and log Kow were determined for both isomers, the water solubility for both
isomers and the m/p-cresol mixture. The values are nearly identical for the pure isomers, so the
isomer mixture can be assessed as well.
Cresols are weak acids. The pKa values of 10.09 and 10.26 resp. indicate that at environmentally
relevant pH values (5 - 9) both substance are largely non-dissociated.
For the assessment of the removal in biological treatment plants and degradation in environmental
compartments, results from biodegradation tests are crucial.
Available Data on Ready Biodegradability

Method Duration m-Cresol p-Cresol Reference


OECD 301 D 28 d 65 - 90 % Bayer AG (1988)
OECD 301 C 40 d 80 - 95 % 80 - 95 % Desai et al. (1990)

The OECD 301 D test reveals that m-cresol is readily biodegradable. As demanded by the OECD
guideline, the oxygen consumption was above 60 % after 28 days and the 10d window was fulfilled.
In a test comparable to OECD 301 C test biodegradation in the range of 80 – 95 % for both
compounds occurred. The oxygen uptake curves are not reported. However, the authors state that all
test compounds revealed the lag phase, biodegradation phase and the plateau region within a period
of 10 days. Therefore, it can be concluded from this test that m- and p-cresol are readily
biodegradable. In addition, the rate constants for both m- and p-cresol were determined and found
to be similar.
Available Ecotoxicity Data
For the acute toxicity of cresols on aquatic species a large number of experimental results from tests
with fish, daphnids and algae are available. Long-term tests were conducted with fish, algae and
invertebrates.
In the following table only those tests are reported where both isomers have been tested in parallel.

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Toxicity of m - and p-cresol in Short-term Tests:

Species Exposure Effects [mg/l]


period
m-Cresol p-Cresol
Pimephales promelas
96 h LC50 = 55.9 (e) LC50 = 28.6 (e)
Oncorhynchus mykiss 96 h LC50 = 8.9 (e) LC50 = 7.9 (e)
96 h LC50 = 8.6 (n) LC50 = 7.4 (n)
Leuciscus idus 48 h LC50 = 17 (n) LC50 = 11 (n)
Salmo trutta 96 h LC50 = 8.4 (n) LC50 = 4.4 (n)
Salvelinus fontinalis 96 h LC50 = 7.6 (n) LC50 = 5.8 (n)
Daphnia magna 24 h EC50 =19.2 (n) EC50 =12.4 (n)
Daphnia pulicaria 48 h EC50 > 99.5 (e) EC50 = 22.7 (e)
Chlorella pyrenoidosa 72 h EC50 = 50 - 250 (n) EC50 = 100 - 250 (n)
(n): nominal concentration (e): effective concentration

Effect values obtained from tests on both m- and p-cresol indicate a similar toxicity of both isomers,
with p-cresol being slightly more toxic.
For long-term tests the toxicity cannot be compared directly, as no test performed with both isomers
are available. However, from the similarity in acute toxicity testing, it can be expected that the long-
term toxicity of both isomers is similar as well.
For the isomeric mixture m/p-cresol no ecotoxicity data are available. However, it is expected that
the toxicity of the isomeric mixture is covered by the data for m- and p-cresol.
Available Toxicity Data (Human Health)
The available data indicate a very similar pattern of toxicity of m-cresol, p-cresol and of the m/p-
cresol mixtures:
The following data were identified:

Substance m-Cresol p-Cresol m/p-Cresol mixtures


Cas-No. 108-39-4 106-44-5
Acute toxicity oral √/+ √/+
dermal √/+ √/+
inhalation
√/+ √/+
Irritation skin √/+ √/+ √/+
eye √/+ √/+
Sensitization √/- √/- √/-
Repeated dose toxicity √/+ √/+ √/+
Genetic toxicity in vitro √/+ √/+ √/+
in vivo √/+ √/+ √/+
Carcinogenicity X X
Effect on fertility √/+ √/+ √/+
Developmental toxicity √/+ √/+
√/+ Adequate data available

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√ information available
* evaluation based on human experience
X Testing being performed (o-/m-/p- isomer mixture)

All cresol isomers are well absorbed via all main exposure routes. The main metabolic pathway is
hydroxylation of the benzene ring. p-Cresol can also be oxidized to hydroxybenzoic acid and, at
least in vitro, to a reactive quinone methide. For m- and p-cresol, elimination occurs mainly as
glucuronide and/or sulfate via urine, minor amounts via faeces.
The available acute toxicity data of the two isomers indicate similar toxicity profiles after oral
exposure, and a lesser toxicity of m-cresol in experiments with dermal exposure. m-Cresol and p-
cresol are corrosive substances.
There is no indication of a sensitizing effect of p-cresol from a limited guinea pig study and a
limited human study. However, hypersensitivity reactions of some individuals to cresol (isomer
unspecified) have been mentioned in the literature.
For both isomers, as well as for the mixture of the two the NOAELs in 28- and 90-d feeding studies
are ≥ 50 mg/kg bw/day in rodents. At higher doses, there were indications of a transient impairment
of liver function and a dose dependant increase in liver weight was observed for m-, p- and the
mixture of cresols, but without histopathological correlate. Increases in kidney weight were
observed with p-cresol and at higher doses with the m/p-cresol mixture.
p-Cresol exerted some clastogenic activity in vitro, but this activity was not reproduced in vivo. All
isomers were consistently tested negative in vivo.
There is no adequate data available to assess the carcinogenic potential of m- and p-cresol. Limited
studies gave an indication of a tumour promoting activity of m- and p-cresol. Carcinogenicity
studies in two species with the o-/m-/p-isomer mixture are currently performed within the U.S.
National Toxicology Program.
None of the isomers, and also not the mixture, was a reproductive toxicant. Mild developmental
toxicity was only seen at maternally toxic doses of p-cresol; there was no indication of
developmental effects with m-cresol. Hence, slight developmental toxicity at maternally toxic doses
may also occur with the isomer mixture.
Based on the similarities in the results of studies on m-and p-cresol, inclusion of m/p-cresol mixture
in this report is justified.

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 55
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL

IUCLID

Data Set
Existing Chemical : ID: 108-39-4
CAS No. : 108-39-4
EINECS Name : m-cresol
EC No. : 203-577-9
TSCA Name : Phenol, 3-methyl-
Molecular Formula : C7H8O

Producer related part


Company : Bayer AG
Creation date : 11.01.1994

Substance related part


Company : Bayer AG
Creation date : 11.01.1994

Status :
Memo : X AKTUELL EG / ICCA

Printing date : 24.05.2004


Revision date : 02.06.1994
Date of last update : 24.05.2004

Number of pages : 120

Chapter (profile) : Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10


Reliability (profile) : Reliability: without reliability, 1, 2, 3, 4
Flags (profile) : Flags: without flag, non confidential, WGK (DE), TA-Luft (DE), Material
Safety Dataset, Risk Assessment, Directive 67/548/EEC, SIDS

56 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.0.1 APPLICANT AND COMPANY INFORMATION

Type :
Name : ADCHEMCO Corporation
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2002

Type :
Name : American Chemistry Council Cresol Panel
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Bayer Corporation
Contact person :
Date :
Street : 100 Bayer Road
Town : PA 15205-9741 Pittsburgh
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Concord Chemical Company
Contact person :
Date :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 57
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Dakota Gasification Company
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Honshu Chemical Industry Company, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : LaPorte (formerly Inspec Fine Chemicals)
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

58 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Merisol (Merichem-Sasol USA LLC)
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


01.08.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Nippon Steel Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : PMC Specialties Group, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 59
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumiken Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumitomo Chemical Americas, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

60 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


27.07.2001

1.0.2 LOCATION OF PRODUCTION SITE, IMPORTER OR FORMULATOR

1.0.3 IDENTITY OF RECIPIENTS

1.0.4 DETAILS ON CATEGORY/TEMPLATE

1.1.0 SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

1.1.1 GENERAL SUBSTANCE INFORMATION

Purity type :
Substance type : Organic
Physical status : Liquid
Purity : > 99
Colour :
Odour :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


07.01.2003 (1)

1.1.2 SPECTRA

1.2 SYNONYMS AND TRADENAMES

1-HYDROXY-3-METHYLBENZOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

1-OXY-3-METHYLBENZOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

3-HYDROXYTOLUOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

3-KRESOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

3-METHYLPHENOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

M-HYDROXYTOLUOL

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 61
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

M-KRESOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

M-KRESYLSAEURE

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

M-OXYTOLUOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

M-TOLYLALKOHOL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

PHENOL, 3-METHYL

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

1.3 IMPURITIES

Purity :
CAS-No : 106-44-5
EC-No : 203-398-6
EINECS-Name : p-cresol
Molecular formula :
Value : < 1 % w/w

15.01.2003 (1)

Purity :
CAS-No : 7732-18-5
EC-No : 231-791-2
EINECS-Name : water
Molecular formula :
Value : < .05

20.01.2003 (1)

1.4 ADDITIVES

1.5 TOTAL QUANTITY

Quantity : - tonnes produced in

Remark : 28,500 t in 2000, estimated world capacity


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
28.05.2002

62 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.6.1 LABELLING

Labelling : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Specific limits :
Symbols : T, , ,
Nota : ,,
R-Phrases : (24/25) Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
(34) Causes burns
S-Phrases : (36/37/39) Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face
protection
(45) In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice
immediately (show the label where possible)

Remark : 19. Adaption, EC-Index-No. 604-004-00-9


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

1.6.2 CLASSIFICATION

Classified : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Class of danger : toxic
R-Phrases : (24/25) Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
Specific limits :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.11.2000

Classified : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Class of danger : corrosive
R-Phrases : (34) Causes burns
Specific limits :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.11.2000

1.6.3 PACKAGING

1.7 USE PATTERN

Type of use : type


Category : Use in closed system

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


11.09.2000

Type of use : industrial


Category : Chemical industry: used in synthesis

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.11.2000

Type of use : use


Category : Intermediates

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 63
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


11.09.2000

1.7.1 DETAILED USE PATTERN

1.7.2 METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

1.8 REGULATORY MEASURES

1.8.1 OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT VALUES

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3
Short term exposure limit value
Limit value : 22 mg/m3
Time schedule :
Frequency : times

Remark : all isomeres (CAS-Nr. 1319-77-3)


danger of cutaneous absorption
Source : TRGS 900 (DE)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2002

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value :

Remark : danger of cutaneous absorption


MAK list, canc. category 3A
27.05.2002 (2)

Type of limit : TLV (US)


Limit value : other: 5 ppm (= 22 mg/m³)

Remark : (TWA)
all isomers
danger of cutaneous absorption
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
19.09.2000

1.8.2 ACCEPTABLE RESIDUES LEVELS

1.8.3 WATER POLLUTION

Classified by : KBwS (DE)


Labelled by : KBwS (DE)
Class of danger : 2 (water polluting)

64 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.8.4 MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARDS

Legislation : Stoerfallverordnung (DE)


Substance listed : yes
No. in Seveso directive :

Remark : App. I, No. 2


17.07.2001

1.8.5 AIR POLLUTION

Classified by : TA-Luft (DE)


Labelled by :
Number : 3.1.7 (organic substances)
Class of danger : I

1.8.6 LISTINGS E.G. CHEMICAL INVENTORIES

1.9.1 DEGRADATION/TRANSFORMATION PRODUCTS

1.9.2 COMPONENTS

1.10 SOURCE OF EXPOSURE

1.11 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

1.12 LAST LITERATURE SEARCH

Type of search : Internal and External


Chapters covered :
Date of search :

Remark : Toxicology: November 2002


Environmental aspects and ecotoxicology: January 2002
CAS number search in external and internal databases, e.g. HSDB, Aquire,
Biosis, Embase, Toxline, Scisearch.
22.01.2003

1.13 REVIEWS

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 65
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

2.1 MELTING POINT

Value : 11.8 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004

Value : 11.5 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 % according to product specification on
MSDS of Bayer

10.05.2004 (3) (4)

Value : 11 - 12 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (5)

Value : 12 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (6) (7)

Value : 12.2 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (8)

2.2 BOILING POINT

Value : 202 °C at
Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year : 1996
66 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (5) (7)

Value : 202.2 °C at 1013 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (8) (9)

Value : 203 °C at
Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (6)

2.3 DENSITY

Type :
Value : ca. 1.03 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 % according to product specification on
MSDS

10.05.2004 (3)

Type : density
Value : 1.0336 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


10.05.2004 (8)

Type : density
Value : 1.034 g/cm³ at °C
Method :
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (9) (6) (5)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 67
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

2.3.1 GRANULOMETRY

2.4 VAPOUR PRESSURE

Value : .13 hPa at 20 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 % according to product specification on
MSDS of Bayer

10.05.2004 (8) (3)

Value : .147 hPa at 25 °C


Decomposition :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (10)

Value : .28 hPa at 30 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (8)

Value : 1.3 hPa at 50 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 % according to product specification on
MSDS of Bayer

10.05.2004 (8) (3)

Value : 1.33 hPa at 52 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (6)

2.5 PARTITION COEFFICIENT

Partition coefficient :
68 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Log pow : 1.96 at °C


pH value :
Method : other (measured)
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : expertimental data, SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (11)

Partition coefficient :
Log pow : 1.96 at °C
pH value :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (7)

Partition coefficient :
Log pow : 2.01 at °C
pH value :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

10.05.2004 (7)

2.6.1 SOLUBILITY IN DIFFERENT MEDIA

Solubility in : Water
Value : 22.7 g/l at 25 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
PKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: measured
Year : 1992
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value (measured)


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (12)

Solubility in : Water
Value : 23.5 g/l at 20 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 69
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

PKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :

10.05.2004 (7)

Solubility in : Water
Value : 24 g/l at 25 °C
pH value : 5
concentration : 20 g/l at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :

07.05.2004 (3)

Solubility in : Water
Value : 58 g/l at 100 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :

10.05.2004 (7)

2.6.2 SURFACE TENSION

2.7 FLASH POINT

Value : 86 °C
Type : closed cup
Method : other: DIN 51758
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

07.05.2004 (6) (5)

2.8 AUTO FLAMMABILITY

Value : 575 °C at
Method : other: DIN 51794
Year : 2000
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : autoignition temperature


10.05.2004 (13)

Value : 558 °C at

70 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : other: no data available


Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : autoignition temperature


10.05.2004 (6)

2.9 FLAMMABILITY

2.10 EXPLOSIVE PROPERTIES

Remark : Explosive limits: lower: 1.0 % by volume (45 g/m3)


20.11.2000 (3)

2.11 OXIDIZING PROPERTIES

2.12 DISSOCIATION CONSTANT

Acid-base constant : 10.1


Method : other: calculation
Year : 2002
GLP :
Test substance :

10.05.2004 (14)

Acid-base constant : 10.09


Method : other: measured and calculated
Year : 1968
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Experimental data for cresols were taken from Kortuem G, Vogel W, and
Andrussow K (1961) Dissociation Constants of Organic Acids in Aqueous
Solution. Butterworths, London
Remark : For experimental data: Secondary literature
Result : Calculated result is pk = 10.1
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (15)

Acid-base constant : 10.49


Method : other: measured
Year : 1971
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported, but substance purified by distillation
under reduced pressure

Method : Measured according to Bordwell FG and BD Cooper (1952) J. Am. Chem.


Soc. 74, 1058
Remark : in 20 % water-ethanol (v/v) at 20 °C
10.05.2004 (16)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 71
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

2.13 VISCOSITY

Test type : other


Test procedure :

Remark : .0169 Pa*s at 20 degrees C


18.10.2001 (3)

2.14 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Remark : Maximum vapor concentration:


20 degrees Celsius: 0.58 g/m3
30 degrees Celsius: 1.2 g/m3
50 degrees Celsius: 5.2 g/m3
18.10.2001 (8)

Remark : Refraction index (nD):


1.5438 at 20 degrees Celsius
18.10.2001 (9)

Remark : Refraction index (nD): 1.5398 at 20 degrees C


18.10.2001 (5)

Remark : I. Threshold odor concentration in water: 0.800 ppm


II. Threshold taste concentration in water: 0.002 ppm
18.10.2001 (17)

72 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

3.1.1 PHOTODEGRADATION

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
INDIRECT PHOTOLYSIS
Sensitizer : OH
Conc. of sensitizer : 500000 molecule/cm³
Rate constant : .00000000000873 cm³/(molecule*sec)
Degradation : 50 % after 6 hour(s)
Deg. product :
Method : other (calculated): with SRC-AOPWIN, v1.90
Year : 2003
GLP :
Test substance :

Remark : The calculated half-life is based on a mean OH radical concentration of


0.5E+6 OH radicals/cm3 given during the 24 hours/day as suggested in the
EU-Technical Guidance Document
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Generally accepted calculation method
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (18)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1995
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 %

Method : Determination of the temperature-dependency of the


OH-radical reaction under simulated tropospheric conditions
Remark : With a OH radical concentration of 1 000 000 molec cm-3 and
a temperature of 299 K, the half-life is 3.8 h
Result : kOH = 5.17 x 10E-12 exp[(686+-231)/T] cm3 molec.-1 s-1 for a
temperature range of 299-373 K
Test condition : test substance concentration 0.05-5 ppm
reference compound (o-cresol) 0.05-2.3 ppm
radical source methylnitrite 1.5-11 ppm together with NOx
2-70 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (19)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 73
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : other (measured): critical review


Year : 1994
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : With a OH radical concentration of 1 000 000 molec/cm3, the


half-life is 3.0 h at room temperature
Result : K[OH] = 64 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
K[NO3] = 9.74[10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
K[O3] = 1.9 [10E-19 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Critical review, evaluation of all available experimental
data
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (20)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 % (obtained from Aldrich Chemical
Company)

Method : smog chamber experiment with black light irradiation


dry air pressure 735 Torr
Temp. 296+-2 K
irradiation time 4-20 min
reference substance: propene
OH radical concentration: (1-3) x 10E7 molecule cm-3
Result : k[OH] = 67.8 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
11.05.2004 (21)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : I. Smog chamber experiment


II. Inkrement method
Result : I. observed: k[OH] = 57 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
II. calculated: k[OH] = 94 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
11.05.2004 (22)

74 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1978
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : smog chamber


Temp. 300 +-1 K
reference substances: n-butane, neopentane
initial concentration ca. 0.25 ppm for m-cresol
OH radical concentration: (1-4)x10E6 molecule cm-3
Result : k[OH] = 67 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
11.05.2004 (23) (24)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : K[OH] = 59 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]


t[1/2] = 0.3 d
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
11.05.2004 (25)

Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1985
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported, but in most cases purity exceeded
98 %

Method : substance adsorbed onto silica gel (100 ng/g)


irradiated with UV lamp (290 nm) in a microphotoreactor
Result : degradation 33.3% of applied amount
Test condition : 17 h at 15 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
11.05.2004 (26)

3.1.2 STABILITY IN WATER

Remark : Based on the chemical structure of the compound hydrolysis


is not expected under temperature and pH values occuring in

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

the environment.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Expert judgement
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
08.01.2003

3.1.3 STABILITY IN SOIL

Type : laboratory
Radiolabel :
Concentration :
Soil temperature : °C
Soil humidity :
Soil classification :
Year :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Bench-scale experiments with contaminated soil.


Determination of passive evaporation and biodegradation of
cresols
Result : passive evaporation half-life 4.2 - 4.8 weeks
biodegradation: after 4 days below detection limit
Test condition : Passive evaporation: plastic petri plates (88x18 mm) placed
on canopy-covered table. Temp. 10-17 degrees C, humidity 75%
Shake-flask biodegradation test: 8-25 g soil mixed with 50
ml buffer solution; shaken for 4 days
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (27)

Type : laboratory
Radiolabel : yes
Concentration :
Soil temperature : °C
Soil humidity :
Soil classification :
Year :
Deg. product :
Method : other: see Method below
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : as prescribed by 1.1 - 1.4

Method : Inocolum: subsurface microbial community of a pristine aquifer (Lula,


Okla.)
Soil: aquifer solid sample, unconsilated sand, from a depth of 4.5-5.6 m
below surface
All substances were radiolabeled.
Incubation period: 8 months
Determination of mineralization via 14CO2 evolution
Remark : The highest percent biodegradation achieved for nearly all the substances
tested was 35% (e.g. anilin, which is the standard reference substance for
all ready tests in OECD 301 achieved after 100 days only 15%
biodegradation).

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Result : - After 160 days and at a concentration of 39 ng/g m-cresol in soil, ca.15%
mineralization was observed.
- The percent mineralized increased slowly and linearly with time.
- For the majority of the test compounds no adaptation period was
observed.
Reliability : (3) invalid
No standard test procedure. Test design can only be used to assess
degradation in soil of the pristine aquifer of Lula, Okla.
15.01.2003 (28)

3.2.1 MONITORING DATA

Type of measurement : other: contamination at a special working place


Media :
Concentration :
Method :

Remark : Combined m-/p-cresol isomers were detected among other chemicals in


the indoor air at a shale oil wastewater facility at a concentration of 5.1 ppb.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Basic data given
20.01.2003 (29)

3.2.2 FIELD STUDIES

3.3.1 TRANSPORT BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENTS

Type : volatility
Media : water - air
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method : other: measured
Year : 1999

Method : Thermodynamic column method of Brunner et al. 1990 applied [Brunner S,


Hornung E, Santl H, Wolff E, Pringer OG, Altschuh J, Brueggemann R
(1990) Henry´s law constants for polychlorinated biphenyls: Experimental
determination and structure-property relationship. Environ Sci Technol 24,
1751 - 1754]:
- Aqueous solution of the TS produced in a generator column
- Solution is passed through gas liquid desorption column where it contacts
a gas stream and the partition equilibrium is reached
- Gas and water are separated: water flows to the receiver dosing funnel,
the gas is conducted into an absorption vessel where the TS is absorbed in
organic solvent
Result : Henry's law constant (25 degrees C):
H = 3.5 E-5 calculated to
H = 8.67 E-2 Pa.m3.mol-1
Test condition : - Temperature 25 °C
- Gas phase: Nitrogen
- Liquid phase: Demineralized, distilled water
- Analysis: GC/ECD

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OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
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Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (30)

Type : adsorption
Media : water - soil
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method : other: batch equilibrium method similar to OECD Guideline 106
Year : 1982

Remark : Koc value was determined for clay loam soil


Result : Koc=34.58
Test condition : Soil: Brookston clay loam soil, collected from top 15 cm,
air-dried, 5.10% organic matter, pH 5.7
soil/solution ratio 1:10
TS concentrations 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 mg/l, deoxygenated by
purging with N2
triplicate samples, temp. 20+-1 degrees C, incubation period 24 h
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with general accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (31)

3.3.2 DISTRIBUTION

Media : air - biota - sediment(s) - soil - water


Method : Calculation according Mackay, Level I
Year : 2001

Result : Calculated distribution between environmental compartments:


Air: 2.33 %
water: 96.32 %
soil: 0.69 %
bottom sediment: 0.65 %
suspended sediment: 0.001 %
biota: 0.0004 %
Test condition : data used in calculation
temperature (°C): 25
molar mass (g/mol): 108.14
vapor pressure (Pa): 14.7
water solubility (g/l): 22.7
log Kow: 1.96

volumes in unit world (m3)


air: 6 000 000 000
water: 7 000 000
soil: 45 000
sediment: 21 000
susp. sediment: 35
biota (fish): 7
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions

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generally accepted calculation method


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.12.2002 (32)

3.4 MODE OF DEGRADATION IN ACTUAL USE

3.5 BIODEGRADATION

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : predominantly domestic sewage
Concentration : .8 mg/l related to COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : = 90 (±) % after 28 day(s)
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 7 day(s) = 45 - 80 %
14 day(s) = 70 - 90 %
21 day(s) = 75 - 70 %
28 day(s) = 90 - 90 %
%
Control substance : other: phenol, 0.8 mg/l
Kinetic : 28 day(s) = 73 %
%
Deg. product :
Method : OECD Guide-line 301 D "Ready Biodegradability: Closed Bottle Test"
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol pure

Result : 10-day window criteria is met


Test condition : Inoculum
- Type of sludge: activated sludge
- Source: treatment plant, receiving domestic sewage
- Sampling site: Odenthal
Concentration of control substance: 0.8 mg/l
Analytical parameter: Oxygen consumption
Test temperature: 20 degrees C
Test was performed in two paralleles.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline Study
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (33)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : predominantly domestic sewage
Concentration : 2.4 mg/l related to COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : = 65 (±) % after 28 day(s)
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 7 day(s) = 55 - 58 %
14 day(s) = 58 - 66 %
21 day(s) = 61 - 65 %
28 day(s) = 65 - 65 %
%
Control substance : other: phenol, 2.4 mg/l
Kinetic : 28 day(s) = 69 %
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 79
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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
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%
Deg. product :
Method : OECD Guide-line 301 D "Ready Biodegradability: Closed Bottle Test"
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol pure

Remark : In two further tested concentrations (8 and 24 mg/l) the dissolved oxygen
was completely emaciated within 7 days (concentration of control
substance 8 and 24 mg/l for tests with 8 and 24 mg/l of test substance,
respectively. Also i n these control experiments, oxygen was emaciated).
Result : Compared to the test with 0.8 mg/l the extent of degradation is lesser at 2.4
mg/l presumably due to the fact that most of the oxygen was used up at the
high test substance concentration (10-day criteria met in only one of the
two replicates)
Test condition : Inoculum / test organism
- Type of sludge: activated sludge
- Source: treatment plant, receiving domestic sewage
- Sampling site: Odenthal
Concentration of control substance: 2.4 mg/l
Analytical parameter: Oxygen consumption
Test temperature: 20 degrees C
Test was performed in two paralleles.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline Study
11.05.2004 (33)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, domestic
Concentration : 100 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 80 - 95 (±) % after 40 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: comparable to OECD Guide-line 301 C
Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 %

Method : Initial sludge concentration: 30 mg d.w./l; aniline as


reference compound
Remark : Incubation period: 20-40 days; no oxygen uptake curve given;
degradation of reference substance aniline >/= 60 % within 28 days
Result : The oxygen uptake curves are not reported. However, the authors state
that all test compounds revealed the lag phase, biodegradation phase and
the plateau region within a period of 10 days, indicating that the 10-day
window criteria is met.
First order biodegradation constant (hr-1): ln k = -5.77
maximum specific substrate uptake rate per unit biomass km = 17.3 / day
(Aniline 16.1, Phenol 16.9).
m-Cresol is slightly better biodegradable than phenol and aniline.
Test condition : Inoculum /test organism
- Type of sludge: activated
- Source: municipal treatment plant, receiving predominantly domestic
sewage
- Initial cell concentration: 30 mg/l
Test system
- Culturing apparatus: Sapromat
- Closed vessels used: yes

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Initial test substance concentration: 100 mg/l


Duration of the test: 20-40 days
Test conditions
- Composition of synthetic medium: OECD
- Test temperature: 25 degrees C
Reference substance: aniline 100 mg/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
study comparable to OECD Guideline 301 C
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (34)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, industrial
Contact time :
Degradation : 96 (±) % after 10 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : OECD Guide-line 302 B "Inherent biodegradability: Modified Zahn-Wellens
Test"
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : 90% degradation during the log-phase (8 days)


Test condition : Test substance conc. 50-400 mg/l DOC, 200-1000 mg/l COD
acclimatization phase 2 days
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline study; basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2004 (35)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, adapted
Concentration : 200 mg/l related to COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 95.5 (±) % after 5 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: batch system (similar to OECD 302B "Zahn-Wellens Test")
Year : 1976
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : - Test compound was sole source of carbon


- Inoculum density: 100 mg dry matter/l; gradual increase of TS
concentration during 20 days adaptation period
- With volatile substances a test without inocculum was done to
differentiate the actual biological degradation from the losses due to mere
volatilization
Result : Initial degradation rate: 55.0 mg COD/g/h
Test condition : 20 +- 3 degrees C; pH 7.2; mineral salts medium; dark; continuously stirred
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2004 (36)

Type : anaerobic

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Inoculum : anaerobic sludge


Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary anaerobic sludge from 12 treatment plants receiving


mainly domestic wastewater were diluted to
10 % in a mineral salts medium, test substance
concentration: 30 mg/l; secondary anaerobic sludge from 2
treatment plants diluted to 10 % in a mineral salts medium,
test substance: 50 mg/l;
incubation for 8 weeks; triplicate samples
Result : primary sludges:
no degradation was observed in 4 sludges; degradation ranged from 55 to
103 % in 6 sludges (lag times for approx 20 % of theoretical CH4
production: 4-6 weeks); insufficient data for 2 sludges.
secondary sludge:
degradation was 92% after 4 weeks with the first sludge and
90% after 5 weeks with the second (degradation related to
theoretical methane and CO2 production)
Test condition : 35 degrees C, due to storage of sludges before incubation, lag phase of
methanogenesis could be increased in some sludges
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (37)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Contact time : 56 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1984
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary and secondary anaerobic sewage sludge from 9


treatment plants diluted to 10 % in a mineral salts medium;
degradation measured as gas pressure increase
Remark : data have been published by the authors as a NTIS-study (previous data
set)
Result : in 2 different secondary sludges >75% degradation
in 9 different primary sludges degradation 0-103%
Test condition : incubation for 8 w at 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (38)

82 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Aldrich Chemicals)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary anaerobic digesting sludge receiving a mixture of


domestic and industrial wastewater
Result : lag time 40 days, accompanied with inhibition of gas
production
net total gas production was 75 % +/- 15 % of the theoretical production
(CH4+CO2)
Test condition : - medium 2-3 g dw/l sludge
- incubation for >= 60 d at 35 degrees C
- 3 replicates
- sterile controls for abiotic gas production
- gas production measured with hand-held pressure meter
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (39)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, domestic
Concentration : .05 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 35.6 (±) % after 5 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: Activated sludge test
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

Remark : The bioaccumulation factor of the substance and its


metabolites in activated sludge was 1100
Result : The readily biodegradable compounds methanol and phenol were about
equally degraded like m-Cresol (41, 37 and 36 %)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
24.05.2004 (26)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other bacteria: acclimatized mixed culture of pentachlorophenol-degrading
bacteria
Concentration : 5 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 29 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
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Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 38 hour(s) 50 %
46 hour(s) 90 %
%
%
%
Deg. product :
Method : other: Die-away Test
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: gas chromatographic grade

Result : no lag phase


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
24.05.2004 (40)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: denitrifying cultures from unadapted mixed wastewater
Concentration : .39 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 17 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: measured
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : lag phase 3 days, completely degraded in 17 d


Test condition : inoculum prepared by mixing waste water samples from 12
denitrifying treatment plants
incubated at 27 degrees C in the dark
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
24.05.2004 (41)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: municipal sewage sludge from primary anaerobic digesters
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 56 day(s)
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 49 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : substance disappeared completely after 7 weeks


net CH4 production >90% of theoretical value
no transformation products observed
Test condition : mineral salt medium with 10% sludge
Temperature 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions

84 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
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No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally


accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (42)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Remark : sensitivity of acid formers and methanogenic consortia examined


Result : at <= 400 mg/l, m-cresol was not fermented and
showed no inhibition of methane formation from degradable
substrates as compared to control cultures; 1000 mg/l
inhibited the methane production significantly (60 % of
control values)
Test condition : screening optimized for mechanistic study
m-cresol concentration: 200, 400 or 1000 mg/l
incubation for 6 w at 37 degrees C
Reliability : (4) not assignable
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; not relevant for purpose of HPV program
07.05.2004 (43)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anaerobic sludge, adapted
Concentration : 300 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: see test condition
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported (Aldrich chemicals) (methyl 14C-
labelled from Pathfinder Lab.)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : Degradation: ca. 100 % after 9 days


Most of the methyl carbon of m-cresol (87 %) was converted to CH4.
Test condition : preincubation for 2-3 months
incubation for 20 d at 37 degrees C
Test substance : 14C-methyl labeled
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (44)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 %

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OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : - Sludge from 2 municipal plants


- Methane production monitored
- HPLC to monitor disappearance of substrate
Result : mineralization (related to theoretical methane and CO2
production) was 92% after 4 weeks with the first sludge and
90% after 5 weeks with the second
Test condition : incubation at 35 degrees C in the dark, 10 % sludge inoculum, duplicate
tests
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (45)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anoxic lake sediment
Concentration : .1 mg/l related to Test substance
.8 mg/l related to Test substance
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 %
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : after 29 weeks no significant CH4 or CO2 formation observed


Test condition : incubation at 20 degrees C in the dark with occasional
shaking
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (45)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other bacteria: acclimatized mixed culture of pentachlorophenol-degrading
bacteria
Concentration : 5 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 29 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 144 hour(s) 10 %
197 hour(s) 50 %
236 hour(s) 90 %
%
%
Deg. product :
Method : other: Die-away Test
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, gas chromatographic grade

Result : 10-day window criteria is met


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail

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12.05.2004 (40)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: phenol-enriched methanogenic culture
Concentration : 100 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 58 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : lag time 42 d, complete disappearance after 58 d,


the CH4 production was 85 % of the theoretical production
Test condition : nominal test concentrations m-cresol 50, 100, 150, 250, 300, 400, 500, and
700 mg/l + phenol 200 mg/l
incubation at 35 °C with continuous shaking
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (46)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: shallow anaerobic alluvial sand aquifer
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co.)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : 2 sampling sites: 1 methanogenic, 1 sulfate-reducing


both aquifers receive leachate from a municipal landfill
Result : lag time 43 days under sulfate-reducing and 46-90 days under
methanogenic conditions, no data for complete degradation given
Test condition : test medium: 50 g [wet weight] of aquifer solids and 50 ml
of groundwater
incubation at room temperature in the dark, quadruplicates
preincubation 5 days, addition of 150 to 200 µM test
substance
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (47)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: undefined methanogenic consortia from river sediment
Concentration : 54 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 87
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : black anoxic mud collected from a river inoculated in a


mineral medium (10% w/v)
Result : non-acclimated consortia: turnover rate 1.10 µmol/day/g
sediment dw (lag-phase 16 d)
acclimated consortia: turnover rate 2.37 µmol/day/g sediment dw (lag-
phase 0 d, based on a 24-days-incubation period), the CH4 production was
96 % of the theoretically possible yield
Test condition : incubation at 28 degrees C in the dark
cultures were refed with 60 mg/l test substance every 2-4 w
for a total of 18 months
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (48)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum :
Concentration : 10 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 3 day(s)
Degradation : 26 - 100 (±) % after 3 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: cultivation method
Year : 1987
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported in abstract

Result : biodegradation in river water = 100 %


biodegradation in sea water = 26 %
The authors assume the compound to be moderately to easily
biodegradable
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Japanese reference with short abstract in English
24.05.2004 (49)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: microcosm containing aquifer and ground water
Concentration : 18 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : lag time 110 days, disappearance after approx. 225 d (values taken from a
graphics)
Test condition : methanogenic conditions in a microcosm
Reliability : (3) invalid
Insufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (50)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anoxic aquifer
Concentration : 300 µmol/l related to Test substance
related to

88 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : anoxic aquifer slurries held under sulfate- and


nitrate-reducing conditions
Result : m-cresol was largely degraded in less than 6 d
degradation dependant on sulfate, inhibited by 1.0 mM
molybdate, not influenced by bromoethanesulfonic acid
Reliability : (4) not assignable
only abstract available
07.05.2004 (51)

3.6 BOD5, COD OR BOD5/COD RATIO

3.7 BIOACCUMULATION

Species : Leuciscus idus melanotus (Fish, fresh water)


Exposure period : 3 day(s) at °C
Concentration : .05 mg/l
BCF : 20
Elimination : no data
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

Remark : Determination of radioactivity includes possible metabolized and/or


incorporated intermediates
The authors report BCF in different tables with 17 or 20
Test condition : 5 fish (2-4 g) were exposed in a closed system and
concentrations determined by following radioactivity in fish and water; BCF
values related to wet weight
20-25 degrees C; pH 7; hardness 100 mg CaO/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (26)

Species : other: Chlorella fusca (algae)


Exposure period : 24 hour(s) at °C
Concentration : .05 mg/l
Elimination : no data
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

Remark : In this study BCF-values of 40 and 4,900 for algae are reported without
explanation for the difference.

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 89
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

It is a common observation that test substance adsorbes at the surface of


the algae. Due to the high surface / volume ratio a high BCF could be
obtained.
Test condition : 20-25 degrees C
Test substance : 14C-m-cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
12.05.2004 (26)

Species : other: Activated Sludge


Exposure period : 5 day(s) at °C
Concentration :
BCF : 1100
Elimination :
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

Remark : Values of bioaccumulation factors range from 10 up to 42,800.


Esters and higher alcohols are placed in the intermediate range between
3,000 and 5,000. Sodium acetat with an accumulation factor of 29,100 is
remarkable. In this ranking m-Cresol belongs to the group of compounds
with low accumulation potential.
Correlation between accumulation factors and physico-chemical
parameters was not practicable.
Test substance : 14C-m-cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail.
12.05.2004 (26)

3.8 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Memo : biodegradation under anaerobic conditions

Method : enrichment cultures prepared by addition of 3 g/l m-cresol


once per week
initial concentration 200-300 mg/l test substance
incubation at 37 degrees C in the dark
Result : 1st step: incorporation of CO2 giving
4-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid
2nd step:
2a: dehydroxylation to 2 methylbenzoic acid (not further
metabolized) to a minor degree
2b: ring reduction, ring fission and beta-oxidation to
acetate. Ring reduction appeared to be the rate-limiting
step, because no subsequent intermediates accumulated
Test substance : 1. U-ring-14C m-cresol
2. methyl-14C m-cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
11.12.2002 (52)

90 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

4.1 ACUTE/PROLONGED TOXICITY TO FISH

Type : flow through


Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 8.9
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other: US EPA, Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish,
macroinvertebrates, and amphibians. Nat. Environm. Res. Center, Corvallis
(1974)
Year : 1980
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Mean length/mean weight of fish: 7.9 cm/6.0 g


Result : sublethal effects: hyperactivity, rapid operculation,
sensitive to disturbance and gathering at the surface
Test condition : DILUTION WATER
- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- Conductance: 1212.3 µmhos/cm at 25 degrees C
TEST SYSTEM
- Concentrations: 1:2 dilution series
- Number of replicates: 2
- fish per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 degrees C
- Dissolved oxygen: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- pH: 8.1
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (53)

Type : flow through


Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 55.9
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other: US EPA, Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish,
macroinvertebrates, and amphibians. Nat. Environm. Res. Center, Corvallis
(1974)
Year : 1980
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Mean length/mean weight of fish: 4.9 cm/1.6 g


Result : sublethal effects: loss of equilibrium, erratic swiming and
twitching at a test substance concentration of 49.8 mg/l
Test condition : DILUTION WATER
- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- Conductance: 1212.3 µmhos/cm at 25 degrees C

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 91
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

TEST SYSTEM
- Concentrations: 1:2 dilution series
- Number of replicates: 2
- fish per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 degrees C
- Dissolved oxygen: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- pH: 8.1
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (53)

Type : static
Species : Salmo trutta (Fish, fresh water, marine)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 8.4
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reported to be "purified grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


controls.
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 11.0 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 8.6 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 8.4 mg/l
Test condition : 12 degree C, reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (54)

Type : static
Species : Salvelinus fontinalis (Fish, estuary, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 7.6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reported to be "purified grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


controls.
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 11.4 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 8.2 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 7.6 mg/l
at concentrations of 6 to 20 mg/l, the approximate
incidences of surfacing were 20 %
Test condition : 12 degree C, reconstituted water

92 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (54)

Type : static
Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 8.6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reported to be "purified grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


controls.
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 14.9 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 10.4 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 10.2 mg/l
In an additional test under flow-through conditions a
concentration of 10 mg/l caused total incapacitation in 15
of 20 fish within 11.5 min, after which a recovery to a
higher level of activity was observed
Test condition : 12 degree C, reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (54)

Type : semistatic
Species : Poecilia reticulata (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 23.12
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity 99 % (BDH Chemicals)

Method : 80 % of the test solution renewed at 12 h intervals


Test condition : 25-27 degrees Celsius, pH 7
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (55)

Type : static
Species : Brachydanio rerio (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC0 : 11

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 93
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

LC50 : 15.9
LC100 : 22
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Pruefrichtlinie UBA (summer 1980)
Year : 1982
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : pH 7.5 +- 0.3


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (56)

Type : static
Species : Gadus morrhua (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : > 30
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 98 % as determined by GC (obtained from
Merck)

Method : effect endpoints: death, pathology, inhibition of cleavage


and differentiation, pigment defects
Result : parallel test with larvae (6 days after hatching) showed
pigment effects at 10 and 30 mg/l
Test condition : 5 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (57)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC0 : 10
LC50 : 17
LC100 : 22
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Test procedure of the Abwasserabgabengesetzentwurf (Deutscher
Bundestag 1974)
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (58)

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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type :
Species : Cyprinus carpio (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 25
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer and Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical monitoring, no
information about the test substance. Further details are missing
07.05.2004 (59)

Type :
Species : Rutilus rutilus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 23
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer and Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical monitoring, no
information about the test substance. Further details are missing
07.05.2004 (59)

Type :
Species : Tinca tinca (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 21
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer and Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical monitoring, no
information about the test substance. Further details are missing
07.05.2004 (59)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 95
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : other: Mann, H., Fischtest mit Goldorfen zur vergleichenden Pruefung der
akuten Toxizitaet von Wasserinhaltsstoffen und Abwaessern, Praktische
Erfahrungen aus 3 Ringtesten, Z. f. Wasser- u. Abwasser-Forschung 9,
103-109 (1976)
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


Secondary literature not available (Mann 1976)
07.05.2004 (17)

Type : static
Species : other: Pleuronectes sp. (plaice)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 10 - 33
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1971
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: cresol, isomer not specified

Test condition : 15 degrees C


Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
07.05.2004 (60)

Type :
Species : Lepomis macrochirus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 10 - 13.6
Method :
Year : 1971
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary literature
12.05.2004 (61)

Type :
Species : Oryzias latipes (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 24
Method :
Year : 1986
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary literature, original source unknown
12.05.2004 (62)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)

96 UNEP PUBLICATIONS
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Unit : mg/l
LC0 : 10
LC50 : 17 - 19
LC100 : 21 - 26
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Bestimmung der Wirkung von Wasserinhaltsstoffen auf Fische. DEV,
L 15 (1976)
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


Insufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (63)

Type :
Species : other: Agonus cataphractus (poacher)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 10 - 33
Method :
Year : 1960
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Reliability : (4) not assignable


reference not available
12.05.2004 (64)

4.2 ACUTE TOXICITY TO AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

Type : static
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : 13
EC50 : 25
EC100 : 50
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: immobilisation test according to Bringmann & Kühn: Z. Wasser
Abwasser Forsch. 10, 162-166 (1977)
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Exposure of 24 h old Daphnia (strain IRCHA); 10 individuals


per concentration, duplicate samples
Result : effect values refer to nominal test substance concentrations
Test condition : 20 degrees C; initial pH 8.0 +/-0.2; water saturated with
oxygen; hardness: 16° d.h. (corresponding to 286 mg CaCO3/l)
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (65)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 97
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type : flow through


Species : Daphnia pulicaria (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : > 99.5
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other: US EPA, Methods for acute toxicity test with fish,
macroinvertebrates, and amphibians. Nat. Environm. Res. Center, Corvallis
(1974)
Year : 1980
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : DILUTION AND TEST WATER


- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- pH: 8.1
- Oxygen content: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- Conductance: 1212.3 µhos/cm at 25 degrees C
- Number of replicates, individuals per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 +- 1 degrees C
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (53)

Type :
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : 1.6
EC50 : 8.9
EC100 : 25
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1977
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Effect endpoint: immobilisation


Test condition : Hardness 16 degrees (German), pH 7.6-7.7, 20-22 degrees
Celsius
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (66)

Type :
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 19.2
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: AFNOR (1974)
Year : 1987

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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
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GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 %

Remark : Effect endpoint: immobilisation


Result : Result is reported as 24h IC50 "0.178 mmol/l" (which equals 19.2 mg/l)
Test condition : Reconstituted hard water 200 mg/l CaCO3
pH 7.8-8.2
dissolved oxigen >25% of saturation
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (67) (68)

Type : other: not specified


Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 18.8
Limit Test : no
Analytical monitoring : no data
Method : other: according to the method described by Parkhurst et al. 1977
Year : 1979
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Parkhurst BR, Gehrs CW, Rubin IB (1977): Proceedings of ASTM 2nd
Annual Symposium on Aquatic Toxicology, 122-130
Test condition : Daphnia magna used in the test were adults.
100-ml test beakers were filled with 80 ml test solution and 4 daphnia. All
the tests were run in triplicate.
Temperature during the test: 25 +/- 0.5°C
12h light/dark cycle
Test solution was prepared with filtered spring water (pH 7.8 alkalinity mg/l,
hardness 140 mg/l)
Control beakers were used
48h-EC50 values were obtained by PROBIT
Test substance : The test substance was obtained from an effluent
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies (method description is in the other reference
from the same author). Age of daphnias used in the test is not clearly
specified: test daphnias were "adults" (in the OECD guideline a 24h-old
daphnia is suggested); temperature during the test was 25°C (in the
guideline is suggested: 18-22°C); 12 daphnia were used for each test
concentration (in the guideline 40 daphnias are suggested)
07.05.2004 (69)

Type : static
Species : Daphnia sp. (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 28
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : test organisms were reared from daphnids collected in


surface water

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 99
OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; test organisms were reared from


daphnids collected in surface water
Test condition : river water, pH 7.5
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing. Study does not follow any guideline,
concentrations tested were not reported, no information about the
application method of the test substance is given. Neither O2/pH
monitoring nor analytical monitoring were applied
12.05.2004 (70)

Type :
Species : other aquatic mollusc: Glossosiphonia complanata
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : perturbation level: 1.1 mg/l


Reliability : (4) not assignable
Secondary literature
12.05.2004 (71)

Type :
Species : other aquatic arthropod: Limnoria tripunctata
Exposure period : 100 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 100
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Reliability : (4) not assignable


Reference not available
12.05.2004 (64)

4.3 TOXICITY TO AQUATIC PLANTS E.G. ALGAE

Species : Scenedesmus quadricauda (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 8 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 15
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1977
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : incubation of 10 ml test solution (algae in defined mineral


salts medium)
Remark : TT (toxic threshold concentration) refers to nominal test
substance concentration and was determined at 3 %
effect compared to the control
Test condition : 27 degrees C; initial pH 7.0

100 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Reliability : (3) invalid


It is unclear whether the algae are within the exponential growth throughout
the whole exposure period of 8 days.
07.05.2004 (72)

Species : Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Algae)


Endpoint : other: chlorophyll content
Exposure period : 72 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : < 50
EC50 : 127
EC100 : 250
Limit test : no
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1968
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : 1000 mg/l: complete destruction of chlorophyll


EC50 was not reported in the study, but it can be taken from the graph
Test condition : TEST ORGANISMS
- Strain: Emerson strain
- Test temperature: 25 +- 1 degrees C
- pH: 7.0
- Photoperiod: continuous illumination
TEST PARAMETER: chlorophyll
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (73)

Species : Microcystis aeruginosa (Algae, blue, cyanobacteria)


Endpoint : other: cell multiplication
Exposure period : 8 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
TGK : 13
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Modified DEV L9 (cell multiplication inhibition test)
Year : 1975
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TGK = Toxicity treshold, determined at 1% effect compared to


control
Reliability : (3) invalid
It is unclear whether the algae are within the exponential growth throughout
the whole exposure period of 8 days.
07.05.2004 (74) (75)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton lucens


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : .22
LOEC : .65
EC50 : .65
EC100 : > 1.08

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 101


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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 uS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not indicated. No
information about application mode, number of plants, controls, test
concentrations, statistics, analytics.
07.05.2004 (76)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton coloratus


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : 1.08
LOEC : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 uS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not indicated. No
information about application mode, number of plants, controls, test
concentrations, statistics, analytics.
07.05.2004 (76)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton crispus


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : 1.08
LOEC : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 uS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not indicated. No
information about application mode, number of plants, controls, test
concentrations, statistics, analytics.
07.05.2004 (76)

Species : Agmenellum quadruplicatum (Algae)


Endpoint :
Exposure period :

102 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Unit :
Method :
Year : 1974
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : algae cells embedded in agar, test substance absorbed on


discs (12.7 mm) which are placed directly on the agar
surface
incubation 5 to 8 days
Result : no effect with 0.5 mg test substance on the plate
with 1 mg inhibition between 1 to 10 mm from the disc edge,
with 10 mg complete killing within a zone of 36 mm
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
10.05.2004 (77)

Species : other algae: Chlorella autotrophica


Endpoint :
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year : 1974
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : algae cells embedded in agar, test substance absorbed on


discs (12.7 mm) which are placed directly on the agar
surface
incubation 5 to 8 days
Result : with 1 mg inhibition between 1 to 4 mm from the disc edge,
with 2 mg 1nhibition between 3 to 35 mm from the disc edge
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
10.05.2004 (77)

Species : Scenedesmus quadricauda (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 40
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = toxicity treshold


Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (70)

Species : Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 10 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
MTL : 100
Method :
Year : 1976

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 103


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : described in: Denson & Bold, The University of Texas


Publication No. 6022, 72 (1960)
Remark : MTL = median tolerance limit
Result : sublethal concentration 100 mg/l
lethal concentration 500 mg/l
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Insufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (78)

4.4 TOXICITY TO MICROORGANISMS E.G. BACTERIA

Type : aquatic
Species : activated sludge, domestic
Exposure period : 3 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 461.4
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : OECD Guide-line 209 "Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test"
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reagent grade

Remark : synthetic sewage stock solution slightly different from OECD


guideline; reference substance 1,5-dichlorophenol
Test condition : 21 degrees C; continuous aeration with 0.5-10 l/min
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Guideline study
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (79)

Type : aquatic
Species : activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
EC75 : 11.4
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: inhibition of nitrification process
Year : 1966
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Quantitative determination of the nitrification rate (1st


step, NH4 to NO2),
colorimetric measurement of the NO2/NO3 concentration;
static test system
Pre-cleaned activated sludge in particle-free communal waste
water (BOD5: 250 mg/l; NH4-N/l: 50-80 mg)
Remark : effect: inhibition of ammonia oxidation
Test condition : Exposure period: 2-4 h; 25 degree C; pH 7.6-7.8
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (80)

104 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria
Exposure period :
Unit :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity 99.5 %

Method : 6 different pure bacteria cultures: 3 isolated from a


laboratory activated sludge, 2 from activated sludge from a
municipal plant receiving some industry wastewater, and 1
from a lake sediment
Effect: 50 % resazurin reduction (determination of
dehydrogenase activity)
Result : from laboratory sludges: EC50 = >500, 225, and 410 mg/l
from activated sludges: EC50 = 360 and >500 mg/l
from lake sediment: EC50 = >500 mg/l
Test condition : 21 degrees C; incubation 30-60 min
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (81)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Aerobic heterotrophic
Exposure period : 49 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC 50 : 440
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1991
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : culture obtained from mixed liquor of a treatment plant


Remark : Effect: inhibition of respiration; prolonged incubation
compared with ISO 8192
Test condition : 25 and 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (82)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Methanogenic bacteria
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC 50 : 890
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Owen, W.F.: Bioassay for Monitoring Biochemical Methane Potential
and Anaerobic Toxicity. Water Res. 13, 485 (1979)
Year : 1991
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Remark : Effect: inhibition of gas production


Test condition : 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (82)

Type : aquatic
Species : Nitrosomonas sp. (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC 50 : .78
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Inhibition of nitrification, comparable to ISO/DIS 9509
Year : 1991
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : culture obtained from mixed liquor of a treatment plant


Remark : Effect: inhibition of N-oxidation
Test condition : 25 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
In principal the test is comparable to standard methods,
but the authors state that the compounds with log IC50<1,5 umol/l had
questionable accurate results, so that this effect value has to be considered
invalid.
07.05.2004 (82)

Type : aquatic
Species : anaerobic microorganisms
Exposure period :
Unit :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : phenol-enriched methanogenic culture


nominal concentrations 50, 100, 150, 250, 300, 400, 500, and
700 mg/l m-cresol + 200 mg/l phenol
incubation at 35 degrees C
Result : m-cresol concentrations above 150 mg/l inhibited the
anaerobic phenol degradation
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (46)

Type : aquatic
Species : Pseudomonas putida (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 16 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 53
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1977
GLP : no

106 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 3 % effect compared


to control
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (75) (72)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Mixed marine bacteria culture
Exposure period : 16 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC10 : 33.4
EC50 : 324 - 326
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Static bioassay (determination of bacterial growth)
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : mixed culture of 13 unidentified bacterial strains isolated


from sea water
Test condition : Incubation at 25-30 degrees Celsius, artificial saltwater
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (83) (84)

Type : aquatic
Species : Chilomonas paramaecium (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 114
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1980
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 5 % effect compared


to control
Test condition : 20 degrees C; initial pH 6.9
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (85)

Type : aquatic
Species : Entosiphon sulcatum (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 72 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 31
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1978
GLP : no

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 107


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 5 % effect compared


to control
Test condition : 25 degrees C; initial pH 6.9
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (86)

Type : aquatic
Species : Tetrahymena pyriformis (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC100 : 375
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : 28 degrees C


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (87)

Type : aquatic
Species : Uronema parduzci (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 20 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 62
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1980
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 5 % effect compared


to control
Test condition : 25 degrees C; initial pH 6.9
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (88)

Type : aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 5 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 11
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1983
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

108 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Remark : effect: reduction of bioluminescence


Secondary literature. Not enough information supplied for assessment.
Although the author suggests that Microtox may lack reproductibility due to
variations in bacterial cell suspensions, no information is supplied on the
maintenance of the lyophilized bacteria, their age, duration of reconstitution
and other important parameters.
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals.
07.05.2004 (89)

Type : aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 15 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 8
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1987
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, analytical grade (either from Merck or EGA Chemie)

Remark : Not enough information supplied for assessment of the test used (Test
done according to Beckman manual). Although it is suggested that
Microtox may lack reproducibility due to variations in bacterial cell
suspensions [Bitton G (1983) Bacterial and Biochemical Tests for
Assessing Chemical Toxicity in the Aquatic Environment: A Review. Crit
Rev Environ Control 13: 51 -67], no information is supplied on the
maintenance of the lyophilized bacteria, their age, duration of reconstitution
and other important parameters.
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals.
07.05.2004 (90)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Photobacterium (Vibrio) fischeri (marine)
Exposure period : 5 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 8.2
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Although it is suggested that Microtox may lack reproducibility due to


variations in bacterial cell suspensions [Bitton G (1983) Bacterial and
Biochemical Tests for Assessing Chemical Toxicity in the Aquatic
Environment: A Review. Crit Rev Environ Control 13: 51 -67], no
information is supplied on the maintenance of the lyophilized bacteria, their
age, duration of reconstitution and other important parameters. In contrast
to Bulich [Bulich AA (1977), Aquatic Toxicology: Second conference ASTM
STP 667, American Society for Testing of Materials, Philadelphia, pp 98 -
106], pH not buffered.
Test condition : 15 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals.
07.05.2004 (91)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 109


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type : aquatic
Species : Escherichia coli (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 19 day(s)
Unit :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Incubation in microcosms containing sterile sea water


Result : Number of viable cells remained constant
Number of culturable cells decreased, no plasmids were
detected. Changes in membrane protein composition observed.
After transfer into rich medium without test substance,
growth resumed and plasmids were again detectable.
Test condition : Test concentration 1 µg/l, 18 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Tested organism not relevant for environment
07.05.2004 (92) (93)

Type : aquatic
Species : Pseudomonas putida (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : in the culture medium absorbance at 660 nm was measured


Result : absorbance 0.46 with 0.5 g/l and 0.22 with 1 g/l
Test condition : 30 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing
07.05.2004 (94)

Type : aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 30 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 11.8
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox
Year : 1981
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Inhibition of bioluminescence


Secondary literature; not enough information for assessment of cited result
Test condition : 20 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals
12.05.2004 (95)

Type : aquatic

110 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Species : other bacteria: gentechnologically constructed luminescent bacteria


originating from wastewater treatment plant
Exposure period : 30 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 68 measured/nominal
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Inhibition of bioluminescence


Modified microorganisms used which represent the metabolic potentials
present in a wastewater treatment plant and some properties of a marine
organism, but which are not identical to any known species in natural
environments
Test condition : - Wastewater bacteria (Eschericia coli) which were obtained from a
wastewater treatment plant
- Bacteria obtained the luciferase operon of Vibrio fischeri by transfer from
luminescent E. coli
- Incubation at 20 °C
- Result calculated from the difference of the luminescence between
controls and test substance taking into account the light emissions at 0 and
20 °C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals.
07.05.2004 (95)

Type : aquatic
Species : Escherichia coli (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 2 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 1000
Method :
Year : 1954
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : endpoint related to growth inhibition


no effect on cell size
Test condition : 37 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (96)

Type : aquatic
Species : Escherichia coli (Bacteria)
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
TT : 600
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : test organisms isolated from river water


endpoint: inhibition of glucose metabolism
Remark : TT = toxicity treshold; determined at 5 % effect compared to

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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

control
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (70) (97)

Type : aquatic
Species : Pseudomonas fluorescens (Bacteria)
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
TT : 40
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1960
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = toxicity treshold; determined at 5 % effect compared to


control
endpoint: inhibition of glucose metabolism
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (70)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Pseudomonas Stamm Berlin 33/2
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : 180
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Effect endpoint: cell multiplication inhibition


Reliability : (4) not assignable
Insufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (58)

Type : aquatic
Species : Paramaecium caudatum (Protozoa)
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : pertubation level 0.9 mg/l


Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
12.05.2004 (71)

Type : aquatic
Species : other protozoa: Vorticella campanula
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year :
GLP :

112 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : pertubation level 0.5 mg/l


Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
12.05.2004 (71)

4.5.1 CHRONIC TOXICITY TO FISH

4.5.2 CHRONIC TOXICITY TO AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

4.6.1 TOXICITY TO SEDIMENT DWELLING ORGANISMS

4.6.2 TOXICITY TO TERRESTRIAL PLANTS

Species : other terrestrial plant: Lactuca sativa Ravel R2


Endpoint : growth
Exposure period : 14 day(s)
Unit : mg/kg soil dw
EC50 : 96
Method : OECD Guide-line 208 "Terrestrial Plants, Growth Test"
Year : 1993
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity >= 95 %

Method : analytical monitoring at start and end of test


Result : EC50 based on nominal concentration; for most of the
examined phenols (including m-cresol) applied concentrations dropped but
remained larger than 50 % of the nominal values.
The 7-d EC50 was 69 mg/kg soil (original dimension µg/g soil).
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline study; applied test concentrations not stable
during the test period
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (98)

Species : Lactuca sativa (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : emergence
Exposure period : 3 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 53
Method : other: Seed germination test
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : As described by Reynolds 1975 (Characterization of osmotic restraints on


lettuce fruit germination. Ann. Bot. 39, 791-796) and 1977 (Comparative
effects of aliphatic com-pounds on inhibition of lettuce fruit germination.
Ann. Bot. 41, 637-648)
- Lettuce cultivar Great Lakes
- Germination temperature 30 °C
Result : Result was reported as "0.49 mmol/l" which equals 53 mg/l

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 113


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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Basic data given
07.05.2004 (99)

Species : other terrestrial plant: Lactuca sativa Ravel R2


Endpoint : growth
Exposure period : 16 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 50
Method :
Year : 1993
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity >= 95 %

Method : semistatic test in nutrient solution, renewed 3 times/week


nutrient solution as described in Steiner, A.A.: Soilless
culture. Proceedings, Sixth Colloqium of the International
Potash Institute, Florence, Italy, 324-341 (1968);
analytical monitoring of TS at start and end of exposure and
before renewal of test solution
Result : EC50 based on nominal concentration; TS concentration before renewal of
test solution > 50% of initial concentration
Reliability : (3) invalid
unsuitable test system
07.05.2004 (98)

Species : Raphanus sativus (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled water


24 degrees C, 10h light, 14 h dark
3 replicates of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate %
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0 - -
1 0 5.3 2.0 -
0.1 82.6 95.0 80.8 104.7
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (100)

Species : Brassica rapa (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled water

114 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

24 degrees C, 10h light, 14 h dark


3 replicates of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate %
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0 - -
1 0 0 - -
0.1 85.8 91.5 54.9 72.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (100)

Species : Brassica campestris var. chinensis (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled water


24 degrees C, 10h light, 14 h dark
3 replicates of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate %
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0 - -
1 0 0 - -
0.1 100 100 86.5 77.1
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (100)

4.6.3 TOXICITY TO SOIL DWELLING ORGANISMS

4.6.4 TOX. TO OTHER NON MAMM. TERR. SPECIES

Species : other avian: Agelaius phoeniceus (red-winged blackbird)


Endpoint : mortality
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/kg bw
LD50 oral : 113
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : birds pre-conditioned to captivity for 2 to 6 weeks


dosed by gavage with solution in propylene glycol or by
pellets resp. gelatin capsules
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Unsuitable test system
07.05.2004 (101)

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OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

4.7 BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS MONITORING

4.8 BIOTRANSFORMATION AND KINETICS

Remark : In aquarium water of 12 species of freshwater fish 48 h


after exposure to 3-15 mg/l m-cresol, cresyl sulphate
(55-64% of 14C recovered) or m-hydroxybenzoic acid (0-39 %)
were found
In bile of 11 species, cresyl glucuronide (63-74 %), cresyl
sulphate (8-20 %) and m-hydrobenzoic acid (5-12 %) were
found
Unchanged m-cresol detected in both aquarium water and bile
Test substance : m-[U-14C]cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
17.10.2001 (102)

4.9 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Memo : Sea urchin test

Remark : Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (sea urchin):


static test, 5 degrees C
Determined effect endpoints: death, pathology, inhibition of
cleavage and differentiation, pigment defects
EC50 (96 h): ca. 30 mg/l
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 98 % as determined by GC (obtained from
Merck)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (57)

Memo : Tree neoplasms

Remark : m-cresol (1.5 % v/v) showed a toxicity rating from 3-4 (0 =


no injury, 5 = complete kill within 14 d) in tomato crown
gall tumors incited by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
07.05.2004 (103)

Memo : Hela cell screening

Remark : In a rapid-cell culture assay with HeLa cells, m-cresol


(4x10-5 to 4x10-3 M, 4 h incubation) showed a
concentration-dependent inhibition of 3H labeled thymidine
incorporation into DNA
incubation 4 h
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Reliability : (3) invalid
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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
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Unsuitable test system


07.05.2004 (104) (105)

Memo : Mollusc

Remark : Teredo diegensis (Mollusca):


LC50 (72 h): 100 mg/l
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Reference not available
07.05.2004 (64)

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5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

5.0 TOXICOKINETICS, METABOLISM AND DISTRIBUTION

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Distribution
Species : dog
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :
Route of administration : oral unspecified
Exposure time :
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
rd
3 :
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :

Result : Following oral exposure cresols in the body initially concentrate in the
blood, liver, brain followed by more widespread distribution in the lungs,
kidneys and other unspecified organs (no further details given)
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
25.10.2002 (106)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Toxicokinetics
Species : rabbit
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle : other: sodiumhydroxycarbonate
Route of administration : gavage
Exposure time :
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Method : Approx. 200 mg/kg bw was administered to 10 rabbits (sex not mentioned)
as single dose as solution in bicarbonate by gavage. Urine was collected
over a period of 24-48 hours and the levels of free and conjugated cresol
was estimated by the method of Folin O. and Ciocalteu V., J. biol. Chem.
73, 627 (1927). Metabolites were identified with the method described in

118 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Bray et al., Biochem J. 41, 212 (1947) and 43, 561 (1948)
Result : absorption and excretion:
Within 24 hours 84 % of the m-Cresol dose was excreted in the urine
indicating that at least this amount was absorbed through the
gastrointestinal tract and urinary excretion was the main route of
elimination.
metabolism:
The principal metabolic pathway was conjugation wit h glucuronic and
sulphuric acids: 10% of the dose were discovered as ethereal sulphate and
60% of the dose as etheral glucuronide and 1% of the dose as free cresol.
About 3 % of the dose was conjugated 2,5-dihydroxytoluene; conjugated
3,4-dihydroxytoluene was only discovered in traces.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no information on sex of rabbits used, no information on distribution in the
tissue
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (107) (108)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vitro


Type : Absorption
Species : other: human skin
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle : water
Route of administration : dermal
Exposure time : 250 minute(s)
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Method : The permeability of m-Cresol was measured across 2.5 cm2 epidermal
membranes from human abdominal skin. The membranes were supported
in a glass cell and the amount of m-Cresol passing to the receptor vessel
measured spectrophotometrically. Each test was conducted at least in
duplicate and at 25 Degree Celsius
Result : The permeability coefficient of m-Cresol was 2.54 x10 (exp)-4 cm/min and
the lag time for a 0.4%w/v solution was 15 min. The threshold
concentration for damage i.e. the aqueous concentration at which the
permeability coefficient began to increase was 1.0 %w/v.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
in vitro investigation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (109)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type :
Species : other: dogs and rabbits
Number of animals

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5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :
Route of administration : oral unspecified
Exposure time :
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Remark : m-Cresol undergoes entero-hepatic circulation when administered orally to


dogs and rabbits.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (110) (111)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Toxicokinetics
Species : other
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Result : At physiological pH, the conjugated metabolites of phenolic compounds are


ionized to a greater extent than the parent compound, which reduces renal
reabsorption and increases elimination with the urine.
In addition to urinary excretion, cresols are excreted in the bile, but the
most part undergoes enterohepatic circulation. There are known species
differences in the specific conjugation reactions of cresol isomers and the
relative amounts of glucuronide and sulfate conjugates therefore differ
between species and also vary with dose.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
basic information
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (110) (112) (113) (114)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Absorption
Species : rat
Number of animals
Males :
Females :

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Doses
Males :
Females : 10 mg/m3, 4 hrs a day for 100 d up to 4 months
Vehicle :
Route of administration : inhalation
Exposure time : 4 hour(s)
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Result : Female rats were exposed to 10 mg/m3 m-cresol 4 hours per


day, daily for 100 d up to 4 months. m-Cresol reached a
concentration of 12.2 ug/g lung tissue; the neutral red
sorption on day 3 resp d 39 was 133 % resp. 152 % of the
control value as a marker for cytotoxicity. Full recovery
did not occur.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
information on absorption via lung, but study description suffer from
deficiencies
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (115)

5.1.1 ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY

Type : LD50
Value : 242 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex : male
Number of animals : 5
Vehicle : other: none
Doses :
Method : other: 5 rats/dose group, 4 doses, undiluted liquid, time of recovery: up to
14 days
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity not given, M.P.: 11-12 C, B.P.: 202,8 C

Result : dosage onset of sympt. mortality mortality


mg/kg bw 0-4 hrs 0-4hrs day3 day6 day7 cumulat.

147 S 0/5
215 S 1/5 1/5 2/5
316 S 3/5 1/5 4/5
464 S 4/5 1/5 5/5

S=signs of intoxication: Hypoactivity, tremors, convulsions,


salivation, prostration
survivors: recovery within observation time, gross necropsy:
no significant findings
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 121
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decedents, gross necropsy: inflammation of the


gastrointestinal tract, hyperemia of lungs, liver and
kidneys
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no information on strain used , no information on statistical evaluation given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (116) (117)

Type : LD50
Value : = 2020 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain : Wistar
Sex : male/female
Number of animals : 10
Vehicle : other: olive oil
Doses : 1500, 1700, 2000, 2200, 2400 mg/kg bw
Method : other: 5 rats/sex/dose, 6 doses, administration as a 10% solution in olive oil
to non-fasted Wistar rats by gavage to give doses of 1500-2700 mg/kg bw,
observation time was not reported, section was not performed
Year : 1944
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS:m-cresol, purity: 96-98 %

Result : 1500 mg/kg: 0 % dead, 1700 mg/kg: 20 % dead, 2000 mg/kg: 40 % dead,
2200 mg/kg: 70 % dead, 2400 mg/kg: 70 % dead,
time of death not mentioned
signs of poisoning: twitching of isolated bundles of muscles and
uncoordinated movement of the legs, irregular pulse and difficulties in
breathing
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
post-exposure observation time not reported
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (118)

Type : LD50
Value : = 2010 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain : no data
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : other: oil
Doses : no data
Method : other: 10 % solution was used
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary citation
06.02.2004 (112) (119)

Type : LD50
Value : = 520 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex : male
Number of animals : 10
Vehicle : water
Doses :
Method : other: 10 rats/ dose were fed with a 10 % aqueous solution, 5 doses,
observation period: 14 d, gross examination

122 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: purity no data

Remark : at the dosage level used the rats developed tremor within a
few minutes, deaths occurred within a few hours
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Documentation insufficient for assessment
18.09.2002 (120)

Type : LD50
Value : = 828 mg/kg bw
Species : mouse
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : other: oil
Doses :
Method : other: 10 % oil solution
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity not mentioned

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary citation
17.12.2002 (112) (119)

Type : other: dose selection study for MNT


Value :
Species : mouse
Strain :
Sex : male/female
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle : other: corn oil
Doses : 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 2000 mg/kg bw (dose volumes: 5 ml/kg bw)
Method : other: 3 mice/sex and dose received one dose by gavage:
400,800,1200,1600,2000 mg/kg bw, post dose observation for 2 d for toxic
effects and mortality
Year : 1989
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: Purity: 99.8 %

Remark : the study was performed in order to select doses for a mouse in vivo bone
marrow cytogenetic assay (see chapter 5.6)
Result : 2000 mg/kg:immediately after dosing all mice showed
convulsions, experienced difficulties in breathing, and were
extremely lethargic; mortality: 6/6
1600, 1200 mg/kg: all mice showed convulsions 2-4 min. after
dosing, experienced breathing difficulties and lethargy;
mortality: 1600 mg/kg: 6/6; 1200 mg/kg: male 1/3, female
2/3, all other rats showed signs of recovery
800 mg/kg: all mice showed convulsions 4-5 min. after dosing
with difficulty in breathing and lethargy, no rat died; all
showed signs of recovery after 2 d
400 mg/kg: all mice apparently healthy
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only 2 days post-exposure observation;
preliminary dose range finding study
10.01.2003 (121)

Type : other: LD

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 123


OECD SIDS m-CRESOL
5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Value : = 1400 mg/kg bw


Species : rabbit
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 1
Vehicle : other: water
Doses :
Method : other: single oral gavage of a 20 % aqueous emulsion, 4 doses, time till
death was recorded
Year : 1944
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity not mentioned

Remark : 620 and 940 mg/kg: no death; 1400 mg/kg: 8 hrs until death;
2100 mg/kg 90 min. till death
Reliability : (4) not assignable
study reporting suffers from deficiencies
17.12.2002 (118)

Type : other: LD
Value : 640 - 1000 mg/kg bw
Species : dog
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 2
Vehicle : no data
Doses :
Method : other: single application by gavage, no further data
Year : 1907
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Remark : 640 mg/kg: transitional aggitation, staggering gait,


sedation, recovery
1000 mg/kg: death within 30 min after application probably
due to aspiration
Reliability : (4) not assignable
study reporting suffers from deficiencies
17.12.2002 (111)

5.1.2 ACUTE INHALATION TOXICITY

Type : LC50
Value : > .71 mg/l
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex : male
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle : other: air
Doses :
Exposure time : 1 hour(s)
Method : other: 6 rats exposed to 0.71 mg/l for 1 hr, room temperature, up to 14 d
post exposure observation, gross necropsy
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, M.p.: 11-12 C; B.P.: 202.8 C

Result : Mortality. 0/6; signs of intoxication: none; gross autopsy:


no significant findings
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions

124 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

no information about strain used, exposure time : 1 hr, only one


concentration
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (116)

Type : LC50
Value : = 58 mg/m³
Species : rat
Strain : no data
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : no data
Doses : no data
Exposure time :
Method : other: aerosol-exposure; no further data
Year : 1975
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Remark : the mean lethal concentration of m-cresol was measured. The original data
are not published and no further experimental details are availabel from the
citing literature
Result : Clinical signs of toxicity included irritation of mucous membranes,
neuromuscular excitiation and convulosions; hematuria at very high
concentrations (no further information)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Secondary citation from peer-reviewed data source
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (122)

Type : other: inhalation of mist


Value :
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
Doses :
Exposure time : 8 hour(s)
Method : other: mist was generated by holding the compound in a bath of 170
degree Celsius, observation period: 14 d
Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Result : all rats survived the exposure period; only 1/6 failed to
gain weight during the observation period
Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation suffers from significant deficiencies
18.09.2002 (120)

Type : other: inhalation of saturated vapour


Value :
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle : other: air
Doses :
Exposure time : 8 hour(s)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 125


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5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : other: exposure to saturated vapour produced at room temperature by


bubbling air at 2.5 l/min, observation period 14 d
Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Remark : m-Cresol did not affect rats in 8 h exposure periods, all of the rats gained
weight during the observation period
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
description considered of sufficient quality to allow evaluation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (120)

5.1.3 ACUTE DERMAL TOXICITY

Type : LD50
Value : = 1100 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : no data
Doses :
Method : other: no data
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary citation
17.12.2002 (112) (119)

Type : LD50
Value : = 2050 mg/kg bw
Species : rabbit
Strain : no data
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 5
Vehicle : other: none
Doses : 1000, 1470, 2150, 3160 mg/kg bw
Method : other: 5 rabbits/dose, 4 doses, exposure time not mentioned, up to 14 days
post exposure observation time
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, M.P.: 11-12 C; B.P.: 202.8 C

Result : Dosage onset of symp. mortality mortality


mg/kg 4-12 hrs 12-24 hrs day3 cumulative

1000 0/5
1470 0/5
2150 S 4/5 4/5
3160 S 4/5 4/5

S = signs of intoxication from 4 hrs up to 12 hrs p.a.:


lacrimation, salivation,
hypersensitivity, convulsion, hypoactivity:
dermal
irritation: severely burned, severe edema

126 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

gross necropsy-survivors: no significant findings


gross necropsy-decedents: hyperemia of lungs and kidneys
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no information about strain used, statistical evaluation not given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (116)

Type : LD50
Value : = 2830 mg/kg bw
Species : rabbit
Strain :
Sex : female
Number of animals : 3
Vehicle : no data
Doses :
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1977
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Method : The method used was essentially that of Smyth et al. 1962 (Am. Ind. Hyg.
Ass. J. 23, 95-107) except three females/dose were tested 24 hr occlusive
exposure to the neat material was followed by a 14-day observation period.
the most probable LD50 value was determined by the method of
Thompson 1947 (Bact. Rev.11, 115-145) of moving averages. Clinical
signs and purity of the Ts are not reported.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no guideline study: Doses used, clinical signs and purity of Test substance
are not reported
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (123)

Type : LD50
Value : = 1860 mg/kg bw
Species : rabbit
Strain :
Sex : male
Number of animals : 10
Vehicle : other: undiluted
Doses :
Method : other: application to the slipped trunk of rabbits for 24 hours under 'Vinylite'
sheeting, gross examination
Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: purity no data

Remark : original data: 1.80 ml/kg


severe necrosis and erythema of the skin and kidney damage
(bloody urine in the urinary bladder), congested pancreas,
mottled liver and abdominal wall hemorrhagia were noted
Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation insufficient for assessment
18.09.2002 (120)

5.1.4 ACUTE TOXICITY, OTHER ROUTES

Type : LD50
Value : = 168 mg/kg bw
Species : mouse
Strain :

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Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : no data
Doses :
Route of admin. : i.p.
Exposure time : unspecified
Method : other: no data
Year :
GLP : no
Test substance :

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (124)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 100 mg/kg bw
Species : guinea pig
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle : no data
Doses :
Route of admin. : i.p.
Exposure time :

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (124)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 900 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : other: no data
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :
Method : other: no data
Year :
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (124)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 450 mg/kg bw
Species : mouse
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : water
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :
Method : othe: no data
Year : 1905

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GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (125)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 500 mg/kg bw
Species : rabbit
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary literature
18.09.2002 (126)

Type : other: LD
Value :
Species : cat
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 1
Vehicle : other: olive oil
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :
Method : other subcoutaneous admininstration of a 10 % solution, 1 cat/dose 7
doses, hours till death were recorded
Year : 1944
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 10 % in olive oil

Remark : hours until death:


80 and 120 mg/kg: no death; 180 mg/kg: 27 hours, 280 mg/kg:
4 hours; 420 mg/kg: 12 hours; 620 mg/kg: 7 hours; 940 mg/kg:
5.5 hours
Reliability : (4) not assignable
unusual application route
18.09.2002 (118)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 120 mg/kg bw
Species : cat
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (125)

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5. TOXICITY ID: 108-39-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type : other: LD
Value : ca. 120 mg/kg bw
Species : cat
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : no data
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :
Method : other: no data
Year : 1905
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (125)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 300 mg/kg bw
Species : guinea pig
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle : no data
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (124)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 250 mg/kg bw
Species : other: frog
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 1
Vehicle : water
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :
Method : other: no data
Year : 1905
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
05.02.2004 (125)

Type : other: LD
Value :
Species : rabbit
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals : 1
Vehicle : other: water
Doses :

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Route of admin. : i.v.


Exposure time :
Method : other: intravenous injection to 1 rabbit per dose of an 0.5 % aqueous
solution, 4 doses, time until death was recorded
Year : 1944
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity no data

Remark : hours until death: 120 and 180 mg/kg: no death; 280 mg/kg:
15 hours; 420 mg/kg: 7 hours
Reliability : (4) not assignable
unusual application route
18.09.2002 (118)

Type : other: LD
Value : = 150 mg/kg bw
Species : dog
Strain :
Sex : no data
Number of animals :
Vehicle : other: no data
Doses :
Route of admin. : i.v.
Exposure time :
Method : other: no data
Year :
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data

Reliability : (4) not assignable


unusual application route
18.09.2002 (124)

5.2.1 SKIN IRRITATION

Species : rabbit
Concentration : .5 other: ml
Exposure : Semiocclusive
Exposure time : 4 hour(s)
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
PDII :
Result : corrosive
Classification :
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1977
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Method : TS applied to the clipped backs or flanks of the rabbits. The material was
covered by a surgical gauze two layers thick, gauze patches were held in
place with strips of Elastoplast tape for 4 hours. After 4 hrs the patches
were carefully removed and the test areas were evaluated for visible tissue
destruction.
evaluation criterias:
When visible tissue destruction occurred in at least 2/6 rabbits, the test
materials were classified as corrosive (no further details given).
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Limited documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
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06.02.2004 (123)

Species : rabbit
Concentration : undiluted
Exposure : no data
Exposure time : no data
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
PDII :
Result : highly irritating
Classification :
Method : other: 0.5 ml undiluted TS was applied to the intact and to the abraded
skin, time of observation: 24 and 72 hours
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-Cresol, M.P.:11-12 C; B.P.: 202.8 C

Result : intact skin, erythema. edema: 24 hr: Score 4 in 6/6; 72 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
abraded skin, erythema, edema: 24 hr: Score 4 in 6/6; 72 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
no tissue destruction and/or necrosis reported, no further details reported
Summary: irritation score: 8.00/8.00
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
limited documentation; no information on exposure time and conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (116)

Species : rabbit
Concentration : other: see method
Exposure : no data
Exposure time : no data
Number of animals : 5
Vehicle :
PDII :
Result : highly irritating
Classification :
Method : other: 0.01 ml on the skin of the rabbit belly: undiluted and 10 % solution in
acetone
Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Remark : undiluted m-cresol: necrosis of the skin (belly);


10 % solution in acetone: 2/5 severe erythema; 3/5 erythema
and moderate oedema
These reactions relegate to grade 6/10
Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation insufficient for assessment
18.09.2002 (120)

Species : rabbit
Concentration : undiluted
Exposure : Semiocclusive
Exposure time : 4 hour(s)
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
PDII :
Result : corrosive
Classification :
Method : other: conducted in accordance with Fed. Reg.37,No.57§173.240,1972;
evaluated according to Draize, J.Pharm.Exp.Therap. 82, 1944
Year : 1974

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GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Reliability : (4) not assignable


documentation insufficient for assessment
18.09.2002 (127)

Species : rabbit
Concentration :
Exposure :
Exposure time :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
PDII :
Result :
Classification :
Method : other: see remarks
Year :
GLP :
Test substance :

Remark : Paper discs were soaked with 30 ul of m-cresol (dilutions


1:1 to 1:64) and kept secured on the shaved dorsal skin for
30 min. Then 6 ml/kg bw of a 1 % solution of Evan's blue
were injected i.v.. After 10 min the rabbits were
sacrificed, the dorsal skin was exfoliated, spread on glass
plates, and lighted from behind. The paper discs were
removed and the sites of application were examined.
The lowest concentration causing dye exsudation was found at
a dilution of 1:16 (6.25 %).
The lowest concentration causing corrosion was found at a
dilution of 1:2 (50 %).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
unusual test method
18.09.2002 (128)

5.2.2 EYE IRRITATION

Species : rabbit
Concentration : undiluted
Dose : .1 ml
Exposure time : unspecified
Comment : no data
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
Result : highly irritating
Classification :
Method : other: undiluted 0.1 ml, time of reading: 24, 48 and 72 hours
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, M.P.: 11-12 C; B.P.: 202.8 C

Remark : after 24 hrs: cornea, iris, conjunctivae: 87.3 (mean score) mean score for
cornea: 60, mean score for iris: 10, mean score for conjunctivae: 18)
after 48 hrs: cornea, iris, conjunctivae: 87.3 (mean score)
mean score for cornea: 60, mean score for iris: 10, mean score for
conjunctivae: 18)
after 72 hrs: cornea, iris, conjunctivae: 87.3 (mean score)
mean score for cornea: 60, mean score for iris: 10, mean score for
conjunctivae: 18)
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summary: irritation score: 87.3/110


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
observation time should be longer to evaluate reversibility
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (116)

Species : rabbit
Concentration : other: see method
Dose :
Exposure time : unspecified
Comment :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Result : highly irritating
Classification :
Method : other: instillation of a 5 % solution and a 1 % solution, solvent: propylene
glycol
Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Remark : 5 % solution: severe damage of the cornea


1.0 % solution: was harmless
result: Grade 9/10
Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation insufficient for assessment
18.09.2002 (120)

5.3 SENSITIZATION

5.4 REPEATED DOSE TOXICITY

Type : Sub-acute
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : inhalation
Exposure period : 2 weeks (14 exposures)
Frequency of treatm. : 6 hrs/d, 7 d
Post exposure period : 2 weeks
Doses : target conc.: 20 ug/l of an 0.25 % solution in 1.6 % aquous glycerol
Control group : other: yes, water
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 2001
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Method : 6 rats/sex /group, nose-only exposure to an aerosol, target conc. 20 ug/l,


target pulmonary dose: 504 ug/kg bw/day

observations for mortality, moribundity twice daily during exposure and


during recovery, clinical observations (hematology, blood chemistry) within
one hour of exposure during exposure and during recovery period, record
of body weight prior to first exposure and weekly during exposure and
during recovery period,
complete necropsy was performed on all animals at completion of
exposure and recovery period including external and internal examination:
body orifices, body cavities, external and cut surfaces, record of organ

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weights at terminal and recovery necropsies: liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen,


adrenal glands, thymus, testes, ovaries, organ weight to terminal body
weight ratios were calculated.
Microscopic examination on respiratory tract (target tissue) of the first 5
rats/sex/group
statistical methods:
one way analyses of variance (ANOVA)
Result : observed concentration: 27 ug/l, achieved pulmonary dose level: 690 ug/kg
bw
no animal died during the study,
no treatment related clinical signs; incidental observations in all treatment
groups including control groupswere salivation, diarrhea, wet inguinal fur,
red material around nose and eyes, alopecia, lesions and red material
around nose seen sporadically and in low frequencies during recovery
period.
Body weights, body weight gain, hematology, blood chemistry were not
statistically different from control group.
terminal and recovery sacrifices:
no statistically differences in organ weights when compared to controls and
no test-article related gross or histopathologic lesions. Observed minor
inflammatory or degenerative changes observed in peribronchial,
perivascular and subserosal regions were evaluated as incidental findings
in rodent inhalation studies
Reliability : (4) not assignable
study suffers from deficiencies: only 1 dose used, solvent (aquous glycerol)
was not the control, detailed data of the results were not presented, result
description did not differ between phenol and m-cresol
06.02.2004 (129) (129)

Type : Sub-acute
Species : rat
Sex : male
Strain : no data
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 20, 150, 500 mg/kg diet (approx. 0, 1.86, 13.95 or 45.8 mg/kg bw/d)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
NOAEL : ca. 45.8 mg/kg bw
Method : other: 10 rats/group, TS was prepared as a 2.0 % corn oil solution and
blended with the diet; diets were prepared fresh weekly. Control rats
received basal diets containing 2 % corn oil, necropsy of all animals
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: M.P.:11-12 C; B.P.: 202.8 C

Result : No deaths occurred during the study and no untoward


behavioural reactions were noted.
At necropsy, no significant gross lesions were noted among
the test animals, when compared to the control animals.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation insufficient for assessment
18.09.2002 (116)

Type : Sub-acute
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: F344/N
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 days

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Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet


Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000 or 30000 ppm (see freetext RM)
Control group : yes
NOAEL : 3000 ppm
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: purity > 98 %

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


5 male and 5 female mice per group
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 13-15 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 rat ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:
temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %, Fluorescent light: 12
hrs/day, room air changes : 10-12 changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly, and at termination,
feed consumption by cage recorded twice weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy and tissue collection performed for all animals. A complete
histopathologic examination was conducted on all control animals, all
animals in the highest dose group with at least 60 % survivors at study
termination, and all aninmals in higher dose groups inclusive of early
deaths. The following organs and/or tissues were included in complete
histopathological examinations, as well as any tissue masses, gross
lesions, and associated regional lymph nodes: adrenals, aorta, bone
(sternebrae, femur, or vertebrae, including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral
gland, epididymis, oesophagus, heart, kidney, large intestines (caecum,
colon, rectum), liver, lungs, lymph nodes (mesenteric), mammary glands,
nasal cavity and turbinates, oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroids,
pharynx, pituirary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary glands, scrotal sac,
seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine (duodenum, ileum, jejunum), spleen,
stomach, testes, thymus, thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica vaginalis, urinary
bladder, uterus and Zymbal's glands. Target organs and gross lesions
were examined at lower doses until a no-observed chemical effect was
determined. Target organs included the following: uterus and ovaries.
Organ weights recorded for brain, liver, right kidney, thymus, heart, and
lungs of all animals, and the right testis of all males.
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparison test of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test
Remark : mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):
males females
0 ppm 0 0
300 ppm 25 25
1000 ppm 85 82
3000 ppm 252 252
10000 ppm 870 862
30000 ppm 2470 2310
Result : no mortallity; no clinical signs of toxicity were observed
and
30000 ppm: mean final body weight sign. decreased: male (p</=0.05),
female (p</=0.01), sign. reduced mean body weight gains, males, females
p</=0.01); reduced food
consumption in males and females during the first week of
the study;
no gross lesions were noted at necropsy,

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at study termination organ weights (w) were sign. increased:


liver: male, abs. w. at 10000 ppm (p</=0.01), rel. w. from 10000 ppm
(p</=0.01), females, rel. w. from 10000 ppm (p</=0.05), right kidney: male,
female, rel. w. at 30000 ppm (p</=0.05); brain, male, rel. w. at 30000 ppm,
female, abs. w at 30000 ppm (p</=0.05),rel.w. at 30000 ppm (p</=0.01),
No histomorphologic changes were reported from these organs.
Histological evaluation , characterized by average severity score based on
a scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4= marked) revealed
effects: uterine atrophy in 4/5 females at 30000 ppm
NOAEL = 3000 ppm (male, female)
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
30.04.2003 (130)

Type : Sub-chronic
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : 13 w
Frequency of treatm. : once daily
Post exposure period : 1w
Doses : 0, 50, 150 or 450 mg/kg bw/d in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL : = 50 mg/kg bw
Method : other: 30 rats/sex/dose, add.10 rats/sex for baseline clin. Pathol., interim
kill at week 7, terminal kill at week 14, blood samples for hematology,
clin.chemistry; urinalysis; gross and microsc. pathology; stat. anal.:
Dunnett's t-t
Year : 1986
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: purity: 98.6 %

Method : Dose selection was based on the results of a range-finding study


30 rats/sex/dose,
additional 10 rats/sex/dose for baseline clinical pathology
interim kill at week 7.
Body weights were recorded on test day1 and weekly thereafter; individual
food consumption data were collected weekly;
moribund/mortality check twice daily (moribund rats were killed and
necropsied); physical examination weekly; ophthalmologic examination
during quarantine period and in test week 13
HAEMATOLOGY
haemoglobin, haematocrit, protrombin time (PT), erythrocyte count,
reticulocyte count, toal and differential leucocyte count, activated partial
thromboplastin time (APTT)
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
sodium, chloride, potassium, direct and total bilirubin, alkaline
phosphatase, total cholesterol, albumin, CO2, SGPT, SGOT, glucose,
BUN, globulin (calculated), total protein, creatinine, A/G ratio (calculated)
URINALYSIS
appearance, volume, colour, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketone,
bilirubin, urobilinogen, haemoglobin, microscopic examination
PATHOLOGY
determination of weights of:
heart, liver, spleen, brain, kidneys (individually), gonads (individually,
adrenals, thyroid/parathyroid
examination of all control rats and high dose rats at study termination as
well as those that died during the study:
all gross lesions,
brain (3 levels), spleen, bone (with marrow), skeletal muscles, salivary

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gland, mammary gland, thymus, thyroid (with parathyroid), lungs (with


mainstem bronchi), trachea, liver, urinary bladder, testes, prostate, ovaries,
corpus and cervix uteri, eye, pituitary gland, lymph node, spinal cord, heart,
aorta, siatic nerve, pancreas, oesophagus, kidneys, small and large
intestine, adrenals, stomach
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
One-way Analysis of Variance tests with Dunnett's t-test
Result : MORTALITY/CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS:
450 mg/kg: one high dose male was found dead on day 5 (cause not
evident),
signs of intoxication:
450 mg/kg bw, male, female:
lethargy, tremors, hunched posture, rough hair coats post dosing
BODY WEIGHT
was sign reduced (p</=0.05): male, week 2-5, 13 at 450 mg/kg bw and
week 6-12, 14 from 150 mg/kg bw; female, week 11 at 450 mg/kg bw
body weight gain was reduced (p</=o.05): male, week 1-3 at 450 mg/kg bw
and week 4-13 from 150 mg/kg bw; female, week 1 at 450 mg/kg bw
FOOD CONSUMPTION
was sign. reduced (p</=0.05): male: 50 mg/kg bw, week 1, 2, 9, 11, 12;
150 mg/kg bw week 3, 6, 8, 12, 13; 450 mg/kg bw week 1-4, 6-9, 11;
female: 50 mg/kg bw, week 4, 150 mg/kg bw, week 4, 11, 450 mg/kg bw,
week1, 4, 6
CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
clinical chemistry, haematology and urinalyses parameters were not
affected by treatment
OPHTHALMOLOGY
treatment related lesions were not seen
ORGAN WEIGHTS
organ weights were not affected by treatment
PATHOLOGY
treatment-related gross and histomorphology lesions were not in evidence
NOAEL (female) = 150 mg/kg bw/day
NOAEL (male) = 50 mg/kg bw/day
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
05.02.2004 (131)

Type : Sub-acute
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 days
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000 or 30000 ppm (see freetext RM)
Control group : yes
LOAEL : ca. 300 ppm
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 98 %

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


5 male and 5 female mice per group
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 13-15 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 mouse ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:

138 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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DATE: 24.05.2004

temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %, Fluorescent light: 12


hrs/day, room air changes : 10-12 changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly, and at termination,
feed consumption by cage recorded twice weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy and tissue collection performed for all animals. A complete
histopathologic examination was conducted on all control animals, all
animals in the highest dose group with at least 60 % survivors at study
termination, and all aninmals in higher dose groups inclusive of early
deaths. The following organs and/or tissues were included in complete
histopathological examinations, as well as any tissue masses, gross
lesions, and associated regional lymph nodes: adrenals, aorta, bone
(sternebrae, femur, or vertebrae, including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral
gland, epididymis, oesophagus, gallbladder, heart, kidney, large intestines
(caecum, colon, rectum), liver, lungs, lymph nodes (mesenteric), mammary
glands, nasal cavity and turbinates, oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas,
parathyroids, pharynx, pituirary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary glands,
scrotal sac, seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine (duodenum, ileum,
jejunum), spleen, stomach, testes, thymus, thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica
vaginalis, urinary bladder, uterus and Zymbal's glands. Target organs and
gross lesions were examined at lower doses until a no-observed chemical
effect was determined. Target organs included the following: uterus and
ovaries and mammary gland. Organ weights recorded for brain, liver, right
kidney, thymus, heart, and lungs of all animals, and the right testis of all
males.
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparison test of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test
Remark : mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):
males females
0 ppm 0 0
300 ppm 53 66
1000 ppm 193 210
3000 ppm 521 651
10000 ppm 1730 2080
30000 ppm 4710 4940
Result : mortality:
0 ppm: 1/5 male; 10000 ppm: 1/5 females; 300000 ppm: 2/5
males, 2/5 females;
Signs of toxicty:
at 30000 ppm: male, female;
hunched posture, rough hair coat, thin appearance, lethargy and
tremor,hypothermia (only females),
at 10000 ppm: males and females, hunched posture, rough hair coat,
females only: laboured respiration lethaty, sunken eyes
final mean body weight reduced at 30000 ppm in males (p</=0.01) and in
females (p</=0.05)
at study termination organ weights (w) were sign. increased:
liver: male rel. w. from 3000 pp. (p</=0.05), female, rel. w. from 300 ppm
(p</=0.05); right kidney: male, rel. w. at 3000 ppm, female rel. w. at 30000
ppm (p</=0.05); brain: male, rel. w. at 30000 ppm (p</=0.01).
No histopathologic changes were reported from these organs.
histopathological evaluation,characterized by average severity score based
on a scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=marked), revealed
effects:
30000 ppm: female, moderate mammary gland atrophy, mild ovary atrophy
and moderate uterus atrophy
LOAEL (female) = 300 ppm (66 mg/kg bw/day), based on the increase in
relative liver weight
NOAEL (male) = 1000 ppm (193 mg/kg bw/day)

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Reliability : (1) valid without restriction


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (130)

Type :
Species : mouse
Sex : female
Strain : other: CBA/J
Route of admin. : dermal
Exposure period : 6w
Frequency of treatm. : 3 times/week
Post exposure period : 6 months
Doses : 0.5 % in acetone
Control group : yes
Method : other: 5 rats, application of the substance to depilated or clipped lower
back by mist spray; observation of the hair colour of the new hair regrowth
were made weekly
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Result : No depigmentations of the regrowthed hair were observed.


Reliability : (4) not assignable
special study
18.09.2002 (132)

5.5 GENETIC TOXICITY ‘IN VITRO‘

Type : Sister chromatid exchange assay


System of testing : human lymphocytes
Test concentration : 0 -1.0 mM
Cycotoxic concentr. : no data
Metabolic activation : no data
Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity: 99.2 %

Method : Lymphocyte fraction from healthy donors were grown in Medium 199 with
Earles salts. After 24 hrs of cultur m-Cresol diluted in DMSO was added for
88-90 hrs.
Positive control: Styrene-7,8-oxide
Statistical Method: Linear regression analysis
Remark : Results of the positive control or solvent control in comparison to p-cresol
were not given.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study description suffers from deficiencies: no information about
cytotoxicity and wether a metabolic activation system was used or not, only
summary results given
05.02.2004 (133)

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 1538
Test concentration : up to 2 mg/plate (solubility limit); vehicle: water
Cycotoxic concentr. : not cytotoxic
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result :

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Method : other: according to Ames,Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.70, 2281(1973);


Mutat.Res.31,347(1975);
Nestmann,Cancer Res.39.4412(1979); Environ.Mutagen.1,361(1979)
Year : 1980
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol from commercial source (Aldrich)

Remark : According to the authors the result was "presumably negative, but solubility
did not allow the testing of the compound in amounts that result in bacterial
toxicity"
Metabolic activation: with and without (liver S-9 mix from Aroclor 1254
induced rats)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
limited documentation
17.12.2002 (134)

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537
Test concentration : no data
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: according to Ames, Mutation Res. 31, 347 (1975)
Year : 1980
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Reliability : (4) not assignable


documentation insufficient for assessment
20.09.2002 (135)

Type : Unscheduled DNA synthesis


System of testing : rat primary hepatocytes
Test concentration : 502, 251, 100, 50.2, 25.1, 10.0, 5.02, 2.51, 1.0, 0.502 ug/ml in DMSO
Cycotoxic concentr. : concentration range: 502 - 25.1 ug/ml: excessive toxicity
Metabolic activation : without
Result : negative
Method : other: OECD Guide-line 482, see freetext ME with additional informations
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 99.8 %

Method : DOSE SELECTION: Doses were chosen following a preliminary


experiment
SOLVENT: DMSO
CONTROLS: solvent and 1-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) served as
negative and positive controls, respectively
EVALUATION CRITERIA: a dose related increase of at least 6 grains per
nucleus after subtraction of the concurrent negative control value
Result : m-Cresol was evaluated as not causing UDS in cultured rat hepatocytes.
The positive control was functional.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (136)

Type : Sister chromatid exchange assay


System of testing : cultured male human fibroblasts
Test concentration : 0, 0.08, 0.8, 4, 8 mM dissolved in ethanol; 10, 30 mM dissolved in Eagle's
Minimal Essential Medium (MEM)
Cycotoxic concentr. : > 8 mM cytotoxic response
Metabolic activation : without

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Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1984
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS:m-cresol, purity: > 99 %

Method : m-Cresol was added to the cells and incubated, in


triplicate, at 37 C for 2 hours. Following exposure, the cells were washed,
reincubated in the absence of the test chemical for 48 hours, harvested
and SCE frequency and cell-cycle kinetics analysed
SOLVENT: m-Cresol was dissolved in
95% ethanol at concentrations up to and including 8 mM and
in Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM) at concentrations above this.
CONTROLS: 95% Ethanol and mitomycin C were used as negative and
positive controls respectively.
EVALUATION CRITERIA: positive if a dose-dependant significant incrase
in SCE frequencies compared to control is observed..
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Dunnett's test
Remark : m-Cresol did not induce significant increases over the control SCE
frequencies. The positive control was functional.
m-Cresol caused a small but statistically significant
decrease in cell-cycle progression at 8 mM (864 mg/l) and
above, indicative of a small cytotoxic response
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only tested in the absence of metabolic activation and no information on
GLP
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (137)

Type : other: DNA amplification


System of testing : SV40-transformed CHO cell
Test concentration : 5.0 mM in DMSO
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation : without
Result : negative
Method : other: cells were incub. for 4d with m-cresol, then viability of the cells was
determined, SV40-DNA content was detected by hybridization according to
Lavi,Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. (USA)80,6144,1981;Winocour,Proc.Natl.Acad.
Sci.(USA)77,48
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity: 98 %

Reliability : (4) not assignable


special study
24.09.2002 (138)

Type : other: SV40 Mammilian Inductest


System of testing : Syrian hamster kidney cells (SV40)
Test concentration : 0.0001-0.0000001 ml
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation : without
Result : positive
Method : other
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : no data

Remark : Mammalian inductest


Reliability : (4) not assignable
special test

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24.09.2002 (139)

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA 100, TA 1530, TA 1535, TA 1538,TA 1950, TA
1951, TA 1952, G 46
Test concentration : 0.5 % in ethanol
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation : no data
Result : ambiguous
Method : other: according to Ames Mutat. Res. 31,347 (1975); Science 176, 47
(1972)
Year : 1975
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Remark : a questionable effect was produced in


the strain TA 1535
Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation insufficient for assessment
20.09.2002 (140)

Type : other: SOS-Chromotest


System of testing : Escherichia coli PQ37
Test concentration : no data
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation : without
Result : positive
Method : other: After termination of the nitrosation of m-cresol with ammonium
sulphamate, test was performed according to Quillardet, Mutat. Res.
147,65 (1985)
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data

Reliability : (4) not assignable


documentation insufficient for assessment
24.09.2002 (141)

Type : other: Prophage induction assay


System of testing : Escherichia coli / Bacteriophage lambda
Test concentration :
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation :
Result : positive
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance :

Reliability : (4) not assignable


abstract only
20.09.2002 (142)

Type : Cytogenetic assay


System of testing : Allium cepa
Test concentration :
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation : without
Result : negative
Method :
Year : 1948

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GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Remark : marginal effects


Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation insufficient for assessment
20.09.2002 (143)

Type : Mouse lymphoma assay


System of testing : L 5178 Y (TK +/-) cells
Test concentration : with and without S9-mix: 52.0, 78.0, 104, 156, 260, 312, 416, 520 ug/ml in
DMSO
Cycotoxic concentr. : with and without S9-mix: 520 ug/ml;
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: similar to OECD Guideline 476, No differentiation between large and
small colonies, see also freetext ME
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 99.8 %

Method : S9-MIX of rat liver was used as metabolic activation system


SOLVENT: DMSO
CONTROL: DMSO and ethylmethane sulfonate, 3-methylcholantrene
served as negative and positive cotrol, respectively
EVALUATION CRITERIA: a solitive response was indicated by a > two-fold
increase of mutant frequency over the concurrent background frequencies
Result : m-cresol was evaluated as nonmutagenic in the mouse lymphoma cell
system.
The positive controls were functional
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no differentiation between small and large colonies, statistical evaluation
not mentioned
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (144)

Type : Cytogenetic assay


System of testing : Allium cepa
Test concentration : 0, 0.015, 0.02 and 0.025 % in destilled water
Cycotoxic concentr. : no data
Metabolic activation : no data
Result : positive
Method : other: treatment period: 0: 3 hrs; 0.015 24 hrs; 0.02: 5 hrs; 0.025: 5 hrs
Year : 1965
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Reliability : (4) not assignable


documentation insufficient for assessment
20.09.2002 (145)

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 1538
Test concentration : 0, 0.5, 5, 50, 500, 5000 ug/plate dissolved in DMSO
Cycotoxic concentr. : 5000 ug/plate
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1982
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 98 %

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Method : Plate incorporation assay according to Ames, Mutation Res. 31, 347
(1975),
S9-MIX: of Aroclor pretreated rat liver
SOLVENT: DMSO
CONTROL: DMSO and sodium azide, 2-nitrofluorene, 9-aminoacridine, 2-
amino anthracene served as negative and positive control
DATA EVALUATION: Significance level for positive dose-response effects
were obtained with the Joncheere test
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Joncheere test
Remark : The positive controls were functional
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (146)

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537
Test concentration : 0.0, 3.3, 10.0, 33.0, 100.0, 333.0 ug/plate in water as solvent
Cycotoxic concentr. : to select dose range the chemical was checked for toxicity to S. typh. TA
100 (details not given)
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: preincubation methodology according to Ames, Mutat. Res. 31,347
(1975) and Yahagi, Cancer Lett. 1,91 (1975); see also freetext ME
Year : 1983
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 97 %

Method : SOLVENT: water


S9-MIX: prepared from male Syrian Hamster liver anf from male sprague-
Dawley rat liver, that were injected with Arocolor 1254:
CONTROL: water and : 2-aminoanthracenen, 4-nitro-o-phenylene diamine,
sodium azide, 9-aminoacridine served as negative and positive control;
DATA EVALUATION: oisitive response was indicated by a reproducable,
dose-related increase wether it be twofold over tthe background or not
STATISTICAL METHODS: based on the models presented by Margolin
Remark : the positive controls were functional
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only 4 strains of Salmonella typhimurium were used
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (147)

Type : Cytogenetic assay


System of testing : Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells
Test concentration : without S9-mix: (1)+(2): 198, 297, 398, 495 ug/ml DMSO ; with S9-mix:
(1)+(2): 250, 500, 749, 999 ug/ml, (3) 699, 749, 799, 898, 998, 1100 ug/ml
DMSO
Cycotoxic concentr. : Preliminary rangefinding assays were performed with and without
metabolic activation to determin cytotoxicity: >=898 ug/ml: toxic
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: preliminary range finding studies; in accordance with OECD
Guideline 473, see also freetext ME
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS:m-cresol, purity: 99.8 %

Method : Duplicate CHO cultures were incubated for 17.2 hrs with 198-495 ug/ml of
the test substance in the nonactivation aberrations assay.
The metabolic activation cultures were treated with 250-1100 ug/ml of the
test substance for 2 hours

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Solvent: DMSO
CONTROL: DMSO and Mitomycin C, cyclophosphamide served as
negative and positive control, respectively
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Fisher's Exact Test with an adjustment for
multiple comparisons
Remark : The positive controls were functional
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (148)

Type : Unscheduled DNA synthesis


System of testing : other: Syrian Hamster Embryo (SHE) cells
Test concentration : 1, 3, 10 uM, vehicle: medium
Cycotoxic concentr. : not determined
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : positive
Method : other: according to OECD Guide-line 482: not tested up to cytotoxicity
Year : 2000
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: >=98 %

Result : A dose-dependent positive result was only obtained when tested in the
presence of a metabolic activation system. It was not tested up to
cytotoxicity.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
not tested up to cytotoxic concentration, no data on GLP, no positive or
negative controls reported
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (149)

5.6 GENETIC TOXICITY ‘IN VIVO‘

Type : Cytogenetic assay


Species : other: mouse bone marrow cells
Sex : male/female
Strain : ICR
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : once
Doses : 0, 96, 320, 960 mg/kg bw in corn oil
Result : negative
Method : other: in accordance with OECD Guideline 475, 5 mice/sex/dose, bone
marrow cells, sacrifice 6,24,48 hrs post treatment, negative and positive
controls, stat. method: Kruskal-Wallis test
Year : 1989
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 99.8 %

Remark : dose finding study: see chapter 5.1.1


CONTROL: corn oil and cyclophphamide served as negative and positive
control
EVALUATION CRITERIA: positive response is indicated by statistically
significant dose-related increase in the number of structural aberrattions at
3 dose levels
Result : The treatment did not increase the frequency of chromosomal aberrations,
indicating that m-cresol was not clastogenic under the conditions of this
assay. The positive control was functional
mortality: 3/5 male mice in the 960 mg-group
signs of toxicity:
960 mg-group: within 10 min after dosing: squinty eyes, scruffy coats, mild
tonic convulsions and rapid breathing which ceased after 30 min.,

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breathing difficulties
320 mg/kg bw: slightly scruffy coats within 22 hours after dosing
96 mg/kg bw: no signs of toxicity
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (150)

Type : Sister chromatid exchange assay


Species : mouse
Sex : male
Strain : DBA
Route of admin. : i.p.
Exposure period : single application
Doses : 0, 200 mg/kg bw dissolved in sunflower oil
Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1984
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 99 %

Method : m-Cresol was administered to 2 or 3 intact or hepatectomized male mice


by single intraperitoneal injection. After 30 min, DNA labelling was initiated
using BrdU. After a further 21 hr the animals were killed, cells isolated and
harvested and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in bone marrow
cells, alveolar macrophages and regenerating liver cells analysed. Some
of the mice were partially hepatectomized to induce liver cell regeneration
NEGATIVE CONTROLS: 0.35 ml sunflower oil (4 intact and 5
hepatectomized male mice, bone marrow cells, alveolar macrophages, liver
cells)
Positive Control: 5 mg cyclophosphamide/kg bw (2 intact male mice, bone
marrow cells and alveolar macrophages)
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One way analysis of variance; Dunnett's test for
comparison
Result : No increase in SCE frequencies in the intact mice as well
as in the partially hepatectomized mice.
The dose tested was overtly toxic to the mice, causing lethargy,
piloerection and lacrimation.
The positive control was functional
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only one dose tested and no information on GLP
06.02.2004 (137)

5.7 CARCINOGENICITY

Species : mouse
Sex : female
Strain : other: Sutter
Route of admin. : dermal
Exposure period : 12 w (I) or 20 w (II)
Frequency of treatm. : twice weekly
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 25 ul of a 20 % (I) or 5.7 % (II) solution in benzene
Result :
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
Method : other: Initiation-promotion test (see remarks)
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, not specified further

Remark : Groups of 20-29 Sutter strain mice:


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I. method: initiator: single dermal appl. of 0.3 % DMBA in acetone;


m-cresol was applied as promotor to the back of each mouse

I. result: 14/29 mice (12/12 benzene control animals)


survived and in 50 % (0 % in control animals)
skin papillomas were found; no carcinomas were
detected

II.method: initiator: 0.3 % DMBA in benzene;


promotor: m-cresol was applied to the back of
each mouse

II.result: 17/20 mice (18/20 benzene control animals)


survived and in 24 % (0 % in control animals)
skin papillomas were found; no carcinomas were
detected
Result : m-cresol was evaluated as promotor
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no data on purity, benzene a known carcinogen as solvent, high mortality
rate
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (151)

Species : other: in vitro cell transformation assay


Sex :
Strain : other: mouse BALB/c-3T3 cells
Route of admin. :
Exposure period :
Frequency of treatm. :
Post exposure period :
Doses : 0.57 - 48 nl/ml culture medium
Result : negative
Control group : yes
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 %

Method : 40CFR 795.285 (modified), preliminary clonal cytotoxicity test, performance


of the test according to Kakunaga, Int. J. Cancer 12, 463, 1973, without
metabolic activation, negative and positive controls
Result : Meta-cresol did not induce cell transformation in this assay; cytotoxicity: 48
nl/ml
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
non-validated test system
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (152)

Species : other: in vitro cell transformation assay


Sex :
Strain : other: mouse BALB/c-3T3 cell
Route of admin. :
Exposure period :
Frequency of treatm. :
Post exposure period :
Doses : 6 - 72 nl/ml culture medium
Result : negative
Control group : yes
Method : other: preliminary cytotoxicity test, performance of the test according to
Kakunaga, Int. J. Cancer 12, 463, 1973, with metabolic activation
Year : 1988

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GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 %

Result : m-cresol did not produce significant increases in the number of


transformed foci, cytotoxicty: 62 nl/ml
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
non-validated test system
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (153)

Species : other: in vitro cell transformation assay


Sex :
Strain : other: Syrian Hamster embryo (SHE) cells
Route of admin. :
Exposure period :
Frequency of treatm. :
Post exposure period :
Doses :
Result : positive
Control group :
Method : other: no details reported
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Remark : abstract only


Result : m-cresol induced cell transformation
Reliability : (4) not assignable
abstract
documentation insufficient for assessment
17.12.2002 (154)

5.8.1 TOXICITY TO FERTILITY

Type : Two generation study


Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : 27 w
Frequency of treatm. : once/d, 7 d/w
Premating exposure period
Male : 10 w
Female : 10 w
Duration of test : 29 w
No. of generation :
studies
Doses : 0, 30, 175 or 450 mg/kg bw/d in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL parental : 30 mg/kg bw
NOAEL F1 offspring : ca. 175 mg/kg bw
Method : other: TSCA Health Effects Test Guideline for specific organ/tissue toxicity
- Reproduction/Fertility effects (EPA, 1983), see also freetext ME
Year : 1989
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 99.4 %

Method : 25 rats/sex/dose (F0) were administered m-Cresol in corn oil. Exposure


began 10 weeks prior to breeding and continued in the females throughout
mating, gestation and lactation.
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25 randomly selected F1 pups/sex/dose were gavaged with the appropriate


concentration of m-cresol for 11 weeks and then bred to produce F2 litters
(dosing was continued throughout mating, gestation and lactation)
F2 offspring was sacrificed at weaning.

reproductive indices: mating indices for males and females, fertility indices
for males and females, gestational index, live birth index, 4-day survival
index 7-day survival index, 21-day survival index, lactation index

Necropsy and pathology:


all F0 and F1 parental rats in all groups were subjected to a complete
necropsy ; 25 male and 25 female adults from the controls and from the
high dose groups were subjected to histopathology examination: pituitary,
vagina, uterus, ovaries. testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, prostate
and other tissues with gross lesions identified as potentially treatment
related; any of thze above organs or tissues showing gross alterations
were also evaluated microscopically in other dose groups
A complete gross necropsy and histopathologic examination were
conducted for any parental rat dying on test
Gross necropsy included examination of the external surfaces, all orificwes,
cranila cavity, carcass, external and cut surfaces of the brain and spinal
cord, the thoracic,abdominal and pelvic cavities and their viscera, cervical
tissues and organs
a gross internal examination on any F1 and F2 pup appearing abnormal or
dying on testA complete gross necropsy and histopathologic examinations
were conducted for any animals dying on test.

statistical methods:
Levene's test,ANOVA, t-test corrected by Bonferroni method, Kruskal-
Wallis test, Mann Whitney U-test, Fishers exact test
Result : F0: pre-breed dosing period:
450 mg/kg: f,m: significant reduced body weight, signs of
toxicity: hypoactivity, ataxia, twitches, tremors,
prostration, unkempt appearance(males), urine stains,
audible respiration perinasal encrustration and perioral
wetness; mortality: 7/25 m, 5/25 f;
175 mg/kg: sacrifice due to trauma 1/25 m
F0: breed period:
450 mg/kg: maternal gestat. and lactat. bw sign. reduced,
mortality: 450 mg/kg:2/20 f; 175 mg/kg: 1/25 f;
reproductive parameters including gestational length were
unaffected by treatment
F1:
litter size, sex ratio, litter viability, pup survival were
unaffected by treatment; 450 mg/kg: reduced female pup bw
F1 pre-breed period:
slightly reduced bw in m (450, 175,30 mg/kg) and in f (450,30 mg/kg);
signs of toxicity: 450 mg/kg bw: hypoactivity, ataxia twitches, tremors
prostration urine stains, audible respiration and perioral wetness (also at
175 mg/kg
females); mortality: 450 mg/kg 3 m and 4 f;
F1 breed period:
450, 175, 30 mg/kg: reduced bw in m; maternal gestational
and lactational bw reduced in 450 mg/kg f; mortality during
gestation: 1 f each at control, 30, 175 mg/kg and 3 f at 450 mg/kg, mortality
during lactation: 3 f at 450 mg/kg

Reproductive parameters including gestational parameters


were unaffected by treatment
F2:
litter size and sex ratio unaffected; F2 pup lactational

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index was reduced at 450 mg/kg


450 mg/kg: pup bw and pup bw gain was reduced and pup deaths
increased.
Pathology:
all groups: there were no treatment related gross lesions or
histologic lesions in F0, F1 and F2 rats which survived to
scheduled sacrifice.
dead prior to schedule: F0,F1 m: lesions in brain , thymic
regions, lungs, decrease in number of sperm in epididymides,
atrophied seminal vesicles and coagulation glands,
epididymitis; F0,F1 f: lesions in the brain, lungs
NOAEL (fertility): 450 mg/kg bw

The exact A/D ratio cannot be calculated. But it can be


assumed that the A/D ratio would be less than 1 (<30.0 mg/kg
bw/day/175.0 mg/kg bw) indicating no increased risk to
offspring in the absence of parental toxicity.

A/D ratio: exposure level at which there were no observable


effects in adults/the exposure level at which there were no
observable effects in offspring
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (155)

5.8.2 DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY/TERATOGENICITY

Species : rat
Sex : female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : day 6 through day 15 of gestation
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : until gd 21
Doses : 0, 30, 175 or 450 mg/kg bw/d dissolved in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL maternal tox. : ca. 175 mg/kg bw
NOAEL teratogen. : ca. 450 mg/kg bw
Result : see freetext RS
Method : other: following the TSCA Health Effects Test guidelines for Specific
Organ/Tissue Toxicity - Developmental Toxicity (EPA, 1984,1987)
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 99.4 %

Method : Dose selection was based on the results of a range-finding study.


Solvence: corn oil
25 mated females/group, 50 control females, all females were weighed ond
gd 0, 6, 11, 15, and 21, food consumption was measured throughout
gestation, all females were examined daily for clinical signs, for mortality
and morbidity
sacrifice on gd 21:
does were evaluated for body weight, liver and gravid uterine weight,
number of corpora lutea and number of status of implantation sites (i.g.
resorptions, dead fetuses, live fetuses)
live fetuses were dissected from uterus, counted and weighed, examined
for external malformations and variations, and for visceral malformaltions
and variations, and for soft tissue craniofacial malformations
statistical analysis:
Levene's test, ANOVA, pooled t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-
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test, Fisher's exact test


Result : maternal toxicity:
no deaths, no abortions or early deliveries
450 mg/kg:
significant reduced food consumption, reduced maternal body weights and
weight gain during dosing period; reduced gestational weight gain (day 0-
21);
clinical signs of toxicity: hypoactivity, ataxia, tremors, audible respiration,
perioral wetness;
increased relative but not absolute liver weights no embryotoxicity or
teratogenicity was observed at any
dosage level
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (156)

Species : rabbit
Sex : female
Strain : New Zealand white
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : day 6 through day 18 of gestation
Frequency of treatm. : once daily
Duration of test : until day 29 of gestation
Doses : 0, 50, 150, 300 or 500 mg/kg bw/d
Control group : yes

Remark : 8 rabbits/dose
range-finding study
Result : 50 mg/kg: one doe aborted; ataxia, twitching, gasping,
audible, labored and rapid respiration;
increased relative liver weights
150 mg/kg: maternal mortality 2/8; reduced food
consumption o gd 7-9; significantly
depressed body weight gain for gd 6-12;
cleft palace in 1 fetus
>= 300 mg/kg:reduced food consumption on gd 6-10;
significantly elevated clinicals signs of
toxicity (CNS and cardiopulmonary categories;
see at 50 mg/kg)
300 mg/kg: maternal mortality 1/8; one doe aborted;
reduced body weight on gd 12 and
significantly depressed body weight gain
on gd 6-12; increased preimplantation loss
and increase in dead fetuses/litter;
forelimb and pectoral girdle anomalies in
4 fetuses in 2 litters; cleft palate in
1 fetus; small tongue
500 mg/kg: maternal mortality 8/8
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
dose range finding study
12.11.2002 (157)

Species : rabbit
Sex : female
Strain : New Zealand white
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : day 6 through day 18 of gestation
Frequency of treatm. : once daily
Duration of test : until day 29 of gestation
Doses : 0, 5, 50 or 100 mg/kg bw/day
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle

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NOAEL maternal tox. : ca. 5 mg/kg bw


NOAEL teratogen. : ca. 100 mg/kg bw
Method : other: following the TSCA Health Effects Test guidelines for Specific
Organ/Tissue Toxicity - Developmental Toxicity (EPA, 1984,1987)
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 99.7 %

Method : Dose selection was based on the results of a range-finding study.


14 mated females/group, 28 control females, all females were weighed ond
gd 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 29, food consumption was measured throughout
gestation, all females were examined daily for clinical signs, for mortality
and morbidity
sacrifice on gd 29:
does were evaluated for body weight, liver and gravid uterine weight,
number of corpora lutea and number of status of implantation sites (i.g.
resorptions, dead fetuses, live fetuses)
live fetuses were dissected from uterus, counted and weighed, examined
for external malformations and variations, and for visceral malformaltions
and variations, and for soft tissue craniofacial malformations
statistical analysis:
Levene's test, ANOVA, pooled t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-
test, Fisher's exact test
Result : >= 50 mg/kg: audible respiration and ocular discharge
No embryotoxicity or teratogenicity was observed at any
dosage employed.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (158)

Species : rat
Sex : female
Strain : Wistar
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure period : day 7 through day 17 of gestation
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : until post partum
Doses : 90 mg/kg bw/d (30 ml/kg bw 0.3 %)
Control group : yes

Result : m-cresol was used as the solvent at a concentration of 0.3


%; no negative effects on F0- or F1-generation were observed
when compared with control animals.
Reliability : (3) invalid
application route is not relevant for the human situation
12.11.2002 (159)

Species : rat
Sex : female
Strain : Wistar
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure period : day 17 of gestation until 21 days after birth
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : until 8 w post partum
Doses : 90 mg/kg bw/d (30 mg/kg 0.3 %)
Control group : yes

Result : m-cresol was used as the solvent at a concentration of 0.3


%; no negative effects on F0-, F1- or F2-generation were
observed when compared with controls (no fetotoxicity,
normal postnatal development, normal behaviour and

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fertility).
Reliability : (3) invalid
application route is not relevant for the human situation
12.11.2002 (160)

Species : Mouse
Sex : Female
Strain : other: ICR-SLC
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure period : day 6 through day 15 of gestation
Frequency of treatm. : Daily
Duration of test : until 5 w post partum
Doses : no data
Control group : Yes

Result : m-cresol was used as the solvent; no signs of fetotoxicity


or teratogenicity, no maternal toxicity.
Reliability : (3) invalid
application route is not relevant for the human situation
12.11.2002 (161)

Species : Rabbit
Sex : Female
Strain : no data
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure period : day 6 through day 18 of gestation
Frequency of treatm. : Daily
Duration of test : until >= 12 d after exposure
Doses : 30 mg/kg bw/d (10 ml/kg 0.3 %)
Control group : Yes

Result : m-cresol was used as the solvent at a concentration of 0.3


%; decreased maternal food consumption and body weight gain
after day 14 of gestation, increased average number of
implantations and reduced mean body weights in male
fetuses, no increase of anomalies.
Reliability : (3) invalid
application route is not relevant for the human situation
12.11.2002 (162)

5.8.3 TOXICITY TO REPRODUCTION, OTHER STUDIES

Type : Other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : Rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: Fisher 344/N
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet
Duration of test : 28 d
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Result : see freetext RS
Method : other: the reproductive organs were examined as part of the 28-day study,
see chapter 5.4
Year : 1991
GLP : Yes
Test substance : other TS: purity>98 %

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Result : Histological evaluation , characterized by average severity score based on


a scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4= marked) revealed
effects:
uterine atrophy in 4/5 females at 30000 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
10.07.2002 (130)

Type : Other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : Mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet
Duration of test : 28 d
Doses : 0, 300,1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Result : see freetext RS
Method : other: the reproductive organs were examined as part of the 28 day study,
see chapter 5.4
Year : 1991
GLP : Yes
Test substance : other TS: purity>98 %

Result : Histopathological evaluation, characterized by average severity score


based on a scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=marked),
revealed effects:
30000 ppm: female, moderate mammary gland atrophy, mild ovary atrophy
and moderate uterus atrophy
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
10.07.2002 (130)

Type : Other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : Rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : Gavage
Exposure period : 13 weeks
Frequency of treatm. : Daily
Duration of test : 14 weeks
Doses : 0, 50, 150, 450 mg/kg bw in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
Result : no effects on reproductive organs were reported, neither in males nor in
females
Method : other: the reproductive organs were examined as part of the 13 week
study, see chapter 5.4
Year : 1986
GLP : Yes
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity: 98.6 %

Reliability : (1) valid without restriction


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (131)

5.9 SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIONS

Endpoint : Neurotoxicity
Study descr. in chapter :

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Reference :
Type : other: subchronic
Species : Rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: CD
Route of admin. : Gavage
No. of animals : 20
Vehicle : other: corn oil
Exposure period : 90 day(s)
Frequency of treatm. : Daily
Doses : 0, 50, 150, 450 mg/kg bw/day
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
Observation period : 13 weeks during dosing
Result : see freetext RE
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity

Method : 10 male and 10 female CD rats/treatment group received corn oil solutions
of 50, 175 or 600 mg/kg bw /day by gavage once daily for 13 weeks. 20
male and 20 female CD rats received corn oil alond to serve as
control.Rats were observed for body weight gain, food consumption,
clinical signs.
Signs of neurobehavioral toxicity were documented during pretreatment, 1
and 6 hours after dosing on study day 1 and prior dosing on study days 2,
7, 14, 30, 60 and 90 including salivation, urination, tremors, piloerection,
diarrhea, pupil size, pupil response, lacrimation, hypothermia, vocalization,
exophthalmus, palpebral closure, convulsions (type and severity),
respiration (rate and type), impaired gait, positional passivity, locomotor
activity, stereotypy, startle response, righting reflex, performance on a wire
maneuver, forelimb grip strength, positive geotropism, extensor thrust, limb
rotation, tail pinch reflex, toe pinch reflex, hind limb splay.
gross and histopathologic examination
Result : Mortality: control: 1 female (2.5 %), 450 mg-gr: 1 female (5 %), gross and
histopathologic examination: aspiration or inhalation of the TS, pulmonary
edema
body weight gain comparable to control
mean food consumption, 450 mg-gr., males and females: significantly less
than control during the initial portion of the study
clinical signs: dose related in incidence: salivation, myotonus, tremors,
urine wet abdomen, hypoactivity, rapid respiration
neurobehavioral toxicity:
450 mg-group, males and females: initial part of the study: incidence of
palpebral closure, rales, laboured respiration; at study termination, females:
significantly increased urination.
Other differences from controls with regard to behavioral tests were
evaluated as sporadic in nature by the authors (no further details given).
necropsy:
brain weights of treated animals comparable to controls; gross and
microscopic examination of tissues revealed no lesions which were
attributable to treatment
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
limited documentation (only study summary available)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
05.02.2004 (163) (112) (164)

5.10 EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE

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Remark : In humans, m-cresol may be excreted as a metabolite in urine


after occupational exposure to phenols, cresols, xylenols,
naphthalene and/or toluene.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
14.01.2003 (165) (166) (167) (168) (169) (170) (171)

Remark : The probable oral lethal dose for humans is 50-500 mg/kg.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
14.01.2003 (172)

Remark : In humans, insulin preparations with m-cresol resulted in an


impaired leukocyte function (decreased killing capacity of
human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), expressed as the
percentage of Staphylococcus aureus killed after 60 minutes
of incubation). m-cresol is possibly implicated in the
pathogenesis of local infections in continuous subcutaneous
insulin infusion
Reliability : (4) not assignable
15.01.2003 (173)

Remark : Case report: A 44-y-old male was found unconscious after


ingestion of 300 ml of 50 % cresol-soap solution.
Endotracheal intubation, gastric lavage and activated
charcoal reversed his conscious. He had dermal burns,
oesophageal and gastric erosions, pneumonia, mixed metabolic
acidosis and respiratory alkalosis, renal and liver function
impairment, leucocytosis and dark urine. Acute renal failure
and hemolysis developed, but recovered after hemodialysis
and intensive supportive care.
Urine levels of p-,m-,o-cresol and phenol were resp. 2083,
2059, 125 and 68 mg/g creatinine at 7 h post ingestion.
The patient recovered.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
15.01.2003 (174)

Remark : case report: Accidental dermal exposure of both legs and face of a 47-
year-old man resulted in corrosion of 15 % of his body surface and he
developed acute polyuric renal failure. Serum levels of m-cresol after 1 h
were above 30 mg/l.
After 5 hemodialysis procedures renal function recovered.
Levels of m-cresol in the dialysate were less than 5 % of
the levels in serum. Hemodialysis had no significant effect
on the serum concentration time course of m-cresol.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
14.01.2003 (175)

Remark : The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Minimal Risk Levels (MLR) were developed to provide
screening levels for health assessors and other responders
to identify contaminants and potential health effects that
may be of concern at hazardous waste sites an releases. An
MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a
hazardous substance that is likely to be without
appreciable risk of adverse noncancer health effects over a

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specific duration of exposure:


m-cresol: MRL = 0.05 mg/kg bw/d acute oral exposure
Reliability : (4) not assignable
15.01.2003 (176)

Remark : It is reported that certain individuals are hypersensitive to


cresol (isomer not specified, no further information)
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (110)

Remark : Case reports: intentional or accidental oral intake of cresols (all isomers):
irritation of mouth and throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, hemolytic anemia,
increased heart ratem liver and kidney damage, headaches, facial
paralysis, drowsiness, cramps coma and death
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
description suffers from deficiencies as the isomers are not specified
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
14.01.2003 (177) (178) (179) (180)

Remark : Skin depigmentation (chemical leukoderma has been reported after local
exposure to cresols (isomer not specified)
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (130)

Remark : It is reported that skin contact has alo resulted in effects on the nervous
system, liver and kidneys and caused human fatalities.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (179)

Remark : A cresol solution, unintentionally poured over the trunk, caused gross
hematuria, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and septic shock with
severe jaundice and renal failure.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (181)

Remark : The development of tumours in persons who had been exposed


occupationally to cresol (unspecified isomer) has been reported, and two
cases of transitional cell bladder carcinoma were described after longterm
exposure to cresol. Since no information on exposure levels are available
and since co-exposure to other substances cannot be excluded a
carcinogenic potential of the cresol isomers cannot be deduced fron these
cases.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (182)

Remark : Case report: a worker in an oil rafinery was exposed to cresol,


dichlorooctane and chromic acid for a long period developed a squamous
epithelial carcinoma of the vocal cords. Since no information on exposure
levels is available and since co-exposure to other substances is included a

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carcinogenic potential of the cresol isomers cannot be deduced from this


case report.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (179)

Remark : Anomalous menstrual cycles were found and hormonal disorders were
reported from women who were employed in ther production to enamelled
wire or of tricresyl phosphate and were exposed to a variety of
compounds, including chlorobenzenes and phosphoryl chloride. It was
claimed that the incidence of perinatal child death was increased and that
developmental disorders were frequent among new-born babies. since no
data on exposure levels and duration of exposure are given and data on
controls were not provided a relationship between the described effects
and cresol exposure cannot be deduced.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
05.02.2004 (179)

5.11 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Type : Cytotoxicity

Remark : m-cresol (test concentration: 0, 2, 5, 10, 20


or 50 ppm; test duration: 66 h) showed a concentration
dependent decrease in growth rate and cell yield in L-M
strain cells (CCL 1.2; derived from NCTC clone 939 mouse
fibroblast line) in suspension culture. No effect was
observed with 2 ppm.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (183)

Type : Cytotoxicity

Remark : Cytotoxicity assay, V79 cells: the growth of


V79 cells was inhibited in a dose- and time-related manner,
while DNA-, RNA- and protein-syntheses were inhibited in a
dose-related fashion.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (184)

Type : Metabolism

Remark : In male Wistar rats, m-cresol was excreted as a metabolite


in urine after a single i.p. injection of 0.12 ml
14C-toluene/rat.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (169)

Type : Metabolism

Remark : m-cresol was excreted as conjugated glucuronide in urine


when adminstered orally to one rabbit in a dose of 2000 mg
or one hen in a dose of 1000 mg.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (185)

Type : Metabolism

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Remark : In female CFY rats, the excretion of m-cresol in urine was


increased after exposure to xylene (4000 mg/m3/6 h).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (186)

Type : Metabolism

Remark : The retention of m-cresol in male Wistar rats after the


oral administration of 25 ug/rat for 3 d (test period 7 d)
was 0.2 % (percentage of applied dose).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (26)

Type : Metabolism

Remark : After an oral application of 10 g m-cresol


within 3 days to one dog the substance was excreted
unchanged in urine.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (187)

Type : Metabolism

Remark : In an in vitro study m-cresol was hydroxylated


to 2,5-dihydroxytoluene and probably to the sulfate
conjugate of m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol with rat liver
homogenate and slices.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (188)

Type : Metabolism

Remark : in vitro: Metabolic cooperation assay for gap junctional


intercellular communication with chinese hamster cells
(V79): negative.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (189)

Remark : m-cresol inhibited the growth of chick embryo fibroblasts


(incubation for 24 h), the sublethal dose was approx. 20
mg/l and the lethal dose > 20 < 50 mg/l.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (78)

Remark : m-cresol (0.5 or 1.0 ml) showed an inhibitory effect on the


ATP-induced (50 ug) pulmonary vasoconstriction in isolated
perfused rabbit lungs.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (190)

Remark : m-cresol (550 mg/m3) showed a ciliostasis index of 0.7 to


0.75 in isolated rabbit tracheal tissue.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (191)

Remark : In a neutral red (NR) cytotoxicity assay with Bluegill


sunfish BF-2 cells, the NR50 was determined with 5.3 mM.

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Reliability : (4) not assignable


16.01.2003 (192)

Remark : In male Sprague-Dawley rats no effect on oxygen consumption


was observed after a single i.p. injection of 50-200 mg/kg
bw.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (193) (194)

Remark : In vitro short term cytotoxicity tests:

I. method: inhibition of cell growth in ascites sarcoma


BP8 cells (concentration 1mM, incubation for
48 hours)
I. result: the inhibitory effect was >= 30 <= 39 %
II. method: inhibition of oxidative metabolism in isolated
brown fat cells (concentration 1mM, incubation
for 5 min at 37 Grad C)
II. result: the inhibitory effect was >= 60 <= 69 %
III. method: plasma membrane damage in human diploid
embryonic lung fibroblasts (MRC-5, leakage
of a cytoplasmatic nucleotide marker from
prelabelled cells, concentration 25 mM,
incubation for 30 min at 37 Grad C)
III. result: the release was >= 30 <= 39 %
IV. method: ciliotoxicity (ciliostasis in tracheas of
chicken embryos, concentration 5 mM, incubation
at 37 Grad C)
IV. result: the ciliotoxicity was >= 70 <= 79 %
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (195)

Remark : In vitro study:


in isolated heavy beef heart mitochondria (HBHM), m-cresol
in a concentration of 3.6 x 10E-4 M was shown to stimulate
the HBHM NADH-oxidase system. In the HBHM succinoxidase
system, no effect was observed.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (196)

Remark : m-cresol showed no antimutagenic effect on MNNG-induced


mutagenesis in E. coli WP2
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (197)

Remark : Biochemistry: m-cresol at a concentration of 1 mM showed a


stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis (max. percent
increase: 268 +- 26), while a concentration of 10 mM showed
an inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis (percent
inhibition: 55 +-3.5).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (198)

Remark : Increasing concentrations of m-cresol produced increasing


inhibition of thymidine incorporation in Hela cells.

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Reliability : (4) not assignable


16.01.2003 (105)

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(10) Daubert TE and Danner RP (1989) Physical and thermodynamic


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(43) Fedorak PM and Hrudey SE (1984) Water Res 18: 361-7

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(197) Kushi A, Yoshida D (1987) Antimutagenic effects of phenols on MNNG-induced


mutagenesis in Escherichia coli. Agric Biol Chem 51: 1439-1440

(198) Anamura S (1989) Effects of phenolic dental medications on arachidonic acid metabolism
and their inflammation inhibitors and immune agents. Hiroshima Daigaku Shigaku Zasshi
21: 147-162
(in Japanese, engl. Abstract)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 173


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL

IUCLID

Data Set
Existing Chemical : ID: 106-44-5
CAS No. : 106-44-5
EINECS Name : p-cresol
EC No. : 203-398-6
TSCA Name : Phenol, 4-methyl-
Molecular Formula : C7H8O

Producer related part


Company : Bayer AG
Creation date : 11.01.2001

Substance related part


Company : Bayer AG
Creation date : 11.01.2001

Status :
Memo : AKTUELL / ICCA (Category Cresols)

Printing date : 24.05.2004


Revision date :
Date of last update : 24.05.2004

Number of pages : 122

Chapter (profile) : Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10


Reliability (profile) : Reliability: without reliability, 1, 2, 3, 4
Flags (profile) : Flags: without flag, non confidential, WGK (DE), TA-Luft (DE), Material
Safety Dataset, Risk Assessment, Directive 67/548/EEC, SIDS

174 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.0.1 APPLICANT AND COMPANY INFORMATION

Type : cooperating company


Name : ADCHEMCO Corporation
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : lead organisation


Name : American Chenistry Council Cresol Panel
Contact person :
Date :
Street : 1300 Wilson Blvd.
Town : 22209 Arlington, VA
Country : United States
Phone : 703-741-5629
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.01.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Bayer Corporation
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.01.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Concord Chemical Company
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 175


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Country : United States


Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.01.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Dakota Gasification Company
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.01.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Honshu Chemical Industry Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : LaPorte (formerly Inspec Fine Chemicals, Inc.)
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


17.01.2001

176 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type : cooperating company


Name : Merisol (Merichem-Sasol USA LLC)
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


17.01.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Nippon Steel Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : PMC Specialties Group, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 177


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.01.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumiken Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumitomo Chemical Americas, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


16.01.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

178 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.0.2 LOCATION OF PRODUCTION SITE, IMPORTER OR FORMULATOR

1.0.3 IDENTITY OF RECIPIENTS

1.0.4 DETAILS ON CATEGORY/TEMPLATE

1.1.0 SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

1.1.1 GENERAL SUBSTANCE INFORMATION

Purity type :
Substance type : organic
Physical status : solid
Purity : ca. 99.9 % w/w
Colour :
Odour :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


10.02.2003 (1)

1.1.2 SPECTRA

1.2 SYNONYMS AND TRADENAMES

1-Hydroxy-4-methylbenzene

01.05.1998

4-Cresol

01.05.1998

4-Hydroxytoluene

01.05.1998

4-Hydroxytoluol, 4-Methylphenol

19.05.1998

4-Methylfenol

06.03.1998

4-Methylphenol

01.05.1998

p-Cresol (8CI)

30.08.1996

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 179


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

p-Cresylic acid

01.05.1998

p-Hydroxytoluene

01.05.1998

p-Kresol

01.05.1998

p-Methylhydroxybenzene

23.05.2002

p-Methylphenol

01.05.1998

p-Oxytoluene

01.05.1998

p-Toluol

01.05.1998

p-Tolyl alcohol

23.05.2002

paracresol

01.05.1998

Phenol, 4-methyl-

01.05.1998

Phenol, 4-methyl- (9CI)

30.08.1996

1.3 IMPURITIES

1.4 ADDITIVES

1.5 TOTAL QUANTITY

Quantity : - tonnes produced in

Remark : 59,500 tonnes in 2000, estimated world capacity


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
28.05.2002

180 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.6.1 LABELLING

Labelling : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Specific limits :
Symbols : T, , ,
Nota : ,,
R-Phrases : (24/25) Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
(34) Causes burns
S-Phrases : (36/37/39) Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face
protection
(45) In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice
immediately (show the label where possible)

Remark : 19. Adaptation, EC-Index-No. 604-004-00-9


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2002

1.6.2 CLASSIFICATION

Classified : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Class of danger : corrosive
R-Phrases : (34) Causes burns
Specific limits :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


24.05.2002

Classified : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Class of danger : toxic
R-Phrases : (24/25) Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
Specific limits :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


24.05.2002

1.6.3 PACKAGING

1.7 USE PATTERN

Type of use : type


Category : Use in closed system

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


24.05.2002

Type of use : industrial


Category : Chemical industry: used in synthesis

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


24.05.2002

Type of use : use


Category : Intermediates

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 181


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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


24.05.2002

1.7.1 DETAILED USE PATTERN

1.7.2 METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

1.8 REGULATORY MEASURES

1.8.1 OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT VALUES

Type of limit : MAC (NL)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3

Remark : Skin (all isomers).


22.03.2001

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3
Short term exposure limit value
Limit value : 22 mg/m3
Time schedule :
Frequency : times

Remark : all isomers danger of cutaneous absorption


Source : TRGS 900 (DE)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2002

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value :

Remark : danger of cutaneous absorption


Mak list, canc. category 3A
27.05.2002 (2)

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value : 5 ml/m3
Short term exposure limit value
Limit value : 5 ml/m3
Time schedule :
Frequency : times

Remark : danger of cutaneous absorption


Source : TRGS 900 (DE)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2002

Type of limit : OES (UK)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3

Remark : Skin (all isomers).


Source : Synthetic Chemicals Ltd. Wolverhampton
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - European Chemicals Bureau Ispra (VA)
16.05.1994

182 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type of limit : TLV (US)


Limit value : 5 other: ppm

Remark : Skin notation. Critical effects: dermatitis, irritation,


CNS.
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
22.03.2001

Type of limit : TLV (US)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3

Remark : Skin notation. Critical effects: dermatitis, irritation,


CNS.
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
22.03.2001

1.8.2 ACCEPTABLE RESIDUES LEVELS

1.8.3 WATER POLLUTION

Classified by : KBwS (DE)


Labelled by : KBwS (DE)
Class of danger : 2 (water polluting)

24.05.2002

1.8.4 MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARDS

Legislation : Stoerfallverordnung (DE)


Substance listed : yes
No. in Seveso directive : Appendix I, No. 2

24.05.2002

1.8.5 AIR POLLUTION

Classified by : TA-Luft (DE)


Labelled by :
Number : 3.1.7 (organic substances)
Class of danger : I

24.05.2002

1.8.6 LISTINGS E.G. CHEMICAL INVENTORIES

1.9.1 DEGRADATION/TRANSFORMATION PRODUCTS

1.9.2 COMPONENTS

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 183


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.10 SOURCE OF EXPOSURE

1.11 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Remark : Opmerkingen: Transportclassificering volgens RID/ADR: kl


6.1-27b / UN no. 2076
Source : B.V. CONSOLCO Amsterdam
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - European Chemicals Bureau Ispra (VA)
06.03.1998

1.12 LAST LITERATURE SEARCH

Type of search : Internal and External


Chapters covered :
Date of search :

Remark : Toxicology: November 2002


Environmental aspects and ecotoxicology: January 2002
CAS number search in external and internal databases, e.g. HSDB, Aquire,
Biosis, Embase, Toxline, Scisearch.
22.01.2003

1.13 REVIEWS

184 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

2.1 MELTING POINT

Value : 34.7 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (3)

Value : 34.8 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (4) (5)

Value : 35.3 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (6)

Value : 35.5 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (7) (8)

Value : ca. 34 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but < 0.9 % of m-cresol

11.05.2004 (9)

2.2 BOILING POINT

Value : 201.9 °C at 1013 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 185


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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Remark : SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (7)

Value : 201.9 °C at
Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (3)

Value : 202 °C at
Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (6) (4)

Value : ca. 202 °C at


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but < 0.9 % of m-cresol

11.05.2004 (9)

Value : 201.8 °C at 1013 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 179.4 °C at 267 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 140 °C at 133 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 117.7 °C at 53.3 hPa


Decomposition :

186 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : other: no data available


Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 102.3 °C at 26.7 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 88.6 °C at 13.3 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 76.5 °C at 6.58 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 53 °C at 1.32 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 85.7 °C at 13.3 hPa


Decomposition :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (5)

2.3 DENSITY

Type :
Value : 1.0178 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 187
OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


11.05.2004 (5)

Type :
Value : 1.0341 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (3) (8)

Type :
Value : 1.04 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (4)

Type :
Value : 1.0185 g/cm³ at 40 °C
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (10)

Type :
Value : 1.039 g/cm³ at °C
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (6)

Type :
Value : ca. 1.034 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but < 0.9 % of m-cresol

11.05.2004 (9)

2.3.1 GRANULOMETRY

2.4 VAPOUR PRESSURE

Value : .053 hPa at 20 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data

188 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (4)

Value : .1 hPa at 20 °C
Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (3)

Value : ca. .1 hPa at 20 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but < 0.9 % of m-cresol

11.05.2004 (9)

Value : .147 hPa at 25 °C


Decomposition :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (11)

Value : .15 hPa at 25 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (4)

Value : .24 hPa at 30 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (3)

Value : 1.1 hPa at 50 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (3)

Value : ca. 1.1 hPa at 50 °C

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 189


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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but < 0.9 % of m-cresol

11.05.2004 (9)

Value : 1.3 hPa at 53 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (4)

Value : 6.58 hPa at 76.5 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 13.3 hPa at 85.7 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (5)

Value : 13.3 hPa at 88.6 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 26.7 hPa at 102.3 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 53.3 hPa at 117.7 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

190 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Value : 133 hPa at 140 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : 267 hPa at 179.4 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

Value : ca. 1013 hPa at 202 °C


Decomposition :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (8)

2.5 PARTITION COEFFICIENT

Partition coefficient : octanol-water


Log pow : 1.94 at °C
pH value :
Method : other (measured)
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : experimental data, SRC (EPI Suite v 3.10) recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (12)

Partition coefficient : octanol-water


Log pow : = 1.94 at °C
pH value :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

11.05.2004 (4)

Partition coefficient : octanol-water


Log pow : 1.92 at °C
pH value :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 191


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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

11.05.2004 (4)

Partition coefficient : octanol-water


Log pow : 1.92 - 1.99 at °C
pH value :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : 4 log Kow values in the range of 1.92 to 1.99 cited


11.05.2004 (13)

2.6.1 SOLUBILITY IN DIFFERENT MEDIA

Solubility in : Water
Value : 21.5 g/l at 25 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: measured
Year : 1992
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : SRC recommended value


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (14)

Solubility in : Water
Value : = 19.5 g/l at 20 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: measured
Year : 1991
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

11.05.2004 (15)

Solubility in : Water
Value : ca. 21 g/l at 25 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :

192 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. product :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but < 0.9 % of m-cresol

11.05.2004 (9)

Solubility in : Water
Value : 24 g/l at 40 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

11.05.2004 (4)

Solubility in : Water
Value : 25 g/l at 50 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

11.05.2004 (8)

Solubility in : Water
Value : 50 g/l at 100 °C
pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

11.05.2004 (8)

Solubility in : Water
Value : 53 g/l at 100 °C

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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

pH value :
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: no data available
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

11.05.2004 (4)

2.6.2 SURFACE TENSION

2.7 FLASH POINT

Value : 86 °C
Type : closed cup
Method : other: DIN 51758
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but according to Bayer MSDS < 0.9
% of m-cresol

11.05.2004 (9) (8) (6)

2.8 AUTO FLAMMABILITY

Value : 558 °C at
Method : other: DIN 51794
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but according to Bayer MSDS < 0.9
% of m-cresol

Remark : autoignition temperature


11.05.2004 (9) (6)

2.9 FLAMMABILITY

22.03.2001

2.10 EXPLOSIVE PROPERTIES

22.03.2001

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2.11 OXIDIZING PROPERTIES

22.03.2001

2.12 DISSOCIATION CONSTANT

Acid-base constant : 10.2


Method : other: no data available
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : secondary citation


11.05.2004 (16)

Acid-base constant : 10.26


Method : other: measured and calculated
Year : 1968
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Experimental data for cresols were taken from Kortuem G, Vogel W, and
Andrussow K (1961) Dissociation Constants of Organic Acids in Aqueous
Solution. Butterworths, Lon-don
Remark : For experimental data: Secondary literature
Result : Calculated result is pk = 10.32
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (17)

Acid-base constant : 10.70


Method : other: measured
Year : 1971
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported, but substance purified by distillation
under reduced pressure

Method : Measured according to Bordwell FG and BD Cooper (1952) J. Am. Chem.


Soc. 74, 1058
Remark : in 20 % water-ethanol (v/v) at 20 °C
11.05.2004 (18)

2.13 VISCOSITY

2.14 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Memo : Refraction index

Remark : Refraction index (nD): 1.5312 at 20 degrees C


11.05.2004 (10)

Memo : Refraction index

Remark : Refraction index (nD): 1.5395 at 20 degrees C


11.05.2004 (8)

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Memo : Odor

Remark : Treshold odor concentration in water: 0.200 ppm


Treshold taste concentration in water: 0.002 ppm
11.05.2004 (19)

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3.1.1 PHOTODEGRADATION

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
INDIRECT PHOTOLYSIS
Sensitizer : OH
Conc. of sensitizer : 500000 molecule/cm³
Rate constant : .0000000000873 cm³/(molecule*sec)
Degradation : 50 % after 8.2 hour(s)
Deg. product :
Method : other (calculated): with SRC-AOPWIN, v1.90
Year : 2003
GLP :
Test substance :

Remark : The calculated half-life is based on a mean OH radical concentration of


0.5E+6 OH radicals/cm3 given during the 24 hours/day as suggested in the
EU-Technical Guidance Document
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Generally accepted calculation method
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (20)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1995
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 99 %

Method : Determination of the temperature-dependency of the OH


radical reaction under simulated tropospheric conditions
Remark : With a OH radical concentration of 1 000 000 molec cm-3 and
a temperature of 301 K, the half-life is 3.8 h
Result : kOH = 2.21 x 10E-12 exp[(943+-449)/T] cm3 molec.-1 s-1 for a
temperature range of 301-373 K
Test condition : test substance concentration 0.05-5 ppm
reference compound (1,3-butadiene or o-cresol) 0.05-2.3 ppm
radical source methylnitrite 1.5-11 ppm together with NOx
2-70 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (21)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured): critical review
Year : 1994
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 197
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GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : With a OH radical concentration of 1 000 000 molec/cm3, the


half-life is 4.1 h
Result : K[OH] = 4.7 [10E-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
K[NO3] = 1.07 [10E-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
K[O3] = 4.7 [10E-19 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Critical review, evaluation of all available experimental
data
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (22) (23) (24)

Type : water
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Conc. of substance : at 19 °C
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported, but of highest commercial purity
available

Method : Determination of rate constant for reaction with singlet


oxigen
Result : INDIRECT PHOTOLYSIS:
- Rate constant: 1.1 E7 M-1 s-1 at pH 8.3
2.4 E7 M-1 s-1 at pH 8.8
1.6 E8 M-1 s-1 at pH 10
3.5 E8 M-1 s-1 at pH 11.5
- Half life t1/2: 500 h under noon summer sunlight
(Switzerland) with 4E-14 M singlet oxygen
Test condition : - Test medium: aqueous solution containing 0.05M phosphate
buffer and 5 mg/l rose bengal
- Test system: merry-go-round reactor
- Concentration of test substance: < 0.0001 M
Duration: < 2 hours
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (16)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
INDIRECT PHOTOLYSIS
Sensitizer : OH
Conc. of sensitizer :
Rate constant : cm³/(molecule*sec)
Degradation : % after
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 99 % (obtained from Aldrich Chemical
Company)

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : smog chamber experiment with black light irradiation


Result : k[OH] = 4.84 +- 0.89 [10E-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Test condition : dry air pressure 735 Torr
Temp. 296 +- 2 K
irradiation time 4-20 min
reference substance: propene
OH radical concentration: (1-3) x 10E7 molecule/cm-3
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
10.05.2004 (25)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
INDIRECT PHOTOLYSIS
Sensitizer : OH
Conc. of sensitizer :
Rate constant : cm³/(molecule*sec)
Degradation : % after
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : I. Smog chamber experiment


II. Inkrement method
Result : k[OH] = 44 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1] both observed and
calculated
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
10.05.2004 (26)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
INDIRECT PHOTOLYSIS
Sensitizer : OH
Conc. of sensitizer :
Rate constant : cm³/(molecule*sec)
Degradation : % after
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1978
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : smog chamber


Temp. 300 +-1 K
reference substances: n-butane, neopentane
initial TS concentration ca. 0.25 ppm for p-cresol
OH radical concentration: (1-4) x10E6 molecule cm-3
Result : K[OH] = 52 +- 5 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
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Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted


scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
10.05.2004 (27) (28)

Type : water
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product : not measured
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1995
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity commercial, vacuum distilled

Method : Determination of the photosensitized oxidation in water


- Merry-go-round photoreactor DEMA (Hans Mangels GmbH, Bornheim-
roisdorf, Germany) Model 125
- Light source: 700 W Hanau TQ718 medium pressure mercury lamp,
equipped with cut-off filter: lambda > 320 nm
- Temperature 25 °C
- Photon fluence density 1.7 mEinstein m-2 s-1 at 366 nm
- Chemical analysis by HPLC, quantification at 285 nm
Result : K = 0.0004 s-1
direct photolysis (in the absence of sensitizer) was
negligible
Test condition : - Test system: merry-go-round photoreactor
- Concentration of test substance: 2.5 µM
- Concentration of sensitizer: humic acid (DOC = 1.65 mg/l)
- temperature: 25 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Quantification of environmental reaction rate not possible
10.05.2004 (29)

Type : water
Light source : Sun light
Light spectrum : 290 nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Conc. of substance : 1 mg/l at °C
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported by Choudry

Method : Determination of rate constants for photolysis in aqueous


solution in the absence and presence of humic acids
Result : A photolysis halflife of 35 days was determined, while with
addition of 9.5 ug/l humic acid the half-life was 3 days.

The authors report computer simulated estimated half-lives for different


compartments (river: 200 d, eutrophic pond: > 400 d, eutrophic lake > 400
d, oligotrophic lake 100 d)
Test condition : Sunlight, in April (mostly overcast)
pure water, with and without humic acid (9.5 ug/ml)
tubes held in rack at 60 ° angle to the horizon
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Basic data given
10.05.2004 (30) (31)

Type : water

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Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight

Result : The rate constant of hydroxyl radicals reaction is 1.2 E10


1/M/sec
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Secondary literature
02.10.2001 (32)

3.1.2 STABILITY IN WATER

Remark : Based on the chemical structure of the compound hydrolysis


is not expected under temperature and pH values occuring in
the environment.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Expert judgement
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
09.01.2003

3.1.3 STABILITY IN SOIL

Type : laboratory
Radiolabel :
Concentration :
Soil temperature : °C
Soil humidity :
Soil classification :
Year :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Bench-scale experiments with contaminated soil.


Determination of passive evaporation and biodegradation of
cresols
Result : passive evaporation half-life 4.2 - 4.8 weeks
biodegradation: after 4 days below detection limit
Test condition : Passive evaporation: plastic petri plates (88x18 mm) placed
on canopy-covered table. Temp. 10-17 degrees C, humidity 75%
Shake-flask biodegradation test: 8-25 g soil mixed with 50
ml buffer solution; shaken for 4 days
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
07.05.2004 (33)

3.2.1 MONITORING DATA

3.2.2 FIELD STUDIES

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

3.3.1 TRANSPORT BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENTS

Type : volatility
Media : water - air
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method : other: measured
Year : 1987

Method : Data were taken from 2 sources


- Gaffney JS, Senum GI (1984) In: Newman L (ed.) Gas-Liquid Chemistry
of Natural Waters. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, pp. 5-1 to
5-7
- Lind JA and Kok GLJ (1986) J. Geophys. Res. 91, 7889-7895
Result : Henry's law constant (25 degrees C):
H = 0.1 Pa.m3.mol-1
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (34)

Type : adsorption
Media : water - soil
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method : other: batch equilibrium method, similar to OECD Guideline 106
Year : 1982

Remark : Koc determined for clay loam soil


Result : Koc = 48.66
Test condition : Soil: Brookston clay loam soil, collected from top 15 cm,
air-dried, 5.10% organic matter, pH 5.7
soil/solution ratio 1:10
TS concentrations 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 mg/l, deoxygenated by
purging with N2
triplicate samples, temp. 20+-1 degrees C, incubation period 24 h
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with general accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.05.2004 (35)

Type : adsorption
Media : water - soil
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method : other: batch equilibrium method
Year : 1986

Remark : The authors presume that the high adsorption factors obtained in the study

202 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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for low OC soils could be attributed to H-bond interactions between


phenolic hydroxyl and clay surfaces (clay-content in these soils: 68% and
86%).

This type of adsorption can't be applied to explain the adsorption


phenomenon (correlation between OC-content and adsorption), which
usually occures in standard soils.
Result : Koc = 3420 (Apison), 3350 (Fullerton), 115 (Dormont)
Test condition : 3 soils tested: Dormont (pH 4.2; OC 1.2%), Apison (pH 4.5;
OC 0.11%), Fullerton (pH 4.4; OC 0.05%)
soil/water ratio 1:1 - 1:66
initial TS concentration 0.5 - 1.0 mg/l
incubation period 24 h
Reliability : (3) invalid
No standard soil was used in the test. Soils Apison and Fullerton have a
very low OC-content.Suggested OC-content in OECD 106:0.6-3.5%; in
67/548/EEC C.18: >0.3%) ).
10.05.2004 (36)

Type : adsorption
Media : water - soil
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method :
Year :

Remark : the authors cite a log Koc of 2,70 (koc 501), but no details on the
experiments are described nor the primary citation is given
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature, experimental details missing
15.01.2003 (37)

Type : adsorption
Media : water - soil
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method :
Year :

Result : Neither Freundlich adsorption coefficients nor Koc values are reported in
the article. The authors report the isotherms in graphic formate.
In the Chemfate database citation of this article Freundlich adsorption
coefficients (K) are estimated from the isotherms at about 50 ppm: 0.50
E02 to 0.5 E01.
The corresponding Koc values can be calculated as 560 to 10000.
No explanation for the wide variety of the adsorpion coefficients is given.

Test condition : 5 soils were tested: Davidson (pH 6.4; OC 0.3%), Molokai (pH 6.2; 0.5%),
Fanno (pH 7.0; OC 0.9%), Mohave (pH 7.8; OC 0.4%), Ava (pH 4.5; OC
0.4%)
200 ml deionized water were added to 10 g of soil
initial TS concentration 5 - 100 ppm
temperatur 22 °C
equilibration time 5 days
Reliability : (3) invalid

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
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No standard soil was used in the test. The five soils have a very low OC-
content (0.3-0.9 %).Suggested OC-content in OECD 106:0.6-3.5%; in
67/548/EEC C.18: >0.3%)).
The isotherms are reported in five graphs, but the logarithmic scale is not
labeled correctly.
15.01.2003 (38) (39)

3.3.2 DISTRIBUTION

Media : air - biota - sediment(s) - soil - water


Method : Calculation according Mackay, Level I
Year : 2001

Result : Calculated distribution between environmental compartments:


Air: 2.46 %
water: 96.26 %
soil: 0.66 %
bottom sediment: 0.62 %
suspended sediment: 0.001 %
biota: 0.0004 %
Test condition : data used in calculation
temperature (°C): 25
molar mass (g/mol): 108.14
vapor pressure (Pa): 14.7
water solubility (g/l): 21.5
log Kow: 1.94

volumes in unit world (m3)


air: 6 000 000 000
water: 7 000 000
soil: 45 000
sediment: 21 000
susp. sediment: 35
biota (fish): 7
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Generally accepted calculation method
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
13.05.2003 (40)

3.4 MODE OF DEGRADATION IN ACTUAL USE

3.5 BIODEGRADATION

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, domestic
Concentration : 100 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 80 - 95 (±) % after 40 day(s)
Result : readily biodegradable
Deg. product :
Method : other: comparable to OECD Guideline 301C
Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity at least 99 % (obtained from Aldrich Chemical
company)

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Method : Initial sludge concentration 30 mg dw/l


reference compound aniline
Remark : Incubation period 20-40 days; no oxygen uptake curve given;
degradation of reference substance aniline >=60 % within 28 days
Result : The oxygen uptake curves are not reported. However, the authors state
that all test compounds revealed the lag phase, biodegradation phase and
the plateau region within a period of 10 days, indicating that the 10-day
window criteria is met.
first order biodegradation constant (hr-1): ln k = -5.87
maximum specific substrate uptake rate per unit biomass km = 18.5 / day
(Aniline 16.1, Phenol 16.9)
p-Cresol is slightly better biodegradable than phenol and aniline
Test condition : Inoculum /test organism
- Type of sludge: activated
- Source: municipal treatment plant, receiving predominantly domestic
sewage
- Initial cell concentration: 30 mg/l
Test system
- Culturing apparatus: Sapromat
- Closed vessels used: yes
Initial test substance concentration: 100 mg/l
Duration of the test: 20-40 days
Test conditions
- Composition of synthetic medium: OECD
- Test temperature: 25 degrees C
Reference substance: aniline 100 mg/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study comparable to OECD Guideline 301C
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (41)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: natural microorganism communities from water and sediment
Concentration : 200 µg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 50 - 100 (±) % after 43 hour(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported [ring-U-14C] p-cresol

Method : Biodegradation in natural aquatic test systems:


1.shake-flasks with water, 2.shake flasks with water and
sediment, 3.intact sediment-water cores (eco-cores)
3 sample sites in a river estuary
Result : First order half-lives:
water flasks: 9.5-43 h
sediment flasks: 5.9-11 h
eco-core: 3.0-16 h
Test condition : 1. shake flask tests with filtered water
2. shake flask tests with filtered water and 500 mg/l
organic sediment (30-50% OC). Sediment collected from the
top 5 cm of the sediment surface
3. Eco-core samples had an aerobic layer of detritus
overlying anaerobic sediment.
All flasks incubated with radiolabelled TS and maintained at
18 degrees C in the dark
Analysis: water samples filtered and analysed by HPLC,

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measurement of 14CO2 radioactivity


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard procedure but in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2004 (42)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, industrial
Contact time :
Degradation : = 100 (±) % after 10 day(s)
Result : inherently biodegradable
Deg. product :
Method : OECD Guide-line 302 B "Inherent biodegradability: Modified Zahn-Wellens
Test"
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Result : 90 % degradation during the log-phase (8 days)


Test condition : Test substance conc. 50-400 mg/l DOC, 200-1000 mg/l COD
acclimatization phase 2 days
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline study, basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2004 (43)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, adapted
Concentration : 200 mg/l related to COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : = 96 (±) % after 5 day(s)
Result : inherently biodegradable
Deg. product :
Method : other: batch system (similar to OECD 302B "Zahn-Wellens-Test")
Year : 1976
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : - Test compound was sole source of carbon


- Inoculum density: 100 mg dry matter/l; gradual increase of TS
concentration during 20 days adaptation period
- COD measured
- With volatile substances a test without inocculum was done to
differentiate the actual biological degradation from the losses due to mere
volatilization
Result : Initial degradation rate: 55.0 mg COD/g/h
Test condition : 20 +/-3 degree C; pH 7.2; mineral salts medium; dark;
continuously stirred
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2004 (44)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Deg. product : yes
Method :

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Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary anaerobic sludge from 12 treatment plants receiving


mainly domestic waste water were diluted to 10% in a mineral
salts medium, test substance concentration 30 mg/l;
secondary anaerobic sludge from 2 treatment plants diluted
to 10% in a mineral salts medium, test substance 50 mg/l
incubation for 8 weeks; triplicate samples
Result : primary sludges:
degradation ranged from 62 to 101% in 11 sludges (lag times
for approx. 20% of theoretical CH4 production: 2-5 weeks;
insufficient data for 1 sludge
secondary sludges:
degradation was 51% after 4 weeks lag-phase with the first
sludge and 121% after 3 weeks lag-phase with the second
(degradation related to theoretical methane and CO2
production)
Test condition : 35 degrees C, due to storage of sludges before incubation, lag phase of
methanogenesis could be increased in some sludges
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (45)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Contact time : 56 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1984
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary and secondary anaerobic sewage sludge from 9


treatment plants diluted to 10% in a mineral salts medium;
degradation measured as gas pressure increase
Remark : data have been published by the authors as a NTIS-study (previous data
set)
Result : in 2 different secondary sludges >75% degradation
in 9 different primary sludges degradation 62-101%
Test condition : incubation for 8 w at 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (46)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 207


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. product : yes


Method :
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, of highest purity available (obtained from Aldrich
Chemical Co.)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary anaerobic digesting sludge receiving a mixture of


domestic and industrial waste water
Result : lag time 7 days
net total gas production was 96 +/- 4.3 % of the theoretical production
(CH4 + CO2)
Test condition : - medium 2-3 g dw/l sludge
- incubation for >= 60 d at 35 degrees C
- 3 replicates
- sterile controls for abiotic gas production
- gas production measured with hand-held pressure meter
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (47) (48)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : aerobic microorganisms
Contact time : 120 hour(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 40 hour(s) ca. 50 %
70 hour(s) ca. 90 %
%
%
%
Deg. product : not measured
Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, ring-U-14C-labelled

Method : Adaptation of natural microbial communities was measured in


ecocore test systems filled with sediment and natural water
collected at a river.
Parent compound disappearance and mineralization were
monitored.
Remark : degradation values taken from a graphics
Result : Mineralization was rapid without a lag-phase. Pre-exposure
did not accelerate degradation.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
24.05.2004 (49)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: marine bacteria
Deg. product : not measured
Method : other: batch culture study in seawater
Year : 1992
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity >98%

208 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : Seawater from California (USA) supplemented with 100, 500,


and 1000 µg/l test substance. Analysis of subsamples with
GC/MS
Result : t1/2 = 295 h (100 µg/l)
t1/2 = 215 h (500 µg/l)
t1/2 = 325 h (1000 µg/l)
Doubling time of population
85 h (100 µg/l)
40 h (500 µg/l)
31 h (1000 µg/l)
Test condition : Temp. 20+-2 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
24.05.2004 (50)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: mixed microbial cultures
Concentration : 1.6 mg/l related to Test substance
3.2 mg/l related to Test substance
Contact time : 8 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: APHA method (1980)
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : BOD technique; determination of the degradation rate


constant which is compared with those reported for natural
waters
Result : Pseudo-first-order rate constants (1/h):
Degradation of p-cresol in BOD test solution 0.028
Degradation of p-cresol in 5 natural waters 0.025 - 0.106 (mean 0.063)
For comparison:
Degradation of phenol in BOD test solution 0.020
Degradation of phenol in 5 natural waters 0.046 - 0.110 (mean 0.075)
p-Cresol is nearly as biodegradable as phenol.
Test condition : 2.3 E8 cells/ml; 21 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
10.05.2004 (51)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: mixed microbial cultures
Concentration : 1.6 mg/l related to Test substance
3.2 mg/l related to Test substance
Deg. product :
Method : other: BOD technique
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : study targets to determine the effect of inoculum


density on biodegradation rate; BOD technique
Result : degradation rate was nearly independent on biomass
concentration. First order rate constant 3.4 (+/- 0.24) x 10-1/day with 2.3

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 209


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

E4 cells/l and 4.0 (+/- 0.02) x 10-1/day with 2.3 E8 cells/l


Test condition : 21 +- 3 degrees C
5 inoculum concentrations between 2.3 E4 and 2.3 E8 cells/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (52)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other bacteria: natural aquatic microbial assemblages
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: U-14C-labeled p-cresol

Method : Determination of degradation kinetics over a large


concentration range
Tests performed in freshly collected water from a lake, a
swamp surface, and seawater.
Result : Date Site TS Concentr.[µg/l] Vmax[µg/l/d]
June 1986 Lake 1-10000 11
Dec. 1986 Lake 1-100000 36
Febr. 1987 Lake 1-10000 1.3-176
Oct. 1986 Sea 1-500 0.06-0.8
Dec. 1986 Swamp 1-100000 40
Test condition : incubation at 25 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (53)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: groundwater microorganisms
Concentration : 2.1 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : no
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Degradation of TS in surficial groundwater


Result : Complete degradation within 5-8 days, lag phase 2 days
Test condition : pH 5.3; 20 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
24.05.2004 (54)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Contact time :
Degradation : > 100 (±) % after 15 day(s)
Result : inherently biodegradable
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: Handbook
Year : 1983
GLP : no

210 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted


Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Remark : sensitivity of acid formers and methanogenic consortia examined


Result : Mineralization occurred after 15 days at a concentration of
100 ppm p-cresol. Duration of mineralization increased to 39 days at a
concentration of 400 ppm p-cresol.
Test condition : TS concentrations: 200, 400, and 1000 mg/l
incubation for 6 weeks at 37 degrees C
Reliability : (4) not assignable
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards, not relevant for purpose of HPV program
24.05.2004 (55)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: acclimated mixed microbial culture
Concentration : .4 mg/l related to Test substance
3.2 mg/l related to Test substance
Contact time : 20 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: APHA 1980
Year : 1987
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Result : BOD (5 days) = 5.63 mmol O2/mmol TS


ThBOD = 8.50 mmol O2/mmol TS
Test condition : 21 +- 3 degrees C
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Documention insufficient for assessment
24.05.2004 (56)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other bacteria: Aufwuchs communitiy
Deg. product : not measured
Method :
Year : 1987
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity at least 99 %

Method : Estimation of biotransformation kinetics in natural waters.


Aufwuchs colonized for 5 months on Teflon strips at 2 rivers and 2 ponds.
Strips were returned to laboratory, and
fastened into a beaker containing autoclaved natural water.
Beakers spiked with 100 and 200 µg/l test substance at 20
degrees C. TS detected by HPLC.
Result : A great variability for the k values (for individual sample
sites between -5.1 and -3388 h-1) was found. Mean values for the sites:
pond 1: k = -273.1 h-1
pond 2: k = -95.5 h-1
river 1: k = -1637.1 h-1
river 2: k = -70 h-1
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
11.05.2004 (57)

Type : aerobic

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 211


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Inoculum : other bacteria: acclimatized mixed culture of pentachlorophenol-degrading


bacteria
Concentration : 5 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 29 day(s)
Degradation : 90 (±) % after 36 hour(s)
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 28 hour(s) = 50 %
36 hour(s) = 90 %
%
%
%
Deg. product :
Method : other: Die-away Test
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, gas chromatographic grade

Result : no lag phase


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
24.05.2004 (58)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anaerobic sludge of a wastewater treatment plant
Deg. product : no
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Simulation of anaerobic digestion of primary and secondary


sludge; digesters fed with spiked sludge; analytical
measurements in sludge feed, digester mixed liquor, and
mixed-liquor centrate
Result : 6% of the TS were detected in waste water, 20% sorbed onto
solids, and 74% were degraded
Test condition : sludge retention time 30 days; 35 +- 1 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
11.05.2004 (59)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anaerobic sludge from a municipal treatment plant
Deg. product :
Method : other: pilot plant study
Year : 1994
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Pilot scale anaerobic digester fed with sludge from a


municipal treatment plant
Result : Overall removal 99.5%
Primary digester removal 96.6%
Secondary digester removal 85.7%
Secondary supernatant residual 0.1%
Secondary sludge residual 0.4%
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted

212 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

scientific standards and described in sufficient detail


07.05.2004 (60)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic microorganisms
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Deg. product : not measured
Method :
Year : 1995
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, analytical grade
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : Biodegradation under methanogenic conditions.


Inoculi: anaerobically digested sludge from a treatment
plant reveiving mainly domestic waste water, a freshwater
swamp, and a marine sediment
Result : degradation 30-75% in sludge, >75% in swamp (lag time <5
weeks), 30-75% in sediment (lag time <10 weeks)
resuts expressed as % of complete mineralization to CH4 and
CO2
Test condition : incubation 56 days (slusge and swamp) resp. 96 days
(sediment); 35 degrees C in the dark
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (61)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 95 %
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : - Sludge from 2 municipal plants


- Methane production monitored
- HPLC to monitor dissapearance of substrate
Result : Mineralization (related to theoretical methane and CO2
production) was 51% after 4 weeks with the first sludge and
100 % after 3 weeks with the second.
Experiment was also done with freshwater lake sediment but no
degradation was observed within 29 weeks
Test condition : incubation at 35 degrees C in the dark, 10 % sludge inoculum, duplicate
tests
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (62)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other bacteria: acclimatized mixed culture of pentachlorophenol-degrading
bacteria
Concentration : 5 mg/l related to Test substance
related to

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 213


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Contact time : 29 day(s)


Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 144 hour(s) <= 10 %
166 hour(s) = 50 %
200 hour(s) = 90 %
%
%
Deg. product :
Method : other: Die-away Test
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, gas chromatographic grade

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (58)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 400 mg/l related to Test substance
800 mg/l related to Test substance
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : Anaerobic batch study


Result : Complete metabolism was observed only after acclimation
through repeated refeeding of substrate over a period of 5-8 months. The
rates of substrate metabolism and gas
production, however, was about equal in early (refed 3 or
fewer times) and in acclimated (refed 4-8 times) cultures.
After 35 days incubation the total gas production was 89%
and the CH4 production 134% of the theoretical amount.
Test condition : 37 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (63)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anaerobic sludge, adapted
Concentration : 300 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 6 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported (Aldrich Chemical Co.) (methyl 14C
labelled from Pathfinder Lab.)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : Most of the methyl carbon of p-cresol (92 %) was oxidized to CO2.
Test condition : preincubation for 2-3 months

214 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

incubation for 20 d at 37 degrees C


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (64)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: municipal sewage sludge from primary anaerobic digesters
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 56 day(s)
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 21 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : substance disappeared completely after 3 weeks


net CH4 production >90% of theoretical value
no transformation products observed
Test condition : mineral salt medium with 10% sludge
Temp. 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (65)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: phenol-enriched metanogenic culture
Concentration : 100 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : ca. 100 (±) % after 192 hour(s)
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : lag time 70 h, complete disappearance after 192 h, the CH4


production was 90% of the theoretical production
Test condition : nominal test concentrations p-cresol 50, 100, 150, 250, 300, 400, 500, and
700 mg/l + phenol 200 mg/l
incubation at 35 degrees C with continuous shaking
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (66)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anoxic lake sediment
Concentration : .1 mg/l related to Test substance
.8 mg/l related to Test substance
Deg. product :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 215


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 95 %

Result : after 29 weeks no significant CH4 or CO2 formation observed


Test condition : incubation at 20 degrees C in the dark with occasional
shaking
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (62)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: aquifer from a river-groundwater infiltration site, adapted to m-xylene
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1987
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity ar least 98 % (obtained from Fluka AG, Buchs,
Switzerland)

Method : Laboratory aquifer column; analysis of influent and effluent by HPLC


Result : TS influent conc. 0.19 mM
TS effluentconc. <0.01 mM
Test condition : continuous flow, 30 degrees C, microorganisms adapted to m-xylene
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (67)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: shallow anaerobic alluvial sand aquifer
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co.)
Deg. products : p-hydroxybenzaldehyd
99-96-7 202-804-9 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Method : 2 +sites: 1 methanogenic, 1 sulfate-reducing


both aquifers receive leachate from a municipal landfill
Result : lag time <10 days under sulfate-reducing and 46-90 days
under methanogenic incubations, no data for complete degradation given.
Degradation under sulfate reducing conditions postulated to stout with
oxidation of methyl group
Test condition : test medium: 50 g [wet weight] of aquifer solids and 50 ml
of groundwater
incubation at room temperature in the dark, quadruplicate
samples, preincubation 5 days, addition of 150 to 200 µM
test substance
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (68)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: undefined methanogenic consortia from river sediment

216 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Concentration : 54 mg/l related to Test substance


related to
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : black anoxic mud collected from a river inoculated in a


mineral medium (10% w/v)
Result : non-acclimated consortia: turnover rate 3.00 µmol/day/g
sediment dw (lag-phase 12 d)
acclimated consortia: turnover rate 6.00 µmol/day/g sediment dw (lag-
phase 0 d, based on a 24 days incubation period), the CH4 production was
97% of the theoretically possible yield
Test condition : incubation at 28 degrees C in the dark
cultures were refed with 60 mg/l test substance every 2-4 w
for a total of 18 months
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (69)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: unacclimated sediments
Concentration : 1 mmol/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 30 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Aldrich)
Deg. products : 123-08-0 204-599-1 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
65-85-0 200-618-2 benzoic acid
74-82-8 200-812-7 methane
99-96-7 202-804-9 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Method : Sediment samples from a freshwater pond; degradation tested


under three reducing conditions: denitrifying, sulfidogenic, and
methanogenic
Result : TS was completely utilized within 21 to 30 days in unacclimated sediment.
p-Cresol degradation proceeded through p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and p-
hydroxybenzoate under methanogenic and denitrifying conditions. Under
methanogenic conditions, also dehydroxylation to benzoic acid took place
Test condition : 30 degrees C in the dark
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (70)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: acclimated sediments
Concentration : 1 mmol/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 10 day(s)
Result :

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 217


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. product : yes


Method :
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Aldrich)
Deg. products : 123-08-0 204-599-1 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
65-85-0 200-618-2 benzoic acid
74-82-8 200-812-7 methane
99-96-7 202-804-9 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Method : Sediment samples from a freshwater pond; degradation tested


under three reducing conditions: denitrifying, sulfidogenic, and
methanogenic
Result : TS was completely utilized within 6 to 10 days in acclimated sediment. p-
Cresol degradation proceeded through p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and p-
hydroxybenzoate under methanogenic and denitrifying conditions. Under
methanogenic conditions, also dehydroxylation to benzoic acid took place
Test condition : - 30 degrees C in the dark
- head space gas in the methanogenogenic and sulfidogenic cultures:
CO2/N2 (30 %/70 %)
- head space gas in the denitrifying cultures: argon
- cultures were acclimated to p-cresol by 2 - 3 feedings of p-cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (70)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, domestic, non-adapted
Concentration : 30 mg/l related to Test substance
100 mg/l related to Test substance
Contact time : 1.5 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 2 day(s) = 100 %
%
%
%
%
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: Sapromat test
Year : 1972
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (3) invalid


Insufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (71)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: soil microorganisms
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 1 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product : no
Method :
Year : 1966
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Inoculation in a 1% suspension of silt loam

218 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

TS analyzed photometrically
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
24.05.2004 (72)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: microcosm containing aquifer and ground water
Concentration : 8 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : methanogenic conditions in a microcosm, presumably 10 °C


Result : lag time 100 days, disappearance after approx. 180 d (values taken from a
graphics)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Insufficient documentation
24.05.2004 (73)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: river water and sea water
Concentration : 10 mg/l related to Test substance
100 mg/l related to Test substance
Contact time : 3 day(s)
Degradation : 5 - 100 (±) % after 3 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: cultivation method
Year : 1987
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported in abstract

Result : The authors assume the compound to be easily biodegradable:


with 10 ppm: Biodegradation in river water = 100% (3 repl)
with 10 ppm: Biodegradation in sea water = 100% (3 repl)
with 100 ppm: Biodegradation in river water = 100% (1 repl)
with 100 ppm: Biodegradation in sea water = 5% (1 repl)
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Publication in Japanese, short abstract in English
24.05.2004 (74)

3.6 BOD5, COD OR BOD5/COD RATIO

3.7 BIOACCUMULATION

Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)


Exposure period : 6 hour(s) at 11 °C
Concentration : 3.82 µg/l
Elimination : no
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 98 % (supplied by Pathfinder Laboratories, St.
Louis)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 219


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : Determination of absorption rate across gills


Analytical measurements in inspired and expired water,
calculation of gill uptake efficiency
Result : About 23% of the TS were taken up via the gills (value taken
from a graphics)
Test condition : 1 fish per experiment
Reliability : (3) invalid
Only 1 fish tested, no BCF determined
07.05.2004 (75)

3.8 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Memo : biodegradation under three different anaerobic (denitrifying, sulfidogenic,


methanogenic) conditions

Method : biodegradation was studied with acclimated and unacclimated sedimet


samples from a freshwater pond
Result : the proposed reaction pathway is: p-Cresol > p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol > p-
hydroxybenzaldehyde > p-hydroxybenzoate for all three conditions. Under
methanogenic conditions, p-hydroxybenzoate reacts to benzoate with
subsequent ring fission. Under denitrifying and sulfidogenic conditions, p-
hydroxybenzoate did not react to benzoate, immediate ring fission is
postulated.
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported (Aldrich, Milwaukee, WI)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.12.2002 (70)

Memo : biodegradation under anaerobic (sulfate-reducing) conditions

Method : acclimated aquifer slurries (alluvial sand) amended with either Na2MoO4,
bromoethanesulfonic acid, or Na2SO4
HPLC measurements
Result : the proposed reaction pathway is: p-Cresol > p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol > p-
hydroxybenzaldehyde > p-hydroxybenzoate
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co.)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.12.2002 (68)

Memo : biodegradation under anaerobic (sulfate-reducing) conditions

Method : Ring-14C-labeled p-cresol incubated with bacteria enriched


from the sulfate-reducing portion of an anoxic aquifer.
Periodical analysis of the enrichment by HPLC.
Result : the proposed reaction pathway is: p-Cresol > p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol > p-
hydroxybenzaldehyde > p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The pathway diverges
after p-hydroxybenzoic acid to form benzoic
acid and phenol.
Test substance : Ring-14C-labeled p-cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
12.12.2002 (76)

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OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Memo : biodegradation pathway with activated sludge

Result : p-cresol is first hydroxylated to 4-methylcatechol and


cleaved through meta-cleavage pathway.
Test substance : p-cresol, no purity reported in abstract
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Publication in Japanese
12.05.2004 (77)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 221


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

4.1 ACUTE/PROLONGED TOXICITY TO FISH

Type : flow through


Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 16.5
EC50 : = 16.5
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity at least 99 % (Aldrich Chemical Co.)

Method : Fish (28 d old; mean lenght: 20.9 mm; mean weight: 0.134 g)
exposed in Lake Superior water; 5 TS concentrations in the
range of 11.8 to 66.2 mg/l tested (plus control); number of
dead fish recorded every 24 h; observations of fish
behaviour and body morphology at regular intervals; TS
analysis by GLC
Result : confidence limits (95%):
LC50 = EC50 = 15.9 - 17.0 mg/l
Affected fish lost schooling behaviour and swam near the
tank surface. They were hyperactive and overreactive to
external stimuli. They had increased respiration,
convulsions, and rigid musculature. Some hemorrhaging was
also apparent. They were deformed and lost equilibrium prior
to death.
Test condition : 24.1 degrees C; dissolved oxygen 7.0 mg/l; hardness 47.9 mg
CaCO3/l; alkalinity 44.1 mg CaCO3/l; pH 7.79
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (78)

Type : flow through


Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 7.9
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : EPA OPP 72-1
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Remark : lethargic at 5.6 mg/l


Test condition : DILUTION WATER
- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- Conductance: 1212.3 µmhos/cm at 25 degrees C
TEST SYSTEM
- Concentrations: 1:2 dilution series
- Number of replicates: 2
- fish per replicate: 10

222 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

- Test temperature: 14 degrees C


- Dissolved oxygen: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- pH: 8.1
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
22.10.2001 (79)

Type : flow through


Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 28.6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : EPA OPP 72-1
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Remark : Lethargic and loss of equilibrium at 22.7 mg/l


Test condition : DILUTION WATER
- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- Conductance: 1212.3 µmhos/cm at 25 degrees C
TEST SYSTEM
- Concentrations: 1:2 dilution series
- Number of replicates: 2
- fish per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 degrees C
- Dissolved oxygen: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- pH: 8.1
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
22.10.2001 (79)

Type : static
Species : Salmo trutta (Fish, fresh water, marine)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 4.4
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 4.7 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 4.4 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 4.4 mg/l
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 223


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Salvelinus fontinalis (Fish, estuary, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 5.8
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 8.5 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 6.3 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 5.8 mg/l
at concentrations of 6 to 20 mg/l, the approximate
incidences of surfacing were 90% during the first 10 minutes
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Cyprinus carpio (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 13.3
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (24 h) = 22.0 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 15.0 mg/l
at concentrations of 15 to 23 mg/l, the approximate
incidences of surfacing were 80% during the first 10 minutes
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Ictalurus melas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 57.5

224 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (24 h) = 120.0 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 94.0 mg/l
during the first 10 minutes the fish did not surface at any
concentration
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Ictalurus punctatus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 39.7
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 65.0 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 58.0 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 50.0 mg/l
during the first 10 minutes the fish did not surface at any
concentration
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Lepomis macrochirus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 7.1
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (24 h) = 7.9 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 7.1 mg/l
at concentrations of 14 to 16 mg/l, the approximate

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 225


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

incidences of surfacing were 30% during the first 10 minutes


Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 7.4
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 11.4 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 9.2 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 8.4 mg/l
In an additional test under flow-through conditions, a
concentration of 10 mg/l caused a total incapacitation of
all tested 20 fish within 8.5 minutes
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Perca flavescens (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 10
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 19.5 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 12.3 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 10.0 mg/l
at concentrations of 12 to 18 mg/l, the approximate
incidences of surfacing were 50% during the first 10 minutes
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : static
Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)

226 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 15.5
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity of "practical grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


control
Result : LC50 (24 h) = 60.3 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 50.8 mg/l
at concentrations of 30 to 150 mg/l, the approximate
incidences of surfacing were 30% during the first 10 minutes
Test condition : 12 degrees C; reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (80)

Type : flow through


Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 7.5
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other
Year : 1984
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Method : Bioassays were conducted at 0 (control), 10, 18, 32, 56, and
100% of the maximum test concentration. Ten fish were
exposed at each concentration. The fish weighed between 1
and 4 g each. Bioassays were repeated 3 times. Chemicals
were added to the water by a Hamilton Syringe pump to create
the 100% concentration. Dilutions were done by a
Mount-Brungs diluter. Each bioassay tank contained 14
liters of water and the flow per tank varied between tests
from 21 to 111 ml/min, depending upon how much chemical was
available. The tanks were not aerated, to reduce
volatilization. The levels in water of most water-soluble
test compounds were measured daily. The assay method was
the measurement of the absorbance of the ultraviolet light
by the test solutions in a quartz cell with a 1 cm path
length. Concentrations were calculated by reference to
standard curves of the chemical dissolved in the control
tank water.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (81)

Type : flow through


Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit :
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 227


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method :
Year : 1984
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Determination of sublethal endpoints with fish larvae


Result : concentrations up to 4.2 mg/l had no significant effect on
larval survival or growth
larval RNA, DNA and protein content, although reduced at
2.57 mg/l, was not significantly affected at any
concentration
Test condition : Larval fish within 24 h of hatching, 25-35 per chamber
medium: soft Lake Superior water
5 TS concentrations, range 0.4-4.2 mg/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
water chemistry data not reported
07.05.2004 (82)

Type : semistatic
Species : other: Lepidocephalichthys guntea (freshwater fish)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: see test conditions
Year : 1998
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, analytical grade

Result : LC50 (24 h) = 21.0 (16.42 - 26.86) mg/l


LC50 (48 h) = 18.0 (14.70 - 22.03) mg/l
LC50 (72 h) = 16.0 (13.20 - 19.39) mg/l
LC50 (96 h) = 14.0 (11.82 - 16.58) mg/l
Test condition : fish lenght 5.16 +- 0.38 cm, weight 1.46 +- 0.27 g
27-29 degrees C; pH 7.0-7.3; oxigen 7.0-7.2 mg/l; hardness
80-86 mg/l CaCO3
10 fish/concentration
medium renewed daily
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (83)

Type : static
Species : Gadus morrhua (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : =5
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 98 % as determined by GC (obtained from
Merck)

Method : Effect endpoints: death, pathology, inhibition of cleavage


and differentiation, pigment defects
Result : parallel test with larvae (6 days after hatching) showed

228 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

pigment effects at 1 mg/l


Test condition : 5 degrees C
TS concentration stable during the test period
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (84)

Type : static
Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 19
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1976
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Curtin Matheson
Scientific Inc.)

Result : LC50 (1 h) = 30 mg/l


LC50 (24 h) = 26 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 21 mg/l
LC50 (72 h) = 21 mg/l
concentrations are nominal values
endpoint: complete immobilization, equated to death
O2 was =< 4 mg/l during the test
Test condition : Lake Superior Water; 18-22 degrees C
10 fish per concentration, fish 4-8 weeks old, length
1.1-3.1 cm
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (85)

Type : static
Species : Gambusia affinis (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 33 calculated
Limit test : no
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: see test conditions
Year : 2000
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : Test medium: dechlorinated one day old tap water, medium renewed daily.
3 replicates and control.
10 fish were exposed to each concentration from 30-40 mg/l.
Temperature: 25-27°C.
pH: 7.2-7.6.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Basic data given
07.05.2004 (86)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 229


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

LC0 : = 10
LC50 : = 11
LC100 : = 13
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Test Procedure of the Abwasserabgabengesetzentwurf (Deutscher
Bundestag 1974)
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (87)

Type :
Species : Leuciscus idus melanotus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 4 hour(s)
Unit :
Method : other: DIN 38412 (20) (1981)
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Endpoints: activity of the transaminases GOT and GPT


Result : acticity of both enzymes increased at concentrations of 5
mg/l, no change at 8 mg/l, increase at 10 and 12 mg/l
Reliability : (3) invalid
No clear dose-response relationship
07.05.2004 (88)

Type : static
Species : other: Oreochromis mossambicus (freshwater fish)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 28
Limit test : no
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: see test conditions
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (3) invalid


Insufficient documentation
07.05.2004 (89)

Type :
Species : Rutilus rutilus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 17
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer & Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid

230 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical monitoring, no


information about the test substance. Further details are missing
07.05.2004 (90)

Type :
Species : Cyprinus carpio (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 21
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer & Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Test condition : Temperature: 18°C
O2 Content in water: 8 mg/l
Number of animals per test vessel: 10
Effect concentrations for each replicate (LC50) were derived in a
coordinate system and finally a mean value was calculated
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical monitoring, no
information about the test substance. Further details are missing
07.05.2004 (90)

Type :
Species : Tinca tinca (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 16
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer & Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical monitoring, no
information about the test substance. Further details are missing
07.05.2004 (90)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : =4
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Mann, H., Fischtest mit Goldorfen zur vergleichenden Pruefung der
akuten Toxizitaet von Wasserinhaltsstoffen und Abwaessern, Praktische
Erfahrungen aus 3 Ringtesten, Z. f. Wasser- u. Abwasser-Forschung 9,
103-109 (1976)
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


Secondary Literature
12.05.2004 (19)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 231


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Type :
Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 8.6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no data
Method :
Year : 1977
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no data on purity available

Remark : Personal communication


Reliability : (4) not assignable
Literature not available
07.05.2004 (91)

4.2 ACUTE TOXICITY TO AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

Type : flow through


Species : Daphnia pulicaria (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : = 22.7
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : EPA OPP 72-2
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Test condition : DILUTION AND TEST WATER


- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- pH: 8.1
- Oxygen content: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- Conductance: 1212.3 µhos/cm at 25 degrees C
- Number of replicates, individuals per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 +- 1 degrees C
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
22.10.2001 (79)

Type : static
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : = 2.5
EC50 : = 4.9
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: DIN 38412 part 11
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : nominal values

232 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS p-CRESOL
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

Test condition : TEST ORGANISMS


- Strain: IRCHA strain
- Age: 24 h
DILUTION WATER
- Source: synthetic fresh water
- Hardness: 2.5 mmol/l Ca + Mg
- Na/K ratio: 10:1
- pH: 8.0 +- 0.2
TEST SYSTEM
- Number of replicates: 4
- individuals per replicate: 20
- Test temperature: 25 +- 1 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure according to national guideline
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (92) (93)

Type : static
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : = 3.1
EC50 : = 7.7
EC100 : = 12.5
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: DIN 38412, part 11
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Result : EC0 (24 h) = 6.3 mg/l


EC50 (24 h) = 14 mg/l
EC100 (24 h) = 50 mg/l
all values are nominal
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure according to national guideline
07.05.2004 (94)

Type : static
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : = 12.4
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: AFNOR (1974)
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 95 %

Remark : Effect: immobilisation


Result : Result is reported as 24-h IC50 "0.115 mmol/l" (which equals 12.4 mg/l)
Test condition : Reconstituted hard water, 200 mg/l CaCO3, pH 7.8-8.2
dissolved oxigen >25% of saturation
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (95) (96)

Type :
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)

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Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 1.4
Analytical monitoring : no data
Method : other: according to the method described by Parkhurst et al. 1977
Year : 1979
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Parkhurst BR, Gehrs CW, Rubin IB (1977): Proceedings of ASTM


2nd Annual Symposium on Aquatic Toxicology, 122-130
Test condition : Daphnia magna used in the test were adults.
100-ml test beakers were filled with 80 ml test solution and
4 daphnia. All the tests were run in triplicate.
Temperature during the test: 25 +/- 0.5°C
12h light/dark cycle
Test solution was prepared with filtered spring water (pH
7.8 alkalinity mg/l, hardness 140 mg/l)
Control beakers were used
48h-EC50 values were obtained by PROBIT
Test substance : The test substance was obtained from an effluent
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies (method description is in the other reference
from the same author). Age of daphnias used in the test is not clearly
specified: test daphnias were "adults" (in the OECD guideline a 24h-old
daphnia is suggested); temperature during the test was 25°C (in the
guideline is suggested: 18-22°C); 12 daphnia were used for each test
concentration (in the guideline 40 daphnias are suggested)
07.05.2004 (97)

Type : static
Species : Daphnia sp. (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : = 12
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : test organisms were reared from daphnids collected in


surface water
Test condition : river water, pH 7.5
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing. Study does not follow any guideline,
concentrations tested were not reported, no information about the
application method of the test substance is given. Neither O2/pH
monitoring nor analytical monitoring were applied
07.05.2004 (98)

4.3 TOXICITY TO AQUATIC PLANTS E.G. ALGAE

Species : Scenedesmus subspicatus (Algae)


Endpoint : other: biomass and growth
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: DIN 38412, part 9
Year : 1990

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GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Result : EbC10 = 2.3 mg/l


ErC10 = 4.6 mg/l
EbC50 = 7.8 mg/l
ErC50 = 21 mg/l
Test condition : 24 +- 1 degrees C; TS concentration 0.8 - 100 mg/l, dilution
series 1:2
preliminary culture 10E5 cells/,l
irradiance 17.0 W/m2
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure according to national guideline
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (99)

Species : Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Algae)


Endpoint : other: chlorophyll content
Exposure period : 72 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : < 50
EC50 : 116
EC100 : 250
Limit test : no
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1968
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Result : Complete destruction of chlorophyll at 1000 mg/l after 1 day.


EC50 was not reported in the study, but it can be taken from the graph
Test condition : TEST ORGANISMS
- Strain: Emerson strain
- Test temperature: 25 +- 1 degrees C
- pH: 7.0
- Photoperiod: continuous illumination
TEST PARAMETER: chlorophyll
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
12.05.2004 (100)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton coloratus


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : < .22
LOEC : = .22
EC50 : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 µS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not indicated. No

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information about application mode, number of plants, controls, test


concentrations, statistics, analytics.
07.05.2004 (101)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton crispus


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : = 1.08
LOEC : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 µS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not indicated. No
information about application mode, number of plants, controls, test
concentrations, statistics, analytics.
07.05.2004 (101)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton lucens


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : < .22
LOEC : = .22
EC50 : = .65
EC100 : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 µS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not indicated. No
information about application mode, number of plants, controls, test
concentrations, statistics, analytics.
07.05.2004 (101)

Species : Agmenellum quadruplicatum (Algae)


Endpoint : other: algal lawn assay (growth inhibition)
Exposure period : 7 day(s)
Unit :
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol; purity not noted

Method : Algal lawns were initially seeded with 1.0 x 10e+5 cells/ml
in 1% agarized (Difco 0140) medium. The test chemical was

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absorbed onto antibiotic sensitivity disks (12.7 mm;


Schleicher and Schuell, No. 740-E) which were placed
directly onto the agar surface. The petri dish cultures were
sealed with Scotch Tape and incubated in light from a
tungsten lamp for 3-7 days at 28-30 degree C. Zone of
inhibition was measured from the edge of the disk in mm.
The radius of growth inhibition around the disk was judged
visually and microscopically.
Result : Concentration (ug/disk) zone of inhibition (mm)
0 0
500 0
1000 8

0 indicates no inhibition,
36 indicates complete inhibition.
No inhibittion was noted with ethanol controls.

LC50 >1000 ug/disk


Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
24.10.2001 (102)

Species : Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 10 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
MTL : = 100
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1976
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : described in: Denson & Bold, The University of Texas,


Publication No. 6022, 72 (1960)
Remark : MTL = median tolerance limit
Result : sublethal concentration 100 mg/l
lethal concentration 500 mg/l
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing
07.05.2004 (103)

Species : Scenedesmus quadricauda (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : =6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = toxicity treshold


Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing
07.05.2004 (98)

Species : other algae: Spirogyra sp.

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Endpoint : other: Photosynthesis and Respiration


Exposure period :
Unit :
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity at least 99 %

Method : Algae exposed in a open channel experimental stream set.


Result : The net oxygen production decreased from 0.084 (control) to
0.022 mg O2/mg DW with 8 mg/l TS. Respiration in the dark
increased from -0.064 (control) to -0.182 O2/mg DW.
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
07.05.2004 (104)

4.4 TOXICITY TO MICROORGANISMS E.G. BACTERIA

Type : aquatic
Species : activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage
Exposure period : 2 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC50 : = 439.5 calculated
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: similar to OECD Guideline 209
Year : 1999
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, analytical grade

Method : O2 measured with an optical scanning respirometer; endpoint:


inhibition of respiration rate
Test condition : pH 7.0; temp. 20 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (105)

Type : aquatic
Species : activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
EC75 : = 16.5
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: inhibition of nitrification process
Year : 1966
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Quantitative determination of the nitrification rate (1st


step, NH4 to NO2)
colorimetric measurement of the NO2/NO3 concentration;
static test system
pre-cleaned activated sludge in particle-free communal waste
water (BOD5: 250 mg/l; NH4-N/l: 50-80 mg)
Remark : effect: inhibition of ammonia oxidation
Test condition : Exposure period: 2-4h; 25 degree C; pH 7.6-7.8
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions

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Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific


standards and described in sufficient detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (106)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Nitrosomonas sp. (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC50 : = 27
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: Inhibition of nitrification, comparable to ISO/DIS 9509
Year : 1991
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : culture obtained from mixed liquor of a treatment plant


Remark : Effect: inhibition of N-oxidation
Test condition : 25 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (107)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Tetrahymena pyriformis (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : = 157
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: growth inhibition test
Year : 1996
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity at least 95 %

Test condition : 27 +- 1 degrees C; pH 7.35


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (108)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Tetrahymena pyriformis (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC100 : = 400
Analytical monitoring : No
Method :
Year : 1978
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : 28 degrees C


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (109)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Tetrahymena pyriformis (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)

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Unit : mg/l
EC50 : = 160
Analytical monitoring : No
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol; purity analytical grade

Method : The test was carried out under sterile conditions. T.


pyriformis was pre-cultured at 30 degree C for 24 hours.
The stock solution of chemical was added to the sterile
medium to provide a constant ratio of 1.8 in 10 ml of 2%
protose peptone. The solutions were then inoculated with
0.2 ml T. pyriformis and cultivated for 24 hours at 30
degree C without agitation. The number of cells were
counted manually under a microscope (repeated 3 times) and
with a Coulter Counter, Model Zb (repeated twice). Mean
values were recorded with each method. Correlation
coefficient between manual and Couter Counter was 0.998.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
24.10.2001 (110)

Type : Aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Aerobic heterotrophs
Exposure period : 49 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC50 : = 260
Analytical monitoring : No
Method :
Year : 1991
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : culture obtained from mixed liquor of a treatment plant


Remark : Effect: inhibition of respiration; prolonged incubation
compared with ISO 8192
Test condition : 25 and 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
07.05.2004 (107)

Type : Aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Methanogenic bacteria
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC50 : = 91
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: Owen, W.F.: Bioassay for Monitoring Biochemical Methane Potential
and Anaerobic Toxicity. Water Res. 13, 485 (1979)
Year : 1991
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Effect: Inhibition of gas production (CH4 + CO2)


Test condition : 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific

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standards and described in sufficient detail


07.05.2004 (107)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Escherichia coli (Bacteria)
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
TT : > 1000
Analytical monitoring : No
Method :
Year : 1960
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : test organisms isolated from river water


endpoint: inhibition of glucose metabolism
Remark : TT = toxicity treshold; determined at 5% effect compared to
control
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing
07.05.2004 (111)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 15 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : = 1.6
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1987
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, analytical grade (either from Merck or EGA Chemie)

Remark : Not enough information supplied for assessment of the test used (Test
done according to Beckman manual). Although it is suggested that
Microtox may lack reproducibility due to variations in bacterial cell
suspensions [Bitton G (1983) Bacterial and Biochemical Tests for
Assessing Chemical Toxicity in the Aquatic Environment: A Review. Crit
Rev Environ Control 13: 51 -67], no information is supplied on the
maintenance of the lyophilized bacteria, their age, duration of reconstitution
and other important parameters.
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals.
07.05.2004 (112)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 30 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : = 1.5
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1981
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Inhibition of bioluminescence


Secondary literature; not enough information for assessment of cited result
Test condition : 20 degrees C
Reliability : (4) not assignable

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Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not


appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals.
07.05.2004 (113)

Type : Aquatic
Species : other bacteria: gentechnologically constructed luminescent bacteria
originating from wastewater treatment plant
Exposure period : 30 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 21 measured/nominal
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Inhibition of bioluminescence


Modified microorganisms used which represent the metabolic potentials
present in a wastewater treatment plant and some properties of a marine
organism, but which are not identical to any known species in natural
environments
Test condition : - Wastewater bacteria (Eschericia coli) which were obtained from a
wastewater treatment plant
- Bacteria obtained the luciferase operon of Vibrio fischeri by transfer from
luminescent E. coli
- Incubation at 20 °C
- Result calculated from the difference of the luminescence between
controls and test substance taking into account the light emissions at 0 and
20 °C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals.
07.05.2004 (113)

Type : Aquatic
Species : Pseudomonas fluorescens (Bacteria)
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
TT : = 30
Analytical monitoring : No
Method :
Year : 1960
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = toxicity treshold; determined at 5% effect compared to


control
endpoint: inhibition of glucose metabolism
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing
07.05.2004 (111)

Type : Aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Photobacterium (Vibrio) fischeri (marine)
Exposure period : 5 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC10 : = 1.3
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1981
GLP : No

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Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Although it is suggested that Microtox may lack reproducibility due to


variations in bacterial cell suspensions [Bitton G (1983) Bacterial and
Biochemical Tests for Assessing Chemical Toxicity in the Aquatic
Environment: A Review. Crit Rev Environ Control 13: 51 -67], no
information is supplied on the source of the lyophilized bacteria, their age,
duration of reconstitution and other important parameters
Test condition : 15 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin. Method is not
appropriate for the hazard assessment of chemicals
07.05.2004 (114)

Type : Aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Rhizobium melioti
Exposure period : 30 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC50 : = 7.1 calculated
Analytical monitoring : No
Method :
Year : 1997
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : endpoint: inhibition of reduction reaction of a dye


(3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium
bromide; MTT)
Reliability : (3) invalid
unusual endpoint
07.05.2004 (115)

Type : Aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Pseudomonas Stamm Berlin 33/2
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : = 80
Analytical monitoring : No
Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Effect endpoint: inhibition of cell multiplication


Reliability : (4) not assignable
Experimental details missing
12.05.2004 (87)

4.5.1 CHRONIC TOXICITY TO FISH

Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)


Endpoint : other: growth
Exposure period : 32 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : 1.35
LOEC : 2.57
Analytical monitoring : no data
Method : other: Early life stage test
Year : 1984
GLP : No
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Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : - Delivery system: Flow-through test.


- Dilution water: soft water from lake Superior.
- Fluorescent lights provided 16h light per day.
- Water chemistry data was recorded at the Environmental Research
Laboratory, Duluth, MN. Recorded data can be required.
- The test was begann with the egg-stage.
- Fish were fed newly hatched brine shrimp ad libitum twice per day so that
moderate accumulation occured.
- Statistical analysis: effect on growth was examined by log-linear dose-
response analysis; there was a control and five treatments with two
replicates.The lowest effect concentration was determined by Dunnetts
multiple range test. Regression analysis was performed.
- Endpoint: effect on larval growth by measuring lenght or weight
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
water chemistry data not reported
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (82)

4.5.2 CHRONIC TOXICITY TO AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)


Endpoint : Mortality
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : 1
Analytical monitoring : Yes
Method : other: preliminary guideline proposal of the German Umweltbundesamt,
state 1984-01-01
Year : 1988
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Determination of NOEC for reproduction rate, mortality and the time of the
first appearance of offspring; 21d
Remark : - Only the ominal value for the most sensitive parameter is given. However
no losses were reported to be greater than 20%.
- Tested concentration range: 0.003-10 mg/l.
- Most sensitive parameter was mortality:
NOEC-nominal value = 1 mg/l
Test condition : TEST ORGANISMS
- Strain: IRCHA strain
- Age: 24 h
DILUTION WATER
- Source: synthetic fresh water
- Hardness: 2.5 mmol/l Ca + Mg
- Na/K ratio: 10:1
- pH: 8.0 +- 0.2
TEST SYSTEM
- semistatic system
- Number of replicates: 4
- individuals per replicate: 20
- Test temperature: 25 +- 1 degrees C

H-values and oxygen-concentration were measured during the test in two


tests-vessels per concentration level.The detected variation of these
parameters had no negative influence on the organism.

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Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Study comparable to national guideline
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
07.05.2004 (92) (93)

Species : other aquatic worm: Dugesia tigrina


Endpoint : other: mortality, reporduction and
Exposure period : 80 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : 1
Analytical monitoring : No
Method : other: see test conditions
Year : 1987
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Worms 18-24 days old, length 11-12 mm;


In each flask 10 test organisms (5 each cut into two parts);
regeneration of the lacking parts occurred within 10 days;
the worms were fed in the next 10 days and reached their
original length 20 days after cutting; then animals cut
again, altogether 4 times
Result : LC50 = 11.08 mg/l after 10 days
LC10 = 2.0 mg/l after 80 days (4 generations)
LC20 = 4.0 mg/l after 80 days (4 generations)
Test condition : 20 degrees C; medium according ISO/TC 147/SC 5/GT 3 N. 38
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (116)

4.6.1 TOXICITY TO SEDIMENT DWELLING ORGANISMS

4.6.2 TOXICITY TO TERRESTRIAL PLANTS

Species : Raphanus sativus (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : Seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled


water; 3 replicated of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate%
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0
1 0 0
0.1 70 88.5 65.1 75.6
Test condition : 24 degrees C; 10 h light, 14 h dark
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing. No control values for germination reported;
effect values cannot be related to environmentally relevant conditions

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07.05.2004 (117)

Species : Brassica rapa (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled


water; 3 replicated of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate%
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0
1 0 0
0.1 105.3 100.0 50.9 79.2
Test condition : 24 degrees C; 10 h light, 14 h dark
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing. No control values for germination reported;
effect values cannot be related to environmentally relevant conditions
07.05.2004 (117)

Species : Brassica campestris var. chinensis (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled


water; 3 replicated of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate%
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0
1 0 0
0.1 71.9 103.9 79.4 72.0
Test condition : 24 degrees C; 10 h light, 14 h dark
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing. No control values for germination reported;
effect values cannot be related to environmentally relevant conditions
07.05.2004 (117)

Species : Lactuca sativa (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : emergence
Exposure period : 3 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 122
Method : other: Seed germination test
Year : 1978
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Method : As described by Reynolds 1975 (Characterization of osmotic restraints on

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lettuce fruit germination. Ann. Bot. 39, 791-796) and 1977 (Comparative
effects of aliphatic compounds on inhibition of lettuce fruit germination.
Ann. Bot. 41, 637-648)
- Lettuce cultivar Great Lakes
- Germination temperature 30 °C
Result : Result was reported as "1.13 mmol/l" which equals 122 mg/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Basic data given
07.05.2004 (118)

4.6.3 TOXICITY TO SOIL DWELLING ORGANISMS

4.6.4 TOX. TO OTHER NON MAMM. TERR. SPECIES

Species : other avian: Agelaius phoeniceus (red-winged blackbird)


Endpoint : mortality
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/kg bw
LD50oral : = 96
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : birds pre-conditioned to captivity for 2 to 6 weeks


dosed by gavage with solution in propylene glycol or by
pellets resp. gelatine capsules
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Unsuitable test system
07.05.2004 (119)

4.7 BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS MONITORING

4.8 BIOTRANSFORMATION AND KINETICS

4.9 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Memo : Sea urchin test

Remark : Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (sea urchin):


static test, 5 degrees C
Determined effect endpoints: death, pathology, inhibition of
cleavage and differentiation, pigment defects
EC50 (96 h): 5 mg/l
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 98 % as determined by GC (obtained from
Merck)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
07.05.2004 (84)

Memo : Tree neoplasms

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Remark : p-cresol (1.5% v/v) showed a toxicity rating from 3-4 (0 =


no injury, 5 = complete kill within 14d) in tomato crown
gall tumors incited by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, no purity reported
Reliability : (3) invalid
unusual endpoint
07.05.2004 (120)

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5.0 TOXICOKINETICS, METABOLISM AND DISTRIBUTION

In Vitro/in vivo : In vitro


Type : Absorption
Species : other: human skin
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle : Water
Route of administration : dermal
Exposure time : 250 minute(s)
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
nd
2 :
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1977
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity: reagent grade

Method : The permeability of p-Cresol was measured across 2.5 cm2 epidermal
membranes from human abdominal skin. The membranes were supported
in a glass cell and the amount of p-Cresol passing to the receptor vessel
measured spectrophotometrically. Each test was conducted at least in
duplicate and at 25 Degree Celsius
Result : The permeability coefficient of p-Cresol was 2.92 x10 (exp)-4 cm/min and
the lag time for a 0.4%w/v solution was 16 min. The threshold
concentration for damage i.e. the aqueous concentration at which the
permeability coefficient began to increase was 8.85 %w/v.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
in vitro investigation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (121)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Toxicokinetics
Species : Rabbit
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle : other: sodium hydroxycarbonate
Route of administration : gavage
Exposure time :
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
3rd:
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Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1949
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Method : 100-200 mg/kg bw was administered to rabbits (number and sex not
mentioned) as single dose as solutions in bicarbonateby gavage. Urine
was collected over a period of 24 -48 hours and the levels of free and
conjugated cresol was estimated by the method of Folin O. and Ciocalteu
V., J. biol. Chem. 73, 627 (1927). Metabolites were identified with the
method described in Bray et al., Biochem J. 41, 212 (1947) and 43, 561
(1948)
Result : absorption and excretion:
Within 24 hours 65 % of the p-Cresol dose was excreted in the urine
indicating that at least this amount was absorbed through the
gastrointestinal tract and urinary excretion was the main route of
elimination.
metabolism:
The principal metabolic pathway was conjugation with glucuronic and
sulphuric acids: 15% of the dose were discovered as ethereal sulphate and
61% of the dose as ethereal glucuronide and 2% of the dose as free cresol.
About 7 % of the dose was free hydroxybenzoic acid, about 3 % of the
dose was conjugated hydroxybenzoic acid; conjugated dihydroxytoluene
was only discovered in traces as 3,4-dihydroxytoluene.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no information on sex and number of rabbits used, no information on
distribution in the tissue
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (122) (123)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Distribution
Species : Dog
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :
Route of administration : oral unspecified
Exposure time :
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
nd
2 :
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method : other: no data
Year : 1971
GLP : No
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Result : Following oral exposure cresols in the body concentrate in the blood, liver,
and brain initially, but soon become more widespread and appear in the
lungs, kidneys and other unspecified organs (no further details given)
Reliability : (4) not assignable

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secondary literature
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (124)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Absorption
Species : Rat
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females : 10 mg/m3
Vehicle : other: air
Route of administration : inhalation
Exposure time : 4 hour(s)
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :
Deg. product :
Method : other: female rats,concentr.: 10 mg/m3, 4 hrs daily for 100 d up to 4
months
Year : 1975
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Remark : female rats were exposed to 10 mg/m3 p-cresol 4 hours per


day, daily for 100 d up to 4 months. p-Cresol reached a
concentration of 20.7ug/g lung tissue; the neutral red
sorption on day 3 resp d 39 was 150 % resp. 212 % of the
control value as a marker for cytotoxicity. Full recovery
did not occur.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
information on absorption via lung, but study description suffer from
deficiencies
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (125) (126)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Toxicokinetics
Species : other: dogs and rabbits
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :
Route of administration : oral unspecified
Exposure time :
Product type guidance :
Decision on results on acute tox. tests :
Adverse effects on prolonged exposure :
Half-lives : 1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Toxic behaviour :

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Deg. product :

Remark : p- Cresol undergoes enterohepatic circulation when administered orally to


dogs and rabbits.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
16.01.2003 (127) (128)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Toxicokinetics
Species : other
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :

Result : At physiological pH, the conjugated metabolites of phenolic compounds are


ionized to a greatedr extent than the parent compound, which reduces the
renal reabsorption and increases the elemination with the urine.
In addition to urinary excretion, cresols are excreted in the bile, but the
most part undergoes enterohepatic circulation. There are known species
differences in the specific conjugation reactions of cresol isomers. The
relative amounts of glucuronide and sulfate conjugates therefore differ
between species and also vary with the dose.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
basic information
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
09.01.2003 (127) (129) (130) (131)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Excretion
Species : human
Number of animals
Males : 22
Females : 10
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Result : Daily excretion of p-Cresol was measured in the 24-hrs urine samples from
ten healthy females and 22 healthy males. Mean urinary p-Cresol levels
were 58.9 +/- 43.7 mg/d for males and 45.7+/-23.5 mg/d for females
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (132)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Excretion
Species : human
Number of animals
Males : 6
Females : 4
Doses
Males :

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Females :
Vehicle :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Result : Daily excretion rates of p-cresol were measured on 24-hr urine collections
from 4 healthy weman and 6 healthy men ages 21 to 46: women: 59.0
(35.0-75.0) mg/day; men: 46.8 (36.7-56.8) mg/day
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (133)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vitro


Type : Metabolism
Species : other: male rat liver slices
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle : other: DMSO
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Method : Precision-cut liver slices were prepared from male Sprague-Dawley rats
and incubated in Krebs-Hepes buffer for up to 6 hours. Metabolism studies
were carried out using 1mM concentration of p-cresol for a period of 1 hour
and 1 mM glutathione was added. Supernatants from each slice were
analyzed for glutathione conjugates directly by HPLC.
Result : In slices, p-cresol formed a glutathione conjugate at a rate of 2.31
nmol/h/slice which support evidence of formation of quinone methide as
intermediate.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (134)

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Metabolism
Species : human
Number of animals
Males : 5
Females : 5
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :

Remark : Urine was collected from 5 women and 5 men during a period of 24 hours
who were eating self-selected diets. The 24 hours excretions of p-cresol
were 59.7 mg/24 h and 73.9 mg/24 h for males and females, respectively.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
16.01.2003 (135)

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5.1.1 ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY

Type : LD50
Value : = 1800 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain : Wistar
Sex : male/female
Number of animals : 5
Vehicle : other: olive oil
Doses : 1300 - 2700 mg/kg bw
Method : other: 5 rats/sex/dose, administration as a 10% solution in olive oil to non-
fasted Wistar rats by gavage to give doses of 1000-2700 mg/kg bw,
observation time was not reported, section was not performed
Year : 1944
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity = 96-98%

Remark : Signs and symptoms of poisoning were similar to those caused


by phenol which included muscle twitching, temperature and
pulse and respiratory rate fluctuations, salivation and
uncoordinated leg movements. There was 100% mortality at
2700 mg/kg bw; time of death not mentioned
Result : Dose (mg/kg) Mortality (%)
1300 20
1500 40
1800 30
2000 50
2200 70
2400 90
2700 100
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no guideline study: substance given as 10 % solution , description sufferes
from deficiencies (e.g.: observation time not reported)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (136)

Type : LD50
Value : 775 - 1000 mg/kg bw
Species : mouse
Strain : ICR
Sex : male
Number of animals : 5
Vehicle : other: corn oil
Doses : 100 - 1000 mg/kg bw
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity: 99.8%

Method : The test article was administered by oral gavage at a volume


of 5ml/kg. Pre-dosing weight of the animals was 28.0-34.8
grams. Dosing solutions were prepared just prior to dosing.
All animals were examined after dosing and periodically
throughout the seven day study for toxic effects and/or
mortalities.
Remark : Quality Assurance statement signed; Range-finding study for
mouse dominant lethal assay.
Result : 5 minutes of dosing, one animal at 775 mg/kg and one at 1000
mg/kg were exhibiting clonic convulsions and labored
breathing. All other animals were languid within 5 minutes

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of dosing but resumed normal activity within 10 minutes.


All surviving animals appeared normal and helthy on the
eventh day after dosing.
Summary of Mortalities:
Treatment Observation
100 mg/kg 0/5
325 mg/kg 0/5
550 mg/kg 0/5
775 mg/kg 1/5
1000 mg/kg 3/5
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
dose range finding study
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (137)

Type : LD50
Value : = 1460 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Method : other
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity not noted

Remark : p-Cresol was administered as a 10% solution in oil. The


original data are in Russian and no further experimental
details are available from the citing review (IPCS, 1993).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
seondary literature
06.09.2002 (129) (138)

Type : LD50
Value : = 344 mg/kg bw
Species : mouse
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Method : other
Year : 1976
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity not noted

Remark : p-Cresol was administered as a 10% solution in oil. The


original data are in Russian and no further experimental
details are available from the citing review (IPCS, 1993).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
06.01.2003 (129) (138)

Type : LD0
Value : = 420 mg/kg bw
Species : rabbit
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :

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Vehicle :
Doses :
Method : other
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 96-98% pure

Remark : p-Cresol was administered as a 20% aqueous emulsion to


non-fasted albino rabbits by stomach tube to give doses of
280-1400 mg/kg bw and the time until death was monitored.
According to the methods section, equal numbers of males and females
were employed and, in the results section, one
animal/dose was tested. Presumably this is one
rabbit/sex/dose but this is unclear in the report. The
total observation period was not reported.
Signs and symptoms of poisoning were similar to those
caused by phenol which included muscle twitching,
temperature and pulse and respiratory rate fluctuations,
salivation, convulsions, lethargy and coma. Animals
survived doses of up to 420 mg/kg bw and the times until
death at doses of 620, 940 and 1400 mg/kg bw were 4, 12 and
2hr respectively.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
documentation insufficient for assessment
06.01.2003 (136)

Type : LD50
Value : = 207 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain : no data
Sex : male
Number of animals : 5
Vehicle : other: none
Doses : 100, 147, 215, 316 mg/kg bw
Method : other: 5 rats/dose group, 4 doses, undiluted liquid, time of recovery: up to
14 d
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, M.P.: 36 C; B.P.: 202 C

Remark : Doses and mortality:


100 mg/kg bw: 0/5; 147 mg/kg bw: 0/5; 215 mg/kg bw: 3/5; 316
mg/kg bw: 5/5
Signs of intoxication: hypoactivity, tremors, lacrimation,
dyspnea, hemorrhagic rhinitis, convulsions, prostration,
death
Necropsy of the rats that died revealed gastrointestinal
inflammation and haemorrhage and hyperaemia of the lungs,
liver and kidney.
Survivors showed only gastrointestinal tract inflammation.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No information about strain used, GLP
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (139)

5.1.2 ACUTE INHALATION TOXICITY

Type : LC50
Value : > .71 mg/l
Species : rat

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Strain : no data
Sex : male
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle : other: air
Doses :
Exposure time : 1 hour(s)
Method : other: 6 rats exposed to 0.71 mg/l for 1 hr, room temperature, up to 14 d
post exposure observation, gross necropsy
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted, M.P.:36 C, B.P.: 202 C

Result : Mortality: 0/6; signs of intoxication: none; gross autopsy: no significant


findings
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no guideline study: 1 hr exposure time
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (139)

Type : other
Value : = .029 mg/l
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Exposure time :
Method : other: aerosol exdosure; no further data
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Remark : The mean lethal concentration of p-cresol in rats was


measured. The original data are unpublished and no further
experimental details are available from the citing review
(IPCS, 1993).
Result : Clinical signs of toxicity included irritation of mucous membranes,
neuromuscular excitiation and convulsions; hematuria at very high
concentrations (no further information)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Secondary citation from peer-reviewed data source
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
04.02.2004 (125)

5.1.3 ACUTE DERMAL TOXICITY

Type : LD50
Value : = 300 mg/kg bw
Species : rabbit
Strain :
Sex : female
Number of animals : 3
Vehicle : other: undiluted
Doses : 130 - 910 mg/kg bw
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1977
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

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Method : The method used was essentially that of Smyth et al. 1962 (Am. Ind. Hyg.
Ass. J. 23, 95-107) except three females/dose were tested 24 hr occlusive
exposure to the neat material was followed by a 14-day observation period.
the most probable LD50 value was determined by the method of
Thompson 1947 (Bact. Rev.11, 115-145)of moving averages. Clinical signs
and purity of the Ts are not reported.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no guideline study: clinical signs and purity of Ts are not reported
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (140)

Type : LD50
Value : = 750 mg/kg bw
Species : rat
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Method : other
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Remark : The dermal LD50 value was measured in rats. No further experimental
details are available from the citing reference (IPCS, 1995).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary citation
13.12.2002 (129) (138) (141)

Type : LD50
Value : ca. 300 mg/kg bw
Species : rabbit
Strain : no data
Sex : no data
Number of animals : 5
Vehicle : other: none
Doses :
Method : other: 5 rabbits/dose, 4 doses, exposure time not mentioned, up to 14 d
observation time, gross autopsy
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted; M.P.: 36 C; B.P.: 202 C

Remark : doses and mortality:


215mg/kg bw: 1/5; 316 mg/kg bw: 3/5; 464 mg/Kg bw: 4/5; 681
mg/kg bw: 5/5
signs of intoxication from 4-12 hrs post appl.: tremor,
salivation sedation, death
dermal irritation: severe subdermal hemorrhaging, severe
erythema
gross autopsy: survivors: no significant findings;
decedents:
inflammation of kidneys
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no information about strain used and no information on GLP
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (139)

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5.1.4 ACUTE TOXICITY, OTHER ROUTES

Type : other
Value : = 110 mg/kg bw
Species : mouse
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Route of admin. : i.p.
Exposure time :
Method : other
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : no data

Remark : p-Cresol, dissolved in 0.9% saline, was administered to


anaesthetized albino Sheffield mice by intraperitoneal
injection. The dose inducing convulsions in 50% of the
mice (CD50) was measured; the endpoint being taken as
myoclonic jerks of limbs and tails.
The intraperitoneal dose inducing convulsions in 50% of a
group of six male mice (CD50) was 1.02 (95% CI 0.68-1.54)
mM/kg bw (110 (95% CI 74-167) mg/kg bw).
22.03.2001 (142)

Type : LC50
Value : = 150 mg/kg bw
Species : mouse
Strain :
Sex :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Doses :
Route of admin. : s.c.
Exposure time :
Method : other
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : no data

Remark : Mice received a single subcutaneous injection of p-cresol.


No further experimental details are available in the citing
reference (Sternitzke et al. 1992).
22.03.2001 (143) (144)

5.2.1 SKIN IRRITATION

Species : rabbit
Concentration : undiluted
Exposure : Semiocclusive
Exposure time : 4 hour(s)
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
PDII :
Result : corrosive
Classification :
Method : other: see freetext ME
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Year : 1977
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Method : TS applied to the clipped backs or flanks of the rabbits (no data whether
the test substance was moistened). The material was covered by a surgical
gauze two layers thick, gauze patches were held in place with strips of
Elastoplast tape for 4 hours. After 4 hrs the patches were carefully
removed and the test areas were evaluated for visible tissue destruction.
evaluation criterias:
When visible tissue destruction occurred in at least 2/6 rabbits, the test
materials were classified as corrosive (no further details given).
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
description of the method suffers from deficiencies
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (140)

Species : rabbit
Concentration : undiluted
Exposure : no data
Exposure time : no data
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
PDII :
Result : highly irritating
Classification :
Method : other: 0.5 ml undiluted TS was applied to the intact and abraded skin, time
of observation: 24 and 72 hrs.
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, M.P.: 36 C; B.P.: 202 C

Result : intact skin: erythema: 24 hr: Score 4 in 6/6


72 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
edema: 24 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
72 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
abraded skin: erythema: 24 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
72 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
edema: 24 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
72 hr: Score 4 in 6/6
no tissue destruction and /or necrosis reported

Summary: irritation score: 8.00/8.00


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
limited documentation; no information on exposure time
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (139)

5.2.2 EYE IRRITATION

Species :
Concentration :
Dose :
Exposure time :
Comment :
Number of animals :
Vehicle :
Result : highly irritating
Classification :
Method : other

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Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : no data

Remark : The individual cresol isomers cause severe irritation when


applied directly to the cornea. Mice exposed to high
atmospheric concentrations of "cresylic acid vapours"
suffered eye irritation. The original data for the former
effect are unpublished and available from the US EPA
Freedom of Information Office. No further details are
available in the citing reviews. The latter findings were
reported in a 1941 study using Shell cresylic acids;
apparently not cresols themselves (Campbell, 1941).
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Review
13.12.2002 (145) (146) (147) (129)

Species : rabbit
Concentration : undiluted
Dose : .1 ml
Exposure time : unspecified
Comment :
Number of animals : 6
Vehicle :
Result : highly irritating
Classification :
Method : other: 0.1 ml undiluted TS, time of reading: 24, 48, 72 hrs
Year : 1969
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, M.P.: 36 C, B.P.: 202 C

Remark : 24 hours: cornea, iris, conjunctivae: 84.7/110 (mean score)


mean score for cornea: 60; mean score for iris: 10; mean score for
conjunctivae: 14.7)
48 hours: cornea, iris, conjunctivae: 89.7/110 (mean score)
mean score for cornea: 63.3, mean score for iris: 10, mean score for
conjunctivae: 16.3)
72 hours: cornea, iris, conjunctivae: 93.0/110 (mean score)
mean score for cornea: 66.6, mean score for iris: 10; mean score for
conjunctivae: 16.3)
summary: irritation score: 93.0/110
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no information on GLP, strain used
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (139)

5.3 SENSITIZATION

Type : other: maximization test


Species : human
Number of animals :
Vehicle : petrolatum
Result : not sensitizing
Classification :
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1966
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Method : A maximization test was conducted on 25 volunteers using a


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4% concentration of p-cresol in petrolatum. The


maximization test involves an induction phase of five
consecutive 48-hr covered patch tests, sometimes separated
by 24-hr periods of treatment with a mild irritant,
followed 10-14 days later by a 48-hr challenge patch using
the same concentration (see: Kligman AM (1966) The identification of
contact allergens by human assay. III. The maximization test. A procedure
for screening and rating contact sensitizers, J. invest. Derm. 47, 393)
Result : There were no sensitization reactions in any of the volunteers.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
cited in monograph of a peer-reviewed international journal;
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
08.01.2003 (148)

Type : other: modified Draize test


Species : guinea pig
Concentration : 1st: Induction .1 % intracutaneous
2nd: Challenge 10 % intracutaneous
3rd: Challenge 10 % other: topical application
Number of animals : 10
Vehicle : no data
Result : not sensitizing
Classification :
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1978
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Method : 10 guinea pigs (4 males and 6 females or vice versa). Both flanks of each
guinea pig were shaved, intradermal injections or topical applications were
performed without occlusion.
Primary irritation tests were performed to determine the suitable
concentrations.
METHOD:
Each animal was injected intradermally with 0.1 ml of TS at 2.5 times the
determined injection challenge concentration (ICC) of 0.1 % at 4 sites
which overlie the 2 auxilliary and the 2 inguinal lymph nodes. 14 days later
each animal was challenged intradermally in one flank and topically in the
other with 0.1 ml aliquots of TS at the respective ICC and application
challenge concentration (ACC; 10%). 24 hours later the reactions were
scored. To confirm the result, the procedure was repeated including a
confirmatory challenge with controls.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
small number of animals tested; reactions should have been scored
additionally at 48 hours
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (149)

5.4 REPEATED DOSE TOXICITY

Type : Sub-acute
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: Fischer 344/N
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 days
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet
Post exposure period : none
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm (see freetext RM)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment

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NOAEL : 1000 ppm


Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 98%

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


5 male and 5 female rat per group
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 13-15 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 rat ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:
temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %, Fluorescent light: 12
hrs/day, room air changes : 10-12 changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly, and at termination,
feed consumption by cage recorded twice weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy and tissue collection performed for all animals. A complete
histopathologic examination was conducted on all control animals, all
animals in the highest dose group with at least 60 % survivors at study
termination, and all aninmals in higher dose groups inclusive of early
deaths. The following organs and/or tissues were included in complete
histopathological examinations, as well as any tissue masses, gross
lesions, and associated regional lymph nodes: adrenals, aorta, bone
(sternebrae, femur, or vertebrae, including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral
gland, epididymis, oesophagus, heart, kidney, large intestines (caecum,
colon, rectum), liver, lungs, lymph nodes (mesenteric), mammary glands,
nasal cavity and turbinates, oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroids,
pharynx, pituirary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary glands, scrotal sac,
seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine (duodenum, ileum, jejunum), spleen,
stomach, testes, thymus, thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica vaginalis, urinary
bladder, uterus and Zymbal's glands. Target organs and gross lesions
were examined at lower doses until a no-observed chemical effect was
determined. Target organs included the following: nasal epithelium, bone
marrow, uterus, liver, kidney. Organ weights recorded for brain, liver, right
kidney, thymus, heart, and lungs of all animals, and the right testis of all
males.
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparison test of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test
Remark :
mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):
males females
0 ppm 0 0
300 ppm 25 25
1000 ppm 87 83
3000 ppm 256 242
10000 ppm 835 769
30000 ppm 2180 2060
Result : There were no deaths.
30000 ppm: Decreased mean final body weights, body weight gains and
feed consumption occurred in both the
top-dose males and females. These animals also showed
clinical signs of toxicity, including hunched posture and
rough hair coat (individual animal data not given).
At study termination, weights (w) were sign. increased:
liver (male, rel. w from 10000 ppm, p</=0.01; female: rel w from 3000 ppm,
p</=0.05); kidney (male, rel. w from 10000 ppm, p</=0.05; female, rel. w.
at 30000 ppm p</=0.01); brain (male, rel. and abs. w at 30000 ppm

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p</=0.05; female, rel. w at 30000 ppm, p</=0.05); male right testis (rel. w at
30000 ppm, p</=0.05) (individual animal data not given)

No gross lesions were noted at necropsy. No microscopic changes were


reported from brain, liver and kidneys.

Histopathological evaluation, characterized by avarage severity score


based on a scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=marked),
revealed effects:
female uterus (moderate atrophy at 30000 ppm: 3/5); in the nasal cavity,
nose: atrophy of olfactory epithelium, at 30000 ppm, male: 5/5, female: 4/5,
mild; respiratory epithelium hyperplasia, , from 3000 ppm, male: 1/5,
4/5,5/5, female: 1/5, 3/5, 3/5, minimal to moderate; respiratory epithelium
squamous metaplasia, male: 2/5, at 30000 ppm, mild, female: 1/5 at 10000
ppm, mild), bone marrow (hypocellularity: male, from 3000 ppm: 1/5, 1/5,
5/5, mild to moderate; female, from 10000 ppm: 1/5, 3/5 mild to moderate)

local toxicity:
NOAEL(male, female): 1000 ppm

systemic toxicity: NOAEL(male, female): 1000 ppm


Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (150)

Type : Sub-acute
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 days
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet
Post exposure period : none
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm (see freetext RM)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
NOAEL : 1000 ppm
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity > 98%

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


5 male and 5 female mice per group
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 13-15 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 mouse ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:
temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %, Fluorescent light: 12
hrs/day, room air changes : 10-12 changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly, and at termination,
feed consumption by cage recorded twice weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy and tissue collection performed for all animals. A complete
histopathologic examination was conducted on all control animals, all
animals in the highest dose group with at least 60 % survivors at study
termination, and all aninmals in higher dose groups inclusive of early
deaths. The following organs and/or tissues were included in complete
histopathological examinations, as well as any tissue masses, gross
lesions, and associated regional lymph nodes: adrenals, aorta, bone

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(sternebrae, femur, or vertebrae, including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral


gland, epididymis, oesophagus, gallbladder, heart, kidney, large intestines
(caecum, colon, rectum), liver, lungs, lymph nodes (mesenteric), mammary
glands, nasal cavity and turbinates, oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas,
parathyroids, pharynx, pituirary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary glands,
scrotal sac, seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine (duodenum, ileum,
jejunum), spleen, stomach, testes, thymus, thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica
vaginalis, urinary bladder, uterus and Zymbal's glands. Target organs and
gross lesions were examined at lower doses until a no-observed chemical
effect was determined. Target organs included the following: nasal
epithelium, bone marrow, liver, kidney and lymphoid organs. Organ weights
recorded for brain, liver, right kidney, thymus, heart, and lungs of all
animals, and the right testis of all males.
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparison test of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test
Remark :
mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):
males females
0 ppm 0 0
300 ppm 50 60
1000 ppm 163 207
3000 ppm 469 564
10000 ppm 1410 1590
Consumption data for the top dose were not
calculated due to 100% mortality at this level.
Result : 30000 ppm: all mice died: 5 male and 5 female mice
10000 ppm: 1/5 male died, mean final body weights and mean body weight
gains for surviving males were significantly
lower than in the control groups; male and female: feed consumption was
depressed at the beginning of the study (individual animal data not given)
Clinical signs of toxicity
included hunched posture, rough hair coat, lethargy, and hypothermia in
the top-dose females that died and, together with laboured breathing and
paleness, in the males fed >/= 10000 ppm (individual animal data not
given)
At study termination weights (w) were sign. increased:
heart (male, rel. w at 10000 ppm, p</=0.01), right kidney (male, rel. w from
3000 ppm, p</=0.05), liver (male, rel. w at 10000 ppm, p</=0.01; female,
rel. w from 3000 ppm, p</=0.05 and abs. w at 10000 ppm,
p</=0.01)(individual animal data not given)
No gross lesions were noted at necropsy.
Histopathological evaluation, characterized by average severity score
based on a scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=marked),
revealed effects:
bone marrow hypocellularity (at 30000 ppm, 5/5 male, 4/5 female, mild),
renal tubule necrosis (at 30000 ppm: 4/5 male, 3/5 female, mild), liver:
centrilobular atrophy: at 30000 ppm, male 1/5, moderate; centrilobular
necrosis, at 30000 ppm, 1/5 male, 1/5 female, mild; necrosis,at 30000 ppm,
2/5 male, moderate), nose: olfactorium epithelium (o.e.) atrophy, 1/5 male
at 30000 ppm; mild hyperplasia, from 1000 ppm, male 1/5, 1/5, minimal to
mild; o.e. necrosis, at 30000 ppm, 2/5 male, 3/5 female, mild; o.e.
squamous metaplasia, from 10000 pp, 1/5, 1/5 male, mild to moderate;
respiratory epithelium (r.e.) hyperplasia, from 1000 ppm, male, 3/5, 5/5,
5/5, 1/5, minimal to mild, female, from 300 ppm, 1/5, 2/5, 4/5, 5/5, 1/5,
minimal (minimal effect without dose response relationship, only in
females); r.e. atrophy at 30000 ppm, male,1/5, mild; r.e. squamous
metaplasia, 2/5 male, at 10000 ppm, mild)

local toxicity: NOAEL(male): 300 ppm


NOAEL(female): < 300 ppm

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systemic toxicity: NOAEL(male, female): 1000 ppm


Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (150)

Type : Sub-chronic
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : 13 weeks
Frequency of treatm. : 7 days/week
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 50, 175, 600 mg/kg bw/day dissolved in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL : 50 mg/kg bw
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1986
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity: 99.9 %

Method : 30 rats/sex/dose,
additional 10 rats/sex/dose for baseline clinical pathology
interim kill at week 7
bws were recorded on test day1 and weekly thereafter; individual food
consumption data were collected weekly;
moribund/mortality check twice daily (moribund rats were killed and
necropsied); physical examination weekly; ophthalmologic examination
during quarantine period and in test week 13
HAEMATOLOGY
haemoglobin, haematocrit, prothrombine time (PT), erythrocyte count,
reticulocyte count, total and differential leucocyte count, activated partial
thromboplastin time (APTT)
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
sodium, chloride, potassium. direct and total bilirubin, alkaline
phosphatase, total cholesterol, albumin, CO2, SGPT, SGOT, glucose,
BUN, globulin (calculated), total protein, creatinine, Albumin/Globulin ratio
(calculated
URINALYSIS
appearance, volume, colour, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketone,
bilirubin, urobilinogen, haemoglobin, microscopic examination
PATHOLOGY
determination of weights of:
heart, liver, spleen, brain, kidneys, gonads, adrenals, thyroid/parathyroid
examination of all control rats and high dose rats at study termination as
well as those that died during the study:
all gross lesions,
brain (3 levels), spleen, bone (with marrow), skeletal muscles, salivary
gland. mammary gland, thymus, thyroid (with parathyroid), lungs (with
mainstem bronchi), trachea, liver, urinary bladder, testes, prostate, ovaries,
corpus and cervix uteri, eye, pituitary gland, lymph node, spinal cord, heart,
aorta, siatic nerve, pancreas, oesophagus, kidneys, small and large
intestine, adrenals, stomach
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
One-way Analysis of Variance tests with Dunnett's t-test
Result : 600 mg/kg: 3 females died within the first 3 days of dosing. Overt signs of
toxicity at this dose included lethargy, tremors, convulsions and coma.
BODY WEIGHT was sign. reduced (p</=0.05):
50 mg/kg bw: female, at week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7
175 mg/kg bw: male, at week 2, 3, and 4
600 mg/kg bw: male, except week 1 in all weeks; female, week 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

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7, 8, 9, and 14
BODY WEIGHT GAIN was sign. reduced (p</=0.05):
50 mg/kg bw: female, week 2, and 3
175 mg/kg bw: male, week 1, 2, and 3; female, week 1 and 2
600 mg/kg bw: male, all weeks; female, week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13
FOOD CONSUMPTION data was sign. reduced (p</=0.05):
50 mg/kg bw: male, week 5, 9; female, week 1 and 2
175 mg/kg bw: male, week 1, and 5
600 mg/kg bw: male, week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9; female, week1, 2, and
5
CLINICAL PATHOLOGY, only sign. changes (p</=0.05):
Male:
APTT, 600 mg/kg bw, increased; total protein from 175 mg/kg bw
increased; Ca, at 175 mg/kg bw increased; phosphate, 600 mg/kg bw,
increased
Female:
RBC, HGB, HCT, from 175 mg/kg bw, decreased; CO2, at 175 mg/kg bw,
decreased; SGPT, SGOT, Cholesterin, at 600 mg/kg bw increased;
OPHTHALMOLOGY:
Treatment related changes were not seen.
ORGAN WEIGHTS (rel. and abs., only sign. changes, p</=0.05):
Male:
Heart, rel., at 600 mg/kg bw increased; liver, 600 mg/kg bw, abs. decrease,
rel. increase; spleen, 600 mg/kg bw, absol. decreases; right and left kidney,
from 175 mg/kg bw, rel. increased; right and left testis, at 600 mg/kg bw,
rel. increased; brain, at 600 mg/kg bw, abs. decreased, rel. increased;
Female:
spleen, at 50 mg/kg bw, rel. increased (no histopathologic correlate); right
kidney, at 600 mg/kg bw, rel. increased; right ovary, at 600 mg/kg bw,
ovary and brain, abs. decreased
PATHOLOGY:
Gross necropsy examinations did not detect treatment- related changes.
Histological examination:
male:
chronic nephropathy in all rats including controls:
a slight increased incidence in all dosed males when compared to the
controls. The increased incidence was significantly greater (p</=0.05) at
the low and the high dose but not at the middle dose. The proportion of rats
with minimal and mild nephropathy was generally similar for all male rats
including controls:
controls: 4/20 = 20%, severity(s): minimal 3/4, mild 1/4;
50 mg-gr.: 11/20 = 55%, s: minimal: 3/11, mild: 2/11
175 mg-gr.: 7/20 = 35%, s: minimal: 7/7, mild:0/7
600 mg-gr.: 12/20 = 60%, s: minimal: 9/12, mild: 3/12
(no dose-response relationship, controls also affected, no increase in
percentage of severity in dosed rats when compared to the controls)
male, female:
epithelial metaplasia of the trachea:
sign, at 600 mg/kg bw (p</=0.05), 10/20 males, 9/19 females
The incidence of this lesions was similiar for low dose, mid dose and
control
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (151)

Type :
Species : rat
Sex : female
Strain : no data
Route of admin. : inhalation
Exposure period : 4 months

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Frequency of treatm. : daily


Post exposure period : 2 months
Doses : 0.01 mg/l
Control group : no data specified
LOAEL : = .01 mg/l
Method : other
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Remark : Females were exposed to p-cresol aerosols. The original


data are unpublished and no further experimental details
are available from the citing review (IPCS, 1993).
Result : Clinical signs of toxicity included loss of appetite, marked
emaciation and decreased locomotor activity. Irritative
effects, which persisted throughout recovery, were seen on
the nose, eye and skin. Decreased body weight gain and lung
weight, increased liver weight, oliguria and dystrophic
changes in the lung and liver occurred. Throughout recovery
the body weights remained depressed and urinary excretion
remained low.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature: experimental details are missing, only one dose used
15.10.2002 (125)

Type :
Species : mouse
Sex : female
Strain : CBA
Route of admin. : dermal
Exposure period : 6 weeks
Frequency of treatm. : 3x/week
Post exposure period : 6 months
Doses : 0 or 0.5 % in acetone
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL : < .5 %
LOAEL : <= .5 %
Method : other: see freetext RM
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Remark : p-Cresol was applied to the skin of five female Agouti mice.
Hair colour was observed weekly for the subsequent 6 months.
Microscopic examinations of post-treatment hairs and skin
biopsies of areas of non-pigmented and normally pigmented
hair were made. Control groups of animals received acetone.
Result : Topical application caused hair depigmentation. No
microscopic changes were noted.
Reliability : (3) invalid
special study and only one dose used, no dose-response relationship can
be derived and thus no NOAEL or LOAEL can be deduced.
15.10.2002 (152)

Type :
Species : mouse
Sex : male
Strain : C57BL
Route of admin. : dermal
Exposure period : 6 weeks
Frequency of treatm. : 3x/week

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Post exposure period : 6 months


Doses : 0.5 % in acetone
Control group : no data specified
NOAEL : < .5 %
LOAEL : <= .5 %
Method : other: see freetext RM
Year : 1974
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity not noted

Remark : p-Cresol was applied to the skin of 30 males. Hair colour


was observed weekly for the subsequent 6 months.
Microscopic examinations of post-treatment hairs and skin
biopsies of areas of non-pigmented and normally pigmented
hair were made. Control groups of animals received
acetone.
Result : Topical application caused depigmentation of the hair and
pigmented epidermis, especially of the tail. Large amounts
of p-cresol were lethal and had a local caustic, erosive
effect.
Reliability : (3) invalid
special study and only one dose used, no dose-response relationship can
be derived and thus no NOAEL or LOAEL can be deduced.
15.10.2002 (152)

5.5 GENETIC TOXICITY ‘IN VITRO‘

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537.
Test concentration : 0.0, 3.3, 10.0, 33.0, 100.0, 333.0 ug/plate in water as solvent
Cycotoxic concentr. : to select dose range the chemical was checked for toxicity to S. typh.
TA100
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: preincubation methodology according to Ames, Mutat. Res. 31, 347
(1975) and Yahagi, Cancer Lett. 1, 91 (1975);
Year : 1983
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity >97%

Method : S-9 FRACTION: liver fractions were prepared from male Sprague-Dawley
rats and male Syrian hamsters that were injected with Arcolor 1254;
POSITIVE CONTROLS: 2-aminoanthracene, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine,
sodium acide 9-aminoacridine;
SOLVENT: water,
POSITIVE RESPONSE: was indicated by a reproducable, dose-related
increase wether it be two-fold over background or not
STATISTICAL METHODS: analysis based on the models presented by
Margolin
Result : Positive controls were functional
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only 4 strains of Salmonella typhimurium were used
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (153)

Type : Cytogenetic assay


System of testing : Chinese hamster ovary cells

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Test concentration : treatment time: 20 hrs:


-S9-mix, 100, 150, 200, 301 ug/ml performed twice; +S9-mix: 301, 601,
902 ug/ml;
treatment time: 10 hrs:
+S9-mix: 150, 225, 300 ug/ml performed twice

Cycotoxic concentr. : Preliminary range-finding assays were performed (3.01-3010 µg/ml) to


determine cytotoxicity: -S9-mix: >=301 µg/ml; +S9-mix: >=100µg/ml
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : positive
Method : OECD Guide-line 473
Year : 1987
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, 99.8% pure

Method : Duplicate CHO cultures were incubated for 20 hrs with 100-301 ug/ml of
the test substance in the nonactivation aberrations assay.
The metabolic activation cultures were treated with 100-300
ug/ml of the test substance in a 10 hour assay and with
301-902 ug/ml in a 20 hour assay.
Solvent: DMSO
positive control: Mitomycin C, cyclophosphamide
statistical evaluation: Fisher's Exact Test with an adjustment for multiple
comparisons
Result : nonactivation assay and incubation for 20 hrs:
Increases in chromosomally aberrant cells ranging between 6.5 % and 11
% cells with aberrations (versus 1.0% of solvent control) or between 4%
and 14 %.cells with aberrations (versus 2.0 % of solvent control),
respectively.
Positive control was functional in each trial
Incubation for 20 hours with metabolic activation:
Increases in the chromosomally aberrant cells ranging between 18 % and
40.5 % cells with aberrations(902 µg/ml was toxic, versus 1.5% of solvent
control) and between 17 % and 43 % cells with aberrations (902 µg/ml was
toxic, versus 3.0 % of solvent control), respectivly.
Posivive control was functional in each trial .
Incubation for 10 hours in the presence of S9-mix:no significant difference
to the solvent controls; positive controls were functional
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (154)

Type : Mouse lymphoma assay


System of testing : L5178Y TK+/- mouse lymphoma cells
Test concentration : with activation: 0.256 ug/ml, 0.511 ug/ml, 0.767 ug/ml, 1.02 ug/ml, 1.53
ug/ml, and 3.07 ug/ml. without activation: 51.1 ug/ml, 102 ug/ml, 153
ug/ml, 204 ug/ml, 307 ug/l, and 409 ug/ml.
Cycotoxic concentr. : with activation: 7.98 ug/ml. without activation: 511 ug/ml.
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: similar to OECD Guide-line 476, No differentiation between large
and small colony mutants see also freetext ME
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, 99.8% pure

Method : S9-MIX: of rat liver was used as metabolic activation system


SOLVENT: DMSO,
POSITIVE CONTROLS: ethylmethane sulfonate, 3-methylcholantrene,
POSITIVE RESPONSE was indicated by a >= two-fold increase over the
concurrent background frequency

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Result : The positive controls were functional.


p-Cresol was evaluated as non-mutagenic in the mouse lymphoma cell
system
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No differentiation between large and small colony mutants;
statistical evaluation not mentioned
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (155)

Type : DNA damage and repair assay


System of testing : human lymphocytes
Test concentration : 5 - 25 uM
Cycotoxic concentr. : no data
Metabolic activation : without
Result : positive
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Method : p-Cresol was tested for its ability to inhibit


semiconservative DNA synthesis. Initially, DNA repair was
induced by irradiation and, in these cells, semiconservative
DNA synthesis was blocked by treatment with hydroxyurea. In both
studies, cells were treated with
radiolabelled thymidine for 2 hours and incorporation of
thymidine into the cells was measured.
no solvent mentioned, no negative or positive control, no statistical
evaluation reported
Result : p-Cresol inhibited both UV-induced DNA repair synthesis and
semiconservative DNA synthesis as seen by a reduction in
radiolabelled thymidine incorporation. It was unclear from
the report if this inhibition was seen at all concentrations
tested but at the top dose, 21% inhibition of DNA repair
synthesis and 25% inhibition of semiconservative DNA
synthesis was found.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no solvent mentioned, no negative or positive control, no information on
cytotoxicity, no statistical evaluation reported
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (156)

Type : Sister chromatid exchange assay


System of testing : human lymohocytes
Test concentration : 0 - 0.5 mM
Cycotoxic concentr. : no data
Metabolic activation : no data
Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, 99.9% purity

Method : Lymphocyte fraction from healthy donors were grown in Medium 199 with
Earles salts. After 24 hrs of cultur p-Cresol diluted in DMSO was added for
88-90 hrs.
positive control: Styrene-7,8-oxide.
statistical method: Linear regression analysis
Remark : Results of the positive control or solvent control in comparison to p-cresol
are not given
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions

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Study description suffers from deficiencies: no information about


cytotoxicity and whether a metabolic activation system was used or not,
only summary results given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
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Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538
Test concentration : 0, 0.5, 5, 50, 500, 5000 ug/plate dissolved in DMSO, highest dose cytotoxic
Cycotoxic concentr. : 5000 ug/plate
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1975
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity : 98 %

Method : plate incorporation. method according to Ames, Mutat. Res. 31, 347
(1975), solv.: DMSO, S9-MIX: of Aroclor-pretreated rat liver as metabolic
activation. system
CONTROLS: as positive control:sodium azide,2-nitrofluorene, 9-
aminoacridine,2-aminoanthracene,
as solvent control: DMSO
DATA EVALUATION: Significance level for positive dose-response effects
were obtained with the Joncheere test
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Joncheere test
Remark : Positive controls were functional
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (158)

Type : Sister chromatid exchange assay


System of testing : cultured male human fibroblasts
Test concentration : 0, 0.008, 0.8, 4, 8 mM diluted in 95 % EtOH, 10, 30 mM diluted in MEM
Cycotoxic concentr. : from 10 mM onwards
Metabolic activation : without
Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1984
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, > 99% pure

Method : p-Cresol was added to the cells and incubated, in


triplicate, at 37 C for 2 hours. Following exposure, the cells were washed,
reincubated in the absence of the test chemical for 48 hours, harvested
and SCE frequency and cell-cycle kinetics analysed.
SOLVENT: p-Cresol was dissolved in
95% ethanol at concentrations up to and including 8 mM and
in Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM) at concentrations above this.
CONTROLS: 95% Ethanol and mitomycin C were used as negative and
positive controls respectively.
EVALUATION CRITERIA: positive if a dose-dependant significant incrase
in SCE frequencies compared to control is observed
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Dunnett's test
Remark : p-Cresol did not induce significant increases over the control SCE
frequencies. The positive control was functional.
p-Cresol caused a small but statistically significant
decrease in cell-cycle progression at 8 mM (864 mg/l) and
above, indicative of a small cytotoxic response.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only tested in the absence of metabolic activation and no information on

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GLP
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (159)

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537
Test concentration : no data
Cycotoxic concentr. :
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: according to Ames, Mutation Res. 31, 347 (1975)
Year : 1980
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Reliability : (4) not assignable


documentation insufficient for assessment
06.02.2004 (160)

Type : Unscheduled DNA synthesis


System of testing : other: human lung fibroblast
Test concentration : no data
Cycotoxic concentr. : no data
Metabolic activation : with
Result : positive
Method : other: no data reported
Year : 1978
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary literature: description of the test suffers from deficiencies
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (161)

Type : other: DNA adduct formation


System of testing : calf thymus DNA
Test concentration : 100 uM
Cycotoxic concentr. : no data
Metabolic activation : with
Result : positive
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 2001
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, highest analytical grade available

Method : p-Cresol was activated with (1) PB-induced rat liver microsomal protein, (2)
horseradish peroxidase and then incubated with calf-thymus DNA
overnight at 37 degree Celcius and adducts were measured by P-
postlabeling analysis .

p-Cresol was oxidized with MnO2 to form a quinone methide and then
incubated with calf-thymus DNA as described above and adducts were
measured
Result : In vitro activation of p-Cresol with

(1) horseradish peroxidase produced six DNA adducts with a relative


adduct level of 8.03 x 10(exp)-7 which were inhibited 65 and 95 % by
addition of either 250 or 500 uM ascorbic acid to the incubation.

(2) PB-induced rat liver microsomes resulted in the formation of a single

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adduct with a relative adduct level of 0.28 x 10(exp)-7.

Oxidized p-Cresol to a quinone methide and than incubated with calf-


thymus DNA resulted in 5 major adducts and a relative adduct level of
20.38 x 10(exp)-7.

The DNA adducts formed by activation of p-cresol with either horseradish


peroxidase or microsomes were the same as that produced by the quinone
methide of p-cresol.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no validated test method
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
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5.6 GENETIC TOXICITY ‘IN VIVO‘

Type : Dominant lethal assay


Species : mouse
Sex : male
Strain : ICR
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : Single dose
Doses : 0, 100, 275, 550 (650) mg/kg bw diluted in corn oil
Result : negative
Method : other: EPA OTS 798.5450
Year : 1989
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, 99.8% pure

Method : Dose selection based upon the results of a dose range-finding assay
Number of animals:
25 males/group 50 females/group,
vehicle control: corn oil,
positive control: Triethylenemelamine (TEM)

Due to high mortality and toxicity in the 650 mg/kg bw-group during the first
week mice were removed from the study. Two weeks after the initiation of
the assay another group of males dosed with 550 mg/kg bw was assigned
as the new high dose to be evaluated.

Mating scheme:
1 male was mated with 2 virgin females for a period of up to 5 days. Then
females were removed and housed in groups for subsequent necropsy 14
days after the midweek of mating for evidence of pregnancy; the males
were rested for 2 days and then mated with 2 new females. This mating
sequence was followed for 6 consecutive weeks.

Observation of all animals for toxic effects and/or mortality, at termination


record of male body weight, determination of fertility index, total number of
implantations. dead implantations, proportion of females with 2 or more
dead implants, dead implants/total implants

Statistical methods:
Chi-square test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Dunnett's one-tailed t test
Result : Mortality:
650 mg/kg bw: 10/25 males within the first week;
as signs of toxicity mice exhibited rapid breathing, several became languid
with mild clonic convulsions and squinted eyes and were prostrate and had
scruffy coats
550 mg/kg bw: 6/25 males died during the test

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body weight:
No significant reduction in body weight were observed in any of the males
in any of the dose groups.
The statistical evaluation of the parameters indicated that no significant
effects of p-cresol were induced at any dose levels.
The treatment had no adverse effects with respect to number of early and
late resorptions, and live implants, indicating that the test compound did not
induce dominant lethal mutations in male germ cells of mice under the
conditions of this assay.
The concurrent positive control substance TEM induced a significant
increase in :
the number of dead implantations, in the portion of females with either one
or more dead implantations, the frequency of dead implants relative to the
total number of implants in each female during mating weeks 1 through 3
TEM induced a significant reduction in total implants relative to the vehicle
control group.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (163)

Type : Drosophila SLRL test


Species : Drosophila melanogaster
Sex : male
Strain : other: Oregon-R
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 3 days
Doses : 0, 60, 300 and 600 ug/ml 5 % sucrose
Result : negative
Method : OECD Guide-line 477 "Genetic Toxicology: Sex-linked Recessive Lethal
Test in Drosophila melanogaster"
Year : 1989
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, 99.8% purity

Result : negative; the treatment did not increase the frequency of sex-linked
recessive lethal mutations, indicating that the test substance was not
mutagenic in Drosophila under the conditions of this assay.
The positive control substance ethylmethansulfonate (EMS) was functional
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (164)

Type : Sister chromatid exchange assay


Species : mouse
Sex : male
Strain : DBA
Route of admin. : i.p.
Exposure period : single dose
Doses : 0, 75 mg/kg bw in sunflower oil
Result : negative
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1984
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity >99%

Method : p-Cresol was administered to 2 or 3 intact or hepatectomized male mice by


single intraperitoneal injection. After 30 min, DNA labelling was initiated
using BrdU. After a further 21 hr the animals were killed, cells isolated and
harvested and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in bone marrow
cells, alveolar macrophages and regenerating liver cells analysed. Some
of the mice were partially hepatectomized to induce liver cell regeneration

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NEGATIVE CONTROL: 0.35 ml sunflower oil (4 intact and 5


hepatectomized male mice, bone marrow cells, alveolar macrophages, liver
cells)
POSITIVE CONTROL: 5 mg cyclophosphamide/kg bw (2 intact male mice,
bone marrow cells, alveolar macrophages).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One way analysis of variance; Dunnett's test for
comparison
Result : p-Cresol did not induce significant increases in SCE
frequencies in any of the cell types examined: bone marrow cells, alveolar
macrophages, liver cells.
The dose tested was overtly toxic to the mice, causing lethargy,
piloerection and lacrimation.
The positive control was functional.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only one dose tested, no information on GLP
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
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5.7 CARCINOGENICITY

Species : mouse
Sex : female
Strain : other: Sutter
Route of admin. : dermal
Exposure period : 12 weeks (I) or 20 weeks (II)
Frequency of treatm. : twice weekly
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 20 (I) or 5.7 % (II) solutions in benzene
Result :
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
Method : other: tumor promotion test (see freetext RM)
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, not specified further

Remark : Groups of 20-29 Sutter strain mice:


I. method: initiator: single dermal appl. of 0.3 % 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-
benzanthracene (DMBA) in acetone; p-cresol (in benzene) was applied as
promotor to the back of each mouse
I. result: 20/28 mice (12/12 benzene control animals); survived and
in 35 % (0 % in control animals); skin papillomas were found; no
carcinomas were detected
II. method: initiator: single dermal appl. of 0.3 % DMBA in
benzene; promotor: p-cresol was applied to the back of each mouse
II.result: 14/20 mice (18/20 benzene control animals) survived and in
29 % (0 % in control animals) skin papillomas were found; no carcinomas
were detected
Result : p-Cresol was evaluated as promotor
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
no data on the purity, benzene a known carcinogen as solvent, high
mortality rate; no information on skin irritation effects
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (165)

Species : hamster
Sex : male
Strain : other: Syrian Golden
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 20 weeks

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Frequency of treatm. : daily


Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0 or 1.5 % in diet (corresponding to about 1100 mg/kg bw/d)
Result :
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Method : other: 15 males/group,
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: >98% pure.

Result : An increased incidence of mild to moderate forestomach


hyperplasia occurred (10 animals: moderate; 5 animals: mild) when
compared with the controls. Marked hyperplasia or papillomatous lesions
were not observed.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
limited documentation; small number of animals; limited scope of
examinations; short exposure
16.12.2002 (166)

Species : other: in vitro cell transformation assay


Sex :
Strain : other: mouse BALB/c-3T3 cells
Route of admin. :
Exposure period :
Frequency of treatm. :
Post exposure period :
Doses : 0.81, 3.25, 5, 10, 15 nl/ml culture medium
Result : positive
Control group : other: yes, neg control: culture medium with 10 %FCS; pos. control: 3-
methylcholanthrene
Method : other: 40CFR 795.285 (modified); preliminary cytotoxicity test, performance
of the test according Kakunaga, Int. J.Cancer 12,463,1973, without
metabolic activation
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity: 99.8 %

Result : p-cresol produced a dose-related increase in the number of foci/plate over


the entire concentration range. The test material induced cell
transformation that was significantly elevated when compared to the
controls.
Test material toxicity was determined in priliminary assays
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
non-validated test system
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
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5.8.1 TOXICITY TO FERTILITY

Type : Two generation study


Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : see remarks
Frequency of treatm. : 5 days per week
Premating exposure period
Male : 10 weeks
Female : 10 weeks
Duration of test : see remarks
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No. of generation : 2
studies
Doses : 0, 30, 175, 450 mg/kg bw
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL parental : ca. 30 mg/kg bw
other: NOAEL (fertility) : ca. 450 mg/kg bw
Result : see freetext RS
Method : EPA OPP 83-4
Year : 1989
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, 98.93% pure

Remark : 25 rats/sex/dose (F0) were administered p-cresol in corn oil. Exposure


began 10 weeks prior to breeding and continued in the females throughout
mating, gestation and lactation.
25 randomly selected F1 pups/sex/dose were gavaged with the appropriate
concentration of p-cresol for 11 weeks and then bred to produce F2 litters
(dosing was continued throughout mating, gestation and lactation).
The F2 offspring were sacrificed at weaning.

Reproductive Indices: mating indices for males and females, fertility indices
for male and females, gestational index, live birth index, 4-day survival
index, 7-day survival index, 14-day survival index, 21-day survival index,
lactation index

Necropsy and pathology:


all F0 and F1 parental rats in all groups were subjected to a complete
necropsy ; 25 male and 25 female adults from the controls and from the
high dose groups were subjected to histopathology examination: pituitary,
vagina, uterus, ovaries. testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, prostate
and other tissues with gross lesions identified as potentially treatment
related; any of thze above organs or tissues showing gross alterations
were also evaluated microscopically in other dose groups
A complete gross necropsy and histopathologic examination were
conducted for any parental rat dying on test
Gross necropsy included examination of the external surfaces, all orificwes,
cranila cavity, carcass, external and cut surfaces of the brain and spinal
cord, the thoracic,abdominal and pelvic cavities and their viscera, cervical
tissues and organs
a gross internal examination on any F1 and F2 pup appearing abnormal or
dying on test

Statistical methods:
Levene's test for equal variances,
analysis of variance (ANOVA),
t-test,
Kruskal-Wallis test,
Mann-Whitney U test
Fisher's exact test
Result : Mortality: 8/28 males and 5/25 females at 450 mg/kg bw; 1/25 females at
30 mg/kg bw
Clinical signs of toxicity
occurred in F0 and F1 males and females at 450 mg/kg bw/day and
included hypoactivity, ataxia, twitches, tremors, prostration, urine stains,
audible respiration, perinasal encrustation (not in F0 males), and perioral
wetness occurred at >= 175 mg/kg bw.
body weight:
F0 adult males, sign reduced (p<0.01) week1 to week 13 in the 450 mg/kg
bw group;
F0 adult females:
sign. reduced week 1 (p<0.05) in the 450 mg/kg bw-group,

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gestational weight gain not significantly different from control group,


lactational body weight sign. reduced (p<0.05) at d4 at 450 mg/kg bw
group

F1 or F2: No reproductive parameters were affected in either of the two


generations (mating index of male and females, fertility index of males and
females, gestational index.

Still births in the F1 and F2 generations:


in F1 pups increased at 175 mg/kg/day, but not at 450 mg/kg bw) and
in F2 pups increased at 30 and 450 mg/kg bw, but not at 175 mg/kg/bw
There was some variability in the number of stillborn in control groups in F1
and F2 generation (2 versus 0). There was no clear dose-dependent effect
in both generations (control/low/mid/high dose: F1 pups: 2/4/13/6; F2 pups:
0/7/4/9).

F1,F2: Pup survival indices in both generations were not


affected by treatment (4-day survival index, 7-day survival index, 14-day
surval index 21-day survival index and lactation index), except live birth
indices in F2 (but not F1) which were reduced at 30 and 450 mg/kg bw, but
not at 175 mg/kg/day. Without any other effects especially in the 30 mg/kg
bw-group it is unclear whether the effects on live birth indices were
substance related.
ross lesions of parental males and females which died prior to scheduled
sacrifice included diffuse, focal or multifocal color changes in the lung and
stained skin for males and lung congestion and congestion in the nasal
turbinates and erythrocytes on the skin surface for females.
There were no treatment related histologic lesions observed in the
examination of organs from parental F0 and F1 adults which survived to
scheduled sacrifice.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (168)

5.8.2 DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY/TERATOGENICITY

Species : rat
Sex : female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : days 6 - 15
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : until gd 21
Doses : 0, 30, 175, 450 mg/kg bw in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL maternal tox. : = 175 mg/kg bw
NOAEL teratogen. : = 175 mg/kg bw
Method : other: following the TSCA Health Effects Test guidelines for Specific
Organ/Tissue Toxicity - Developmental Toxicity (EPA, 1984,1987)
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity = 98.93%

Method : Dose selection was based on the results of a range-finding study.


25 mated females/group, 50 control females, all females were weighed on
gd 0, 6, 11, 15, and 21, food consumption was measured throughout
gestation, all females were examined daily for clinical signs, for mortality
and morbidity
sacrifice on gd 21:
does were evaluated for body weight, liver and gravid uterine weight,
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number of corpora lutea and number and status of implantation sites (i.e.
resorptions, dead fetuses, live fetuses)
live fetuses were dissected from uterus, counted and weighed, examined
for external malformations and variations, and for visceral malformaltions
and variations, and for soft tissue craniofacial malformations
statistical analysis:
Levene's test, ANOVA, pooled t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-
test, Fisher's exact test
Result : Maternal toxicity:
mortality: 3/25 females at 450 mg/kg bw/day
No abortions or early deliveries (1 litter at 30 mg/kg bw was fully resorbed)
450 mg/kg bw:
decreased food consumption
stat. sign. reduction in periodic maternal body weight and weight gain
during dosing, maternal gestational weight gain reduced when corrected for
the weight of the gravid uterus and reduced maternal terminal bw, relative
but not absolute liver weight was increased
clin. signs of toxicity: hypoactivity, ataxia and tremors, prone position
audible respiration and perioral wetness

gestational parameters were unaffected by treatment except fetal body


weight per litter were reduced at 450 mg/kg bw.

fetal evaluations:
No significant changes in the incidence of any individual malformation,
malformation by category (external, visceral including craniofacial or
skeletal) or total malformations for any dose group.
450 mg/kg bw:
7 skeletal variations exhibited sign. different incidences relative to those in
the control groups:
incidence of cervical centrum 6 bilobed, reduced number of ossified caudal
segments, unossified sternebrae, reduced incidence of unossified cervical
centrum no. 7, poorly ossified parietal skull bone (30 mg/kg bw), reduced
incidence of some (1-4) proximal phalanges of the hind limb unossified

p-Cresol caused mild fetotoxicity at the 450 mg/kg, as seen


by reduced ossification in three skeletal districts. In
addition, fetal body weight was reduced at the 450 mg/kg dose
level. There was no treatment-related increased incidence of
malformations at any dosage.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (169)

Species : rabbit
Sex : female
Strain : New Zealand white
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : days 6 - 18 of gestation
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : until gd 29
Doses : 0, 5, 50, 100 mg/kg bw in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
NOAEL maternal tox. : = 5 mg/kg bw
NOAEL teratogen. : = 100 mg/kg bw
Result : see freetext ME
Method : other: following the TSCA Health Effects Test guidelines for Specific
Organ/Tissue Toxicity - Developmental Toxicity (EPA, 1984,1987)
Year : 1988
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity = 98.93%

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Remark : Dose selection was based on the results of a range-finding study.


14 mated females/group, 28 control females, all females were weighed on
gd 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 29, food consumption was measured throughout
gestation, all females were examined daily for clinical signs, for mortality
and morbidity
sacrifice on gd 29:
does were evaluated for body weight, liver and gravid uterine weight,
number of corpora lutea and number and status of implantation sites (i.e.
resorptions, dead fetuses, live fetuses)
live fetuses were dissected from uterus, counted and weighed, examined
for external malformations and variations, and for visceral malformaltions
and variations, and for soft tissue craniofacial malformations
statistical analysis:
Levene's test, ANOVA, pooled t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-
test, Fisher's exact test
Result : mortality: 100 mg/kg bw: 5/14; 50 mg/kg bw: 2/14;
all were pregnant
1 control female aborted and one each at 5.0 and 50 mg/kg bw was
removed due to dosing error
gestational weights and weight changes were not stat. significant different
among groups for periodic body weights or weight changes.
50, 100 mg/kg bw: clinical signs included hypoactivity, gasping, cyanosis,
laboured rapid and audible respiration and ocular discharge
food consumption: no significant differences among groups for any time
period measured; no treatment related gross lesions at necropsy of does
maternal organ weights:
no significant difference among the groups: terminal bw., gravid uterine
weight, corrected bw. or weight change, absolute and relative liver weight
gestational parameters:
no significant difference for number of ovarian corpora lutea, number of
implantations sites including total, nonviable (early or late resorptions or
dead fetuses) or viable percent live fetuses per litter or fetal body weight
per litter; sex ratio was significantly increased (more males) at 50 mg/kg bw
but not at 100 mg/kg bw (considered due to biological variabilty)
fetal evaluation:
No significant differences among groups for any individual malformations,
malformations by category or total malformations; no treatment-related
significant differences for any individual external variations, variations by
category or total variations.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (170)

5.8.3 TOXICITY TO REPRODUCTION, OTHER STUDIES

Type : other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet
Duration of test : 28 d
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Result : See freetxt RS
Method : other: the reproductive organs were examined as part of the 28-day study,
see chapter 5.4
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Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, Purity > 98 %

Result : Histopathological examination revealed no effects on the reproductive


organs.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
06.02.2004 (150)

Type : other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : Sprague-Dawley
Route of admin. : gavage
Exposure period : 134 weeks
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : 14 weeks
Doses : 0, 50,175, 600 mg/kg bw dissolved in corn oil
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
Result : 600 mg-gr.: death of 3 females, decreased ovary weights; males: increased
testes weight
Method : other: the reproductive organs were examined as part of the 13 week
toxicity study, see chapter 5.4
Year : 1986
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: p-cresol, purity 99.9 %

Reliability : (1) valid without restriction


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
06.02.2004 (151)

5.9 SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIONS

Endpoint : Neurotoxicity
Study descr. in chapter : 5.9 Specific Investigations
Reference :
Type : other: subchronic
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: CD
Route of admin. : gavage
No. of animals : 20
Vehicle : other: corn oil
Exposure period : 90 day(s)
Frequency of treatm. : once daily
Doses : 0, 50, 175, 600 mg/kg bw
Control group : yes, concurrent vehicle
Observation period : 13 weeks during dosing
Result : see freetext RS
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: purity: no data

Method : 10 male and 10 female CD rats/treatment group received corn oil solutions
of 50, 175 or 600 mg/kg bw /day by gavage once daily for 13 weeks. 20
male and 20 female CD rats received corn oil alond to serve as
control.Rats were observed for body weight gain, food consumption,
clinical signs.

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Signs of neurobehavioral toxicity were documented during pretreatment, 1


and 6 hours after dosing on study day 1 and prior dosing on study days 2,
7, 14, 30, 60 and 90 including salivation, urination, tremors, piloerection,
diarrhea, pupil size, pupil response, lacrimation, hypothermia, vocalization,
exophthalmus, palpebral closure, convulsions (type and severity),
respiration (rate and type), impaired gait, positional passivity, locomotor
activity, stereotypy, startle response, righting reflex, performance on a wire
maneuver, forelimb grip strength, positive geotropism, extensor thrust, limb
rotation, tail pinch reflex, toe pinch reflex, hind limb splay.
gross and histopathologic examination
Result : Mortality: control: 1 female(2.5 %), 600 mg-gr: 4 males and 4 females (40
%), gross and histopathologic examination: aspiration or inhalation of the
TS, pulmonary edema
body weight gain: 600 mg-gr., males less than control during week 1
mean food consumption, 600 mg-gr., males and females: significantly less
than control
clinical signs: dose related in incidence: salivation, myotonus, tremors,
urine wet abdomen, hypoactivity, rapid respiration
neurobehavioral toxicity:
600 mg-group, males and females: initial part of the study: incidence of
palpebral closure, rales, laboured respiration; locomotor activity less than
concurrent controls; at study termination: a trend towards increased
urination.
Other differences from controls with regard to behavioral tests were
evaluated as sporadic in nature by the authors (no further details given).
necropsy:
brain weights of treated animals comparable to controls; gross and
microscopic examination of tissues revealed no lesions which were
attributable to treatment
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
limited documentation (only study summary available)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
04.02.2004 (145) (129) (171)

5.10 EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE

Remark : In vitro production of p-cresol from tyrosine by bacteria


isolated from normal human gut was examined. Strictly
anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria were grown
at 37oC in the presence of 0.01% tyrosine for 72 and 48 hr
respectively. The growth atmospheres for the bacteria were
nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide and air respectively.
p-Cresol production from tyrosine was seen with the
strictly anaerobic gut bacteria but not the facultatively
anaerobic bacteria. p-Cresol is, therefore, produced
endogenously from tyrosine, an amino acid present in most
proteins, by strictly anaerobic bacteria in the intestine.
According to the results of studies in cancer patients, endogenous p-Cresol
does not contribute significantly to the development of large bowl caner
(18 patients versus 10 normal healthy persons.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (133)

Remark : The probable oral lethal dose for humans is 50-500 mg/kg bw.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
10.01.2003 (172)
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Remark : Case reports: intentional or accidental oral intake of cresols (all isomers):
irritation of mouth and throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, hemolytic anemia,
increased heart ratem liver and kidney damage, headaches, facial
paralysis, drowsiness, cramps coma and death
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
description suffers from deficiencies as the isomers are not specified
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
14.01.2003 (173) (174) (175) (176)

Remark : It is reported that certain individuals are hypersensitive to


cresol (isomer not specified, no further information)
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (127)

Remark : Skin depigmentation (chemical leukoderma has been reported after local
exposure to cresols (isomer not specified)
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (150)

Remark : It is reported that skin contact has alo resulted in effects on the nervous
system, liver and kidneys and caused human fatalities.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
17.01.2003 (175)

Remark : A cresol solution, unintentionally poured over the trunk, caused gross
hematuria, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and septic shock with
severe jaundice and renal failure.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (177)

Remark : The development of tumours in persons who had been exposed


occupationally to cresol (unspecified isomer) has been reported, and two
cases of transitional cell bladder carcinoma were described after longterm
exposure to cresol. since no information on exposure levels are available
and since co-exposure to other ssubstances cannot be excluded a
carcinogenic potential of the cresol isomers cannot be deduced fron these
cases.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (178)

Remark : Case report: a worker in an oil rafinery was exposed to cresol,


dichlorooctane and chromic acid for a long period developed a squamous
epithelial carcinoma of the vocal cords. Since no information on exposure
levels is available and since co-exposure to other substances is included a
carcinogenic potential of the cresol isomers cannot be deduced from this
case report.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint

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15.01.2003 (175)

Remark : Anomalous menstrual cycles were found and hormonal disorders were
reported from women who were employed in ther production to enamelled
wire or of tricresyl phosphate and were exposed to a variety of
compounds, including chlorobenzenes and phosphoryl chloride. It was
claimed that the incidence of perinatal child death was increased and that
developmental disorders were frequent among new-born babies. since no
data on exposure levels and duration of exposure are given and data on
controls were not provided a relationship between fthe described effects
and cresol exposure cannot be deduced.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (175)

Remark : According to the results of studies in patients, endogenous p-Cresol does


not contribute significantly to the development of human bladder (32
patients vs 32 age/sex-matched controls).
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
15.01.2003 (132)

5.11 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

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(128) Wandel O (1907) Zur Pathologie der Lysol- und Kresolvergiftung. Arch Exp Pathol
Pharmacol 56: 161-186

(129) IPCS (1995) (International Programme on Chemical Safety): EHC (Environmental Health
Criteria) No. 168: Cresols, WHO, Geneva

(130) Mandel H.G. (1971) Pathways of Drug Biotransformation: Biochemical Conjugations in


LaDu B.N., Mandel H.G. and Way E.L. (eds.) Pathway of drug biotransformation:
biochemical conjugations, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp: 149-186

(131) Scheline Ronald R. (1973) Metabolism of foreign compounds by gastrointestinal


microorgamisms, Pharmacological Reviews 25, 451-523

(132) Renwick A.G. et al. Microbial amino acid metabolites and


bladder cancer: No evidence of promoting activity in man.
Hum. Toxicol. 7: 267-272, 1988.

(133) Bone E, Tamm A, Hill M (1976) The production of urinary phenols by gut bacteria and their
possible role in the causation of large bowler cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 29: 1448-1454

(134) Thompson DC, Perera K, London R (1996) Studies on the mechanism of hepatotoxicity of
4-methylphenol (p-cresol): effects of deuterium labeling and ring substitution. Chem-Biol
Interact 101, 1-11

(135) Schaltenbrand WE and Coburn SP (1985) Determination of phenol and p-cresol in urine.
Clin Chem 31: 2042-2043

(136) Deichmann WB and Witherup S (1944) Phenolic studies VI: The acute and comparative
toxicity of phenol and o-, m-, and p-cresols for experimental animals. J Pharmac Exp Ther
80: 233-240

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 291


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6. REFERENCES ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

(137) Hazleton Laboratories America Inc. (1989) HLA Study No. 10003-0-459DL, Single acute
exposure dose selection study on para-Cresol, submitted to Chemical Manufacturers
Association (Sponsor study number CRE 9.0-DL-HLA)

(138) Uzhdavini ER, Astaphieva AA, Mamaeva WG (1976) Materials for establishing the limiting
dose of dicresol in the air at production premises. Gig Truda Prof Zabol 9: 53-55 as cited in
IPCS (1995)

(139) Bio-Fax Ind. Bio-Test Lab. Inc. (1969) Toxicity data sheet for p-cresol5-5/69, unpublished
study by Bio-Fax Industrial Bio-Test Labs. EPA/OTS205862

(140) Vernot EH, MacEwen JD, Haun CC, Kinkead ER (1977) Acute toxicity and skin corrosion
data for some organic and inorganic compunds and aqueous solutions. Toxicol Appl
Pharmacol 42, 417-423

(141) Uzhdavini ER, Astraphieva IK, Mamaeva AA (1974) Acute toxicity of the lower phenols. Gig
Truda Prof Zabol 2: 58-59 as cited in IPCS (1995)

(142) Angel A and Rogers KJ (1972) An analysis of the convulsant activity of substituted
benzenes in the mouse. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 21: 214-229

(143) Sternitzke A, Legrum W, Netter KJ (1992) Effects of phenolic smoke condensates and their
components on hepatic drug metabolizing systems. Fd Chem Toxic 30: 771-781

(144) Tollens K (1905) Über die Wirkung der Cresole und des Liquor Cresoli Saponatus im
Vergleich zur Carbolsäure. Arch Exp Path Pharm 52: 220-241

(145) ATSDR (1990) Draft toxicological profile for cresols: o-cresol, p-cresol, m-cresol. Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Public Health Service

(146) Bayer AG (1994) EUCLID datasheet on m-cresol

(147) Campbell I (1941) Petroleum cresylic acids: A study of their toxicity and the toxicity of
cresylic disinfectants. Soap Sanit Chem 17: 103-111, 121

(148) Kligman AM (1972) Report to RIFM, 22. November, cited in: Opdyke DLJ, Fragrance raw
materials monographs. p-Cresol. Fd Cosmet Toxicol 12: 389-390, 1974

(149) Sharp DW (1978) The sensitization potential of some perfume ingredients tested using a
modified draize procedure. Toxicology 9: 261-271

(150) NTP (1991) Toxicity studies of cresols (CAS Nos 95-48-7, 108-39-4, 106-44-5) in F344/N
rats and B6C3F1 mice (feed studies), NTP-Tox 9. Research Triangle Park, NC, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of
Health, National Toxicology Program

(151) Microbiol. Associates Inc., Mulligan LT (1988) Subchronic toxicity of meta-cresol in


Sprague-Dawley rats, MBA Chemical No: 25, Study No. 5221.08, Final Report, Bethesda,
USA (at the request of Research Triangle Instiute: Dennis Dietz)

(152) Shelley WB (1974) p-Cresol: Cause of ink-induced hair depigmentation in mice. British
Journal of Dermatology 90: 9-174

(153) Haworth S, Lawlor F, Mortelmans K, Speck W, Zeiger E (1983) Salmonella mutagenicity


test results for 250 chemicals. Environ Mutagen 5, Suppl. 1: 3-142

(154) Hazleton Laboratories America, Inc. (1988) HLC study no: 10003-0-437, Mutagenicity test
on para-Cresol CP 945: In an in-vitro cytogenetic assay measuring chromosomal
aberration frequencies in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. June 28, 1988 (at the
request of CMA, USA), EPA/OTS0517691

292 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


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6. REFERENCES ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

(155) Hazleton Laboratories America Inc. (1988) HLA Study No. 10002-0-431 Mutagenicity test
on meta-cresol in a mouse lymphoma mutation assay, Kensington, USA (at the request of
CMA), EPA-OTS0517693

(156) Daugherty JP and Franks H (1986) Effect of monocyclic derivatives on DNA repair in
human lymphocytes. Res Commun Chem Path Pharmac 54: 133-136

(157) Jansson T, Curvall M, Hedin A, Enzell CR (1986) In vitro studies of biological effects of
cigarette smoke condensate II. Induction of sister-chromatid exchanges in human
lymphocytes by weakly acidic, semivolatile constituents. Mutation Res 169: 129-139

(158) Pool BL and Lin PZ (1982) Mutagenicity testing in the Salmonella Typhimurium assay of
phenolic compounds and phenolic fractions obtained from smokehouse smoke
condensates. Food Chem Toxicol 20: 383-391

(159) Cheng M and Kligerman AD (1984) Evaluation of the genotoxicity of cresols using sister-
chromatid exchange (SCE). Mutation Res 137: 51-55

(160) Florin I, Rutberg L, Curvall M, Enzell CR (1980) Screening of tobacco smoke constituents
for mutagenicity using the Ames'test. Toxicol 18: 219-232

(161) Crowley JP and Margard W (1978) Summary reports on determination of mutagenic/


carcinogenic and cytotoxic potential of four chemical compounds to Sherwin Williams
Company, unpublished data cited in EPA IRIS data base

(162) Gaikwad NW, and Bodell WJ (2001) Formation of DNA adducts by microsomal and
peroxidase activation of p-cresol: role of quinone methide in DNA adduct formation. Chem-
Biol Interact 138: 217-229

(163) Hazleton Laboratories America Inc. (1989) Ivett JL. Dominant lethal assay in mice; p-
cresol. June 27, 1989 (at the request of CMA), EPA/OTS0529223

(164) Hazleton Labortories America, Inc. (1989) Seranau SC. Mutagenicity test on para-cresol
Drosophila Melanogaster sex-linked recessive lethal test. February 22, 1989 (at the request
of CMA).

(165) Boutwell RK and Bosch DK (1959) The tumor-promoting action of phenol and related
compounds for mouse skin. Cancer Res 19: 413-424

(166) Hirose M, Inoue T, Asamoto M, Tagawa Y, Ito N (1986) Comparison of the effects of 13
phenolic compounds in induction of proliferative lesions of the forestomach and increase in
the labelling indices of the glandular stomach and urinary bladder of Syrian Golden
Hamsters. Carcinogenesis 7: 1285-1289

(167) Hazleton Laboratories America Inc. (1988) Mutagenicity tests on meta-cresol and para-
cresol in the in vitro transformation of BALB/C-3T3 cells assay, June 27, 1988 (at the
request of CMA), EPA/OTS 517694

(168) Bushy Run Centre (1989) Neeper-Bradley TL and Tyl RW. Two-generation reproduction
study of p-cresol (CAS No.106-44-5) administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley (CD)
rats. Project report 52-512. November 13, 1989. Unpublished data submitted by Bushy Run
Research Center to The American Chemistry Council Cresols Panel, Washington, DC,
EPA/OTS0529224

(169) Bushy Run Research Center/Hazleton Laoratories (1988) Project report 51-509,
Developmental toxicity evaluation of o-, m-, or p-cresol administered by gavage to
Sprague-Dawley (CD) rats, June,1988 (at the request of CMA) EPA/OTS0517695

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 293


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6. REFERENCES ID: 106-44-5
DATE: 24.05.2004

(170) Bushy Run Research Centre/Hazleton Laboratories (1988) Project Report 51-508,
Developmental toxicity evaluation of o-, m-, or p-cresol administered by gavage to New
Zealand White rabbits, June, 1988 (at the request of CMA) EPA/OTS0517695

(171) TRL (Toxicity Research Laboratories) (1986) TRL-Study #032-009: Subchronic


neurotoxicity study in rats of ortho-, meta- and para-Cresol, November 18, 1986 (at the
request of Research Triangle Instiute: Dietz, DD)

(172) Gleason MN, Gosselin RE, Hodge HC, Smith RP (1969) Clinical toxicology of commercial
products. Acute poisoning. third ed., The Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore, p. 42

(173) Bruce AM, Smith H, Watson AA (1976)Cresol poisoning. Med Sci Law 16: 171-176

(174) Cote MA, Lyonnais J, Lblond PF (1984) Acute Heinz body amnemia due to severe cresol
poisoning: successful treatment with erythrocytapheresis. Can. Med. Assoc J 130: 1319-
1322

(175) DECOS (Dutch Expert Commitee on Occupational Standards)(1998) Cresols(o-, m-,p).


Health-based recommended occupational exposure limits 1998/27, health council of the
Netherlands, Den Haag

(176) Minami M. Katsumata M, Tomoda A (1990) Methemoglobinemia with oxidized hemoglobins


and modified hemoglobins found in bloods of workers handling aromatic compounds and in
those of a man who drank cresol solution. Biomed Biochim Acta 49: 327-333

(177) Lin CH and Yang JY (1992) Chemical burn with cresol intoxication and multiple organ
failure. Burns 18: 162-16

(178) Garrett JS: Association between bladder tumours and chronic exposure to cresol and
creosote. J. Occup. med 17, 492

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IUCLID

Data Set
Existing Chemical : ID: 15831-10-4
CAS No. : 15831-10-4
EINECS Name : m-Cresol, compd. with p-cresol (2:1) (8CI)

Producer related part


Company : Bayer AG
Creation date : 12.01.2001

Substance related part


Company : Bayer AG
Creation date : 12.01.2001

Status :
Memo : ICCA m/p-Cresol mixture

Printing date : 24.05.2004


Revision date :
Date of last update : 24.05.2004

Number of pages : 87

Chapter (profile) : Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10


Reliability (profile) : Reliability: without reliability, 1, 2, 3, 4
Flags (profile) : Flags: without flag, non confidential, WGK (DE), TA-Luft (DE), Material
Safety Dataset, Risk Assessment, Directive 67/548/EEC, SIDS

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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

1.0.1 APPLICANT AND COMPANY INFORMATION

Type : cooperating company


Name : American Chemistry Council, Cresols Panel
Contact person :
Date :
Street : 1300 Wilson Blvd.
Town : 22209 Arlington, VA
Country : United States
Phone : 703-741-5629
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : ADCHEMCO Corporation
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Bayer Corporation
Contact person :
Date :
Street : 100 Bayer Road
Town : PA 15205-9741 Pittsburgh
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


28.02.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Concord Chemical Company
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :

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Country : United States


Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


28.02.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Dakota Gasification Company
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


28.02.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Honshu Chemical Industry Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : LaPorte (formerly Inspec Fine Chemicals, Inc.)
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


28.02.2001

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Type : cooperating company


Name : Merisol (Merichem-Sasol USA LLC)
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


28.02.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Nippon Steel Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : PMC Specialties Group, Inc.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : United States
Phone :
Telefax :

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Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


28.02.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumikin Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

Type : cooperating company


Name : Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd.
Contact person :
Date :
Street :
Town :
Country : Japan
Phone :
Telefax :
Telex :
Cedex :
Email :
Homepage :

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


31.05.2001

1.0.2 LOCATION OF PRODUCTION SITE, IMPORTER OR FORMULATOR

1.0.3 IDENTITY OF RECIPIENTS

1.0.4 DETAILS ON CATEGORY/TEMPLATE

1.1.0 SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

1.1.1 GENERAL SUBSTANCE INFORMATION

Purity type :
Substance type : organic
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 299
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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Physical status : liquid


Purity :
Colour :
Odour :

Remark : mixture of m-cresol (60-75%) and p-cresol (25-40%)


20.01.2003

1.1.2 SPECTRA

1.2 SYNONYMS AND TRADENAMES

m-/p-cresol mixture

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


20.01.2003

1.3 IMPURITIES

1.4 ADDITIVES

1.5 TOTAL QUANTITY

Quantity : - tonnes produced in

Remark : 128,000 t in 2001, estimated world capacity


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
28.05.2002

1.6.1 LABELLING

Labelling : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Specific limits :
Symbols : T, , ,
Nota : ,,
R-Phrases : (24/25) Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
(34) Causes burns
S-Phrases : (36/37/39) Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face
protection
(45) In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice
immediately (show the label where possible)

Remark : labelling for m- and p-Cresol


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
20.01.2003

1.6.2 CLASSIFICATION

Classified : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Class of danger : corrosive

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R-Phrases : (34) Causes burns


Specific limits :

Remark : classification for m- and p-Cresol


20.01.2003

Classified : as in Directive 67/548/EEC


Class of danger : toxic
R-Phrases : (24/25) Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed
Specific limits :

Remark : classification for m- and p-Cresol


20.01.2003

1.6.3 PACKAGING

1.7 USE PATTERN

Type of use : industrial


Category : Chemical industry: used in synthesis

29.05.2002

Type of use : use


Category : Intermediates

29.05.2002

Type of use : use


Category : Solvents

29.05.2002

1.7.1 DETAILED USE PATTERN

1.7.2 METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

1.8 REGULATORY MEASURES

1.8.1 OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT VALUES

Type of limit : TLV (US)


Limit value : 5 other: ppm

Remark : Skin notation. Critical effects: dermatitis, irritation,


CNS
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
20.01.2003 (1)

Type of limit : TLV (US)

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1. GENERAL INFORMATION ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Limit value : 22 mg/m3

Remark : Skin notation. Critical effects: dermatitis, irritation,


CNS.
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
21.03.2001 (2)

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value : 5 other: ppm
Short term exposure limit value
Limit value : 5 other: ppm
Time schedule :
Frequency : times

Remark : Risk of cutaneous absorption


Source : TRGS 900 (DE)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
27.05.2002

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value :

Remark : MAK list Canc. cat 3A


Danger of resorption through the skin.
27.05.2002 (3)

Type of limit : MAC (NL)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3

Remark : Grenswaarde voor blootstelling van korte duur:


a) Numerieke waarde: onbekend
b) Meeteenheid : onbekend
c) Numerieke waarde: onbekend
d) Tijdscheme : onbekend
e) Frequentie : onbekend
Source : B.V. CONSOLCO Amsterdam
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - European Chemicals Bureau Ispra (VA)
21.03.2001

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3

Source : Atochem Paris la Defense


EUROPEAN COMMISSION - European Chemicals Bureau Ispra (VA)
07.06.1994 (4)

Type of limit : MAK (DE)


Limit value : 22 mg/m3
Short term exposure limit value
Limit value : 22 mg/m3
Time schedule :
Frequency : times

Remark : danger of cutaneous absorption


Source : TRGS 900 (DE)
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2002

1.8.2 ACCEPTABLE RESIDUES LEVELS

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1.8.3 WATER POLLUTION

Classified by : other: Bayer AG


Labelled by :
Class of danger : 2 (water polluting)

27.05.2002

1.8.4 MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARDS

Legislation : Stoerfallverordnung (DE)


Substance listed :
No. in Seveso directive :

Remark : Annex I, No. 2


27.05.2002

1.8.5 AIR POLLUTION

Classified by : TA-Luft (DE)


Labelled by :
Number : 3.1.7 (organic substances)
Class of danger : I

27.05.2002

1.8.6 LISTINGS E.G. CHEMICAL INVENTORIES

1.9.1 DEGRADATION/TRANSFORMATION PRODUCTS

1.9.2 COMPONENTS

1.10 SOURCE OF EXPOSURE

1.11 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

1.12 LAST LITERATURE SEARCH

Type of search : Internal and External


Chapters covered :
Date of search :

Remark : Toxicology: November 2002


Environmental aspects and ecotoxicology: January 2002
Search in external and internal databases, e.g. HSDB, Aquire, Biosis,
Embase, Toxline, Scisearch.
22.01.2003

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1.13 REVIEWS

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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

2.1 MELTING POINT

Value : ca. 10 °C
Sublimation :
Method : other: no information supplied
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol (dried)

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


11.05.2004 (5)

2.2 BOILING POINT

Value : ca. 200 °C at


Decomposition :
Method : other: no information supplied
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


11.05.2004 (5)

2.3 DENSITY

Type : density
Value : ca. 1.035 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Method : other: no information supplied
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol

Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint


11.05.2004 (5)

2.3.1 GRANULOMETRY

2.4 VAPOUR PRESSURE

Value : ca. 1 hPa at 20 °C


Decomposition :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol

Remark : static method, the measured value is presumably higher than the vapour
pressure for the m- and p-cresol isomers, because of the water content the
m/p-mixture which is not separated with the static method

vapour pressure for m- and p-cresol isomers = 0.147 hPa


Result : other results:
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 305
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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

ca. 6 hPa at 50 °C
ca. 8 hPa at 55 °C
11.05.2004 (5)

2.5 PARTITION COEFFICIENT

Partition coefficient :
Log pow : 1.94 - 1.96 at °C
pH value :
Method :
Year :
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: isolated cresol isomers

Remark : The log octanol-water partition coefficients of the cresol isomers range from
1.94-1.96
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (6)

2.6.1 SOLUBILITY IN DIFFERENT MEDIA

Solubility in : Water
Value : 24.4 g/l at °C
pH value : 4.3
concentration : at °C
Temperature effects :
Examine different pol. :
pKa : at 25 °C
Description :
Stable :
Deg. product :
Method : other: measured
Year : 2003
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol

Remark : measured at room temperature


Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (7)

2.6.2 SURFACE TENSION

2.7 FLASH POINT

Value : ca. 86 °C
Type :
Method : other: DIN 51758
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol

11.05.2004 (5)

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2. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL DATA ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

2.8 AUTO FLAMMABILITY

Value : >= 500 °C at


Method : other: DIN 51794
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol

Remark : Ignition temperature


Test substance : 63-75% m-cresol + 25-36% p-cresol
11.05.2004 (5)

2.9 FLAMMABILITY

2.10 EXPLOSIVE PROPERTIES

Result : other: lower limit ca 1.1%, upper limit 7.6% by vol.

Test substance : 63-75% m-cresol + 25-36% p-cresol


22.10.2001 (5)

2.11 OXIDIZING PROPERTIES

2.12 DISSOCIATION CONSTANT

2.13 VISCOSITY

Test type : Capillary Method


Test procedure : DIN 53211
Value : ca. 18.6 - mm2/s (static) at °C
Result :
Method : other: DIN 53211
Year : 2001
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: 63-75 % m-cresol + 25-36 % p-cresol

11.05.2004 (5)

2.14 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

3.1.1 PHOTODEGRADATION

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1995
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 %

Method : Determination of the temperature-dependency of the


OH-radical reaction under simulated tropospheric conditions
Remark : With a OH radical concentration of 1 000 000 molec cm-3 and
a temperature of 299 K, the half-life is 3.8 h
Result : kOH = 5.17 x 10E-12 exp[(686+-231)/T] cm3 molec.-1 s-1 for a
temperature range of 299-373 K
Test condition : test substance concentration 0.05-5 ppm
reference compound (o-cresol) 0.05-2.3 ppm
radical source methylnitrite 1.5-11 ppm together with NOx
2-70 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (8)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured): critical review
Year : 1994
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : With a OH radical concentration of 1 000 000 molec/cm3, the


half-life is 3.0 h at room temperature
Result : K[OH] = 64 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
K[NO3] = 9.74[10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
K[O3] = 1.9 [10E-19 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Critical review, evaluation of all available experimental
data
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.05.2004 (9)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 % (obtained from Aldrich Chemical
Company)

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : smog chamber experiment with black light irradiation


dry air pressure 735 Torr
Temp. 296+-2 K
irradiation time 4-20 min
reference substance: propene
OH radical concentration: (1-3) x 10E7 molecule cm-3
Result : k[OH] = 67.8 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
11.05.2004 (10)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : I. Smog chamber experiment


II. Inkrement method
Result : m-cresol:
I. observed: k[OH] = 57 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
II. calculated: k[OH] = 94 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
12.05.2004 (11)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight
Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1978
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : smog chamber


Temp. 300 +-1 K
reference substances: n-butane, neopentane
initial concentration ca. 0.25 ppm for m-cresol
OH radical concentration: (1-4)x10E6 molecule cm-3
Result : k[OH] = 67 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards; detailed documentation of test
procedure and test conditions
12.05.2004 (12) (13)

Type : air
Light source :
Light spectrum : nm
Relative intensity : based on intensity of sunlight

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : No information on the method


Result : K[OH] = 59 [10E-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1]
t[1/2] = 0.3 d
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
11.05.2004 (14)

Deg. product :
Method : other (measured)
Year : 1985
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported, but in most cases purity exceeded
98 %

Method : substance adsorbed onto silica gel (100 ng/g)


irradiated with UV lamp (290 nm) in a microphotoreactor
Result : degradation 33.3% of applied amount
Test condition : 17 h at 15 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
12.05.2004 (15)

3.1.2 STABILITY IN WATER

Deg. product :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Remark : Based on the chemical structure of the compound hydrolysis


is not expected under temperature and pH values occuring in
the environment.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Expert judgement
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.02.2003

3.1.3 STABILITY IN SOIL

Type : laboratory
Radiolabel :
Concentration :
Soil temperature : °C
Soil humidity :
Soil classification :
Year :
Deg. product :
Method :
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : Bench-scale experiments with contaminated soil.


Determination of passive evaporation and biodegradation of
cresols
Result : passive evaporation half-life 4.2 - 4.8 weeks
biodegradation: after 4 days below detection limit
Test condition : Passive evaporation: plastic petri plates (88x18 mm) placed
on canopy-covered table. Temp. 10-17 degrees C, humidity 75%
Shake-flask biodegradation test: 8-25 g soil mixed with 50
ml buffer solution; shaken for 4 days
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
11.02.2003 (16)

Type : laboratory
Radiolabel : yes
Concentration :
Soil temperature : °C
Soil humidity :
Soil classification :
Year :
Deg. product :
Method : other: see Method below
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Method : Inocolum: subsurface microbial community of a pristine


aquifer (Lula, Okla.)
Soil: aquifer solid sample, unconsilated sand, from a depth
of 4.5-5.6 m below surface
All substances were radiolabeled.
Incubation period: 8 months
Determination of mineralization via 14CO2 evolution
Remark : The highest percent biodegradation achieved for nearly all
the substances tested was 35% (e.g. anilin, which is the
standard reference substance for all ready tests in OECD 301
achieved after 100 days only 15% biodegradation).
Result : - After 160 days and at a concentration of 39 ng/g m-cresol
in soil, ca.15% mineralization was observed.
- The percent mineralized increased slowly and linearly with
time.
- For the majority of the test compounds no adaptation
period was observed.
Reliability : (3) invalid
No standard test procedure. Test design can only be used to
assess degradation in soil of the pristine aquifer of Lula,
Okla.
11.02.2003 (17)

3.2.1 MONITORING DATA

Type of measurement : other: contamination at a special working place


Media :
Concentration :
Method :

Remark : Combined m-/p-cresol isomers were detected among other


chemicals in the indoor air at a shale oil wastewater
facility at a concentration of 5.1 ppb.
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DATE: 24.05.2004

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Basic data given
20.01.2003 (18)

3.2.2 FIELD STUDIES

3.3.1 TRANSPORT BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARTMENTS

Type : volatility
Media : water - air
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method : other: measured
Year : 1999

Method : Thermodynamic column method of Brunner et al. 1990 applied [Brunner S,


Hornung E, Santl H, Wolff E, Pringer OG, Altschuh J, Brueggemann R
(1990) Henry´s law constants for polychlorinated biphenyls: Experimental
determination and structure-property relationship. Environ Sci Technol 24,
1751 - 1754]:
- Aqueous solution of the TS produced in a generator column
- Solution is passed through gas liquid desorption column where it contacts
a gas stream and the partition equilibrium is reached
- Gas and water are separated: water flows to the receiver dosing funnel,
the gas is conducted into an absorption vessel where the TS is absorbed in
organic solvent
Result : Henry's law constant (25 degrees C) for m-cresol:
H = 3.5 E-5 calculated to
H = 8.67 E-2 Pa.m3.mol-1
Test condition : - Temperature 25 °C
- Gas phase: Nitrogen
- Liquid phase: Demineralized, distilled water
- Analysis: GC/ECD
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (19)

Type : adsorption
Media : water - soil
Air : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Water : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level I)
Biota : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Soil : % (Fugacity Model Level II/III)
Method : other: batch equilibrium method similar to OECD Guideline 106
Year : 1982

Remark : Koc value was determined for clay loam soil


Result : Koc=34.58 for m-cresol
Test condition : Test substance: m-cresol
Soil: Brookston clay loam soil, collected from top 15 cm,
air-dried, 5.10 % organic matter, pH 5.7
soil/solution ratio 1:10
TS concentrations 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 mg/l, deoxygenated by

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purging with N2
triplicate samples, temp. 20+-1 degrees C, incubation period 24 h
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with general accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (20)

3.3.2 DISTRIBUTION

Media : air - biota - sediment(s) - soil - water


Method : Calculation according Mackay, Level I
Year : 2001

Result : Calculation for m-cresol:


Calculated distribution between environmental compartments:
Air: 2.33 %
water: 96.32 %
soil: 0.69 %
bottom sediment: 0.65 %
suspended sediment: 0.001 %
biota: 0.0004 %
Test condition : data used in calculation
temperature (°C): 25
molar mass (g/mol): 108.14
vapor pressure (Pa): 14.7
water solubility (g/l): 22.7
log Kow: 1.96

volumes in unit world (m3)


air: 6 000 000 000
water: 7 000 000
soil: 45 000
sediment: 21 000
susp. sediment: 35
biota (fish): 7
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
generally accepted calculation method
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.02.2003 (21)

3.4 MODE OF DEGRADATION IN ACTUAL USE

3.5 BIODEGRADATION

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : predominantly domestic sewage
Concentration : .8 mg/l related to COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : = 90 (±) % after 28 day(s)
Result : readily biodegradable
Kinetic of testsubst. : 7 day(s) = 45 - 80 %
14 day(s) = 70 - 90 %
21 day(s) = 75 - 70 %
28 day(s) = 90 - 90 %
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DATE: 24.05.2004

%
Control substance : other: phenol, 0.8 mg/l
Kinetic : 28 day(s) = 73 %
%
Deg. product :
Method : OECD Guide-line 301 D "Ready Biodegradability: Closed Bottle Test"
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol pure

Result : 10-day window criteria is met


Test condition : Inoculum
- Type of sludge: activated sludge
- Source: treatment plant, receiving domestic sewage
- Sampling site: Odenthal
Concentration of control substance: 0.8 mg/l
Analytical parameter: Oxygen consumption
Test temperature: 20 degrees C
Test was performed in two paralleles.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline Study
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (22)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : predominantly domestic sewage
Concentration : 2.4 mg/l related to COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : = 65 (±) % after 28 day(s)
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 7 day(s) = 55 - 58 %
14 day(s) = 58 - 66 %
21 day(s) = 61 - 65 %
28 day(s) = 65 - 65 %
%
Control substance : other: phenol, 2.4 mg/l
Kinetic : 28 day(s) = 69 %
%
Deg. product :
Method : OECD Guide-line 301 D "Ready Biodegradability: Closed Bottle Test"
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol pure

Remark : In two further tested concentrations (8 and 24 mg/l) the


dissolved oxygen was completely emaciated within 7 days
(concentration of control substance 8 and 24 mg/l for tests
with 8 and 24 mg/l of test substance, respectively. Also i n
these control experiments, oxygen was emaciated).
Result : Compared to the test with 0.8 mg/l the extent of degradation
is lesser at 2.4 mg/l presumably due to the fact that most
of the oxygen was used up at the high test substance
concentration
Test condition : Inoculum / test organism
- Type of sludge: activated sludge
- Source: treatment plant, receiving domestic sewage
- Sampling site: Odenthal
Concentration of control substance: 2.4 mg/l
Analytical parameter: Oxygen consumption
Test temperature: 20 degrees C

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Test was performed in two paralleles.


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline Study
12.05.2004 (22)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, domestic
Concentration : 100 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 80 - 95 (±) % after 40 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: comparable to OECD Guide-line 301 C
Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 99 %

Method : Initial sludge concentration: 30 mg d.w./l; aniline as


reference compound
Remark : Incubation period: 20-40 days; no oxygen uptake curve given;
degradation of reference substance aniline >/= 60 % within
28 days
Result : The oxygen uptake curves are not reported. However, the authors state
that all test compounds revealed the lag phase, biodegradation phase and
the plateau region within a period of 10 days, indicating that the 10-day
window criteria is met.
First order biodegradation constant (hr-1): ln k = -5.77
maximum specific substrate uptake rate per unit biomass km = 17.3 / day
(Aniline 16.1, Phenol 16.9).
m-Cresol is slightly better biodegradable than phenol and aniline.
Test condition : Inoculum /test organism
- Type of sludge: activated
- Source: municipal treatment plant, receiving predominantly
domestic sewage
- Initial cell concentration: 30 mg/l
Test system
- Culturing apparatus: Sapromat
- Closed vessels used: yes
Initial test substance concentration: 100 mg/l
Duration of the test: 20-40 days
Test conditions
- Composition of synthetic medium: OECD
- Test temperature: 25 degrees C
Reference substance: aniline 100 mg/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
study comparable to OECD Guideline 301 C
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (23)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, industrial
Contact time :
Degradation : 96 (±) % after 10 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : OECD Guide-line 302 B "Inherent biodegradability: Modified Zahn-Wellens
Test"
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

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DATE: 24.05.2004

Result : 90% degradation during the log-phase (8 days)


Test condition : Test substance conc. 50-400 mg/l DOC, 200-1000 mg/l COD
acclimatization phase 2 days
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline study; basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2004 (24)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, adapted
Concentration : 200 mg/l related to COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 95.5 (±) % after 5 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: batch system (similar to OECD 302B "Zahn-Wellens Test")
Year : 1976
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : - Test compound was sole source of carbon


- Inoculum density: 100 mg dry matter/l; gradual increase of
TS concentration during 20 days adaptation period
- With volatile substances a test without inocculum was done
to differentiate the actual biological degradation from the
losses due to mere volatilization
Result : Initial degradation rate: 55.0 mg COD/g/h
Test condition : 20 +- 3 degrees C; pH 7.2; mineral salts medium; dark;
continuously stirred
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
basic data given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
24.05.2004 (25)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary anaerobic sludge from 12 treatment plants receiving


mainly domestic wastewater were diluted to
10 % in a mineral salts medium, test substance
concentration: 30 mg/l; secondary anaerobic sludge from 2
treatment plants diluted to 10 % in a mineral salts medium,
test substance: 50 mg/l;
incubation for 8 weeks; triplicate samples
Result : primary sludges:
no degradation was observed in 4 sludges; degradation ranged
from 55 to 103 % in 6 sludges (lag times for approx 20 % of
theoretical CH4 production: 4-6 weeks); insufficient data
for 2 sludges.
secondary sludge:
degradation was 92% after 4 weeks with the first sludge and

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90% after 5 weeks with the second (degradation related to


theoretical methane and CO2 production)
Test condition : 35 degrees C, due to storage of sludges before incubation,
lag phase of methanogenesis could be increased in some
sludges
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (26)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Contact time : 56 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1984
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary and secondary anaerobic sewage sludge from 9


treatment plants diluted to 10 % in a mineral salts medium;
degradation measured as gas pressure increase
Remark : data have been published by the authors as a NTIS-study
(previous data set)
Result : in 2 different secondary sludges >75% degradation
in 9 different primary sludges degradation 0-103%
Test condition : incubation for 8 w at 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (27)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method :
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity given (obtained from Aldrich Chemicals)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : primary anaerobic digesting sludge receiving a mixture of


domestic and industrial wastewater
Result : lag time 40 days, accompanied with inhibition of gas
production
net total gas production was 75 % +/- 15 % of the
theoretical production (CH4+CO2)
Test condition : - medium 2-3 g dw/l sludge
- incubation for >= 60 d at 35 degrees C
- 3 replicates

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DATE: 24.05.2004

- sterile controls for abiotic gas production


- gas production measured with hand-held pressure meter
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.02.2003 (28)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : activated sludge, domestic
Concentration : .05 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 35.6 (±) % after 5 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: Activated sludge test
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

Remark : The bioaccumulation factor of the substance and its


metabolites in activated sludge was 1100
Result : The readily biodegradable compounds methanol and phenol were about
equally degraded like m-Cresol (41, 37 and 36 %)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
24.05.2004 (15)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other bacteria: acclimatized mixed culture of pentachlorophenol-degrading
bacteria
Concentration : 5 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 29 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 38 hour(s) 50 %
46 hour(s) 90 %
%
%
%
Deg. product :
Method : other: Die-away Test
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, gas chromatographic grade

Result : no lag phase


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
24.05.2004 (29)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum : other: denitrifying cultures from unadapted mixed wastewater

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Concentration : .39 mg/l related to Test substance


related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 17 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: measured
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : lag phase 3 days, completely degraded in 17 d


Test condition : inoculum prepared by mixing waste water samples from 12
denitrifying treatment plants
incubated at 27 degrees C in the dark
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study in accordance with generally accepted scientific
standards and described in sufficient detail
24.05.2004 (30)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: municipal sewage sludge from primary anaerobic digesters
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 56 day(s)
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 49 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: measured
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : substance disappeared completely after 7 weeks


net CH4 production >90% of theoretical value
no transformation products observed
Test condition : mineral salt medium with 10% sludge
Temperature 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (31)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: measured
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Remark : sensitivity of acid formers and methanogenic consortia


examined
Result : at <= 400 mg/l, m-cresol was not fermented and
showed no inhibition of methane formation from degradable
substrates as compared to control cultures; 1000 mg/l
inhibited the methane production significantly (60 % of
control values)

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 15831-10-4
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Test condition : screening optimized for mechanistic study


m-cresol concentration: 200, 400 or 1000 mg/l
incubation for 6 w at 37 degrees C
Reliability : (4) not assignable
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards; not relevant for purpose of
HPV program
12.05.2004 (32)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anaerobic sludge, adapted
Concentration : 300 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: see test condition
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported (Aldrich chemicals) (methyl 14C-
labelled from Pathfinder Lab.)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : Degradation: ca. 100 % after 9 days


Most of the methyl carbon of m-cresol (87 %) was converted
to CH4.
Test condition : preincubation for 2-3 months
incubation for 20 d at 37 degrees C
Test substance : 14C-methyl labeled
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (33)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : anaerobic sludge
Concentration : 50 mg/l related to DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: measured
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 %
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : - Sludge from 2 municipal plants


- Methane production monitored
- HPLC to monitor disappearance of substrate
Result : mineralization (related to theoretical methane and CO2
production) was 92% after 4 weeks with the first sludge and
90% after 5 weeks with the second
Test condition : incubation at 35 degrees C in the dark, 10 % sludge
inoculum, duplicate tests
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally accepted
scientific standards and described in sufficient detail
12.05.2004 (34)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anoxic lake sediment
Concentration : .1 mg/l related to Test substance
.8 mg/l related to Test substance

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Deg. product : yes


Method : other: measured
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 %
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : after 29 weeks no significant CH4 or CO2 formation observed


Test condition : incubation at 20 degrees C in the dark with occasional
shaking
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (34)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other bacteria: acclimatized mixed culture of pentachlorophenol-degrading
bacteria
Concentration : 5 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time : 29 day(s)
Degradation : (±) % after
Result :
Kinetic of testsubst. : 144 hour(s) 10 %
197 hour(s) 50 %
236 hour(s) 90 %
%
%
Deg. product :
Method : other: Die-away Test
Year : 1990
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, gas chromatographic grade

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
11.02.2003 (29)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: phenol-enriched methanogenic culture
Concentration : 100 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Contact time :
Degradation : 100 (±) % after 58 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: measured
Year : 1988
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : lag time 42 d, complete disappearance after 58 d,


the CH4 production was 85 % of the theoretical production
Test condition : nominal test concentrations m-cresol 50, 100, 150, 250, 300,
400, 500, and 700 mg/l + phenol 200 mg/l
incubation at 35 °C with continuous shaking
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 321


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally


accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (35)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: shallow anaerobic alluvial sand aquifer
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: measured
Year : 1986
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported (obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co.)
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : 2 sampling sites: 1 methanogenic, 1 sulfate-reducing


both aquifers receive leachate from a municipal landfill
Result : lag time 43 days under sulfate-reducing and 46-90 days under
methanogenic conditions, no data for complete degradation
given
Test condition : test medium: 50 g [wet weight] of aquifer solids and 50 ml
of groundwater
incubation at room temperature in the dark, quadruplicates
preincubation 5 days, addition of 150 to 200 µM test
substance
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (36)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: undefined methanogenic consortia from river sediment
Concentration : 54 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: measured
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Method : black anoxic mud collected from a river inoculated in a


mineral medium (10% w/v)
Result : non-acclimated consortia: turnover rate 1.10 µmol/day/g
sediment dw (lag-phase 16 d)
acclimated consortia: turnover rate 2.37 µmol/day/g sediment
dw (lag-phase 0 d, based on a 24-days-incubation period),
the CH4 production was 96 % of the theoretically possible
yield
Test condition : incubation at 28 degrees C in the dark
cultures were refed with 60 mg/l test substance every 2-4 w
for a total of 18 months
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (37)

Type : aerobic
Inoculum :
Concentration : 10 mg/l related to Test substance

322 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

related to
Contact time : 3 day(s)
Degradation : 26 - 100 (±) % after 3 day(s)
Result :
Deg. product :
Method : other: cultivation method
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported in abstract

Result : biodegradation in river water = 100 %


biodegradation in sea water = 26 %
The authors assume the compound to be moderately to easily
biodegradable
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Japanese reference with short abstract in English
12.05.2004 (38)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: microcosm containing aquifer and ground water
Concentration : 18 mg/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product : yes
Method : other: measured
Year : 1989
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Deg. products : 74-82-8 200-812-7 methane

Result : lag time 110 days, disappearance after approx. 225 d (values
taken from a graphics)
Test condition : methanogenic conditions in a microcosm
Reliability : (3) invalid
Insufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (39)

Type : anaerobic
Inoculum : other: anoxic aquifer
Concentration : 300 µmol/l related to Test substance
related to
Deg. product :
Method : other: measured
Year : 1990
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : anoxic aquifer slurries held under sulfate- and


nitrate-reducing conditions
Result : m-cresol was largely degraded in less than 6 d
degradation dependant on sulfate, inhibited by 1.0 mM
molybdate, not influenced by bromoethanesulfonic acid
Reliability : (4) not assignable
only abstract available
12.05.2004 (40)

3.6 BOD5, COD OR BOD5/COD RATIO

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 323


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

3.7 BIOACCUMULATION

Species : Leuciscus idus melanotus (Fish, fresh water)


Exposure period : 3 day(s) at °C
Concentration : .05 mg/l
BCF : 20
Elimination : no data
Method : other: measured
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

Remark : Determination of radioactivity includes possible metabolized and/or


incorporated intermediates
The authors report BCF in different tables to be 17 or 20
Test condition : 5 fish (2-4 g) were exposed to m-cresol in a closed system and
concentrations were determined by following radioactivity in fish and water;
BCF values related to wet weight; 20-25 degrees C; pH 7; hardness 100
mg CaO/l
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (15)

Species : other: Chlorella fusca (algae)


Exposure period : 24 hour(s) at °C
Concentration : .05 mg/l
Elimination : no data
Method : other: measured
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

Remark : In this study BCF-values of 40 and 4,900 for algae are


reported without explanation for the difference.

It is a common observation that test substance adsorbes at


the surface of the algae. Due to the high surface / volume
ratio a high BCF could be obtained.
Test condition : 20-25 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (15)

Species : other: Activated Sludge


Exposure period : 5 day(s) at °C
Concentration :
BCF : 1100
Elimination :
Method : other: measured
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: 14C-labelled m-cresol presumably > 98 % purity; no specific
activity given

324 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND PATHWAYS ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Remark : Values of bioaccumulation factors range from 10 up to


42,800.
Esters and higher alcohols are placed in the intermediate
range between 3,000 and 5,000. Sodium acetat with an
accumulation factor of 29,100 is remarkable. In this ranking
m-Cresol belongs to the group of compounds with low
accumulation potential.
Correlation between accumulation factors and
physico-chemical parameters was not practicable.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail.
12.05.2004 (15)

3.8 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Memo : biodegradation under anaerobic conditions

Method : enrichment cultures prepared by addition of 3 g/l m-cresol


once per week
initial concentration 200-300 mg/l test substance
incubation at 37 degrees C in the dark
Result : 1st step: incorporation of CO2 giving
4-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid
2nd step:
2a: dehydroxylation to 2 methylbenzoic acid (not further
metabolized) to a minor degree
2b: ring reduction, ring fission and beta-oxidation to
acetate. Ring reduction appeared to be the rate-limiting
step, because no subsequent intermediates accumulated
Test substance : 1. U-ring-14C m-cresol
2. methyl-14C m-cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
11.12.2002 (41)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 325


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

4.1 ACUTE/PROLONGED TOXICITY TO FISH

Type : flow through


Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 8.9
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other: US EPA, Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish,
macroinvertebrates, and amphibians. Nat. Environm. Res. Center, Corvallis
(1974)
Year : 1980
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Mean length/mean weight of fish: 7.9 cm/6.0 g


Result : sublethal effects: hyperactivity, rapid operculation,
sensitive to disturbance and gathering at the surface
Test condition : DILUTION WATER
- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- Conductance: 1212.3 µmhos/cm at 25 degrees C
TEST SYSTEM
- Concentrations: 1:2 dilution series
- Number of replicates: 2
- fish per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 degrees C
- Dissolved oxygen: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- pH: 8.1
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (42)

Type : flow through


Species : Pimephales promelas (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 55.9
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other: US EPA, Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish,
macroinvertebrates, and amphibians. Nat. Environm. Res. Center, Corvallis
(1974)
Year : 1980
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Method : Mean length/mean weight of fish: 4.9 cm/1.6 g


Result : sublethal effects: loss of equilibrium, erratic swiming and
twitching at a test substance concentration of 49.8 mg/l
Test condition : DILUTION WATER
- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- Conductance: 1212.3 µmhos/cm at 25 degrees C

326 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

TEST SYSTEM
- Concentrations: 1:2 dilution series
- Number of replicates: 2
- fish per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 degrees C
- Dissolved oxygen: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- pH: 8.1
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
11.02.2003 (42)

Type : static
Species : Salmo trutta (Fish, fresh water, marine)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 8.4
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reported to be "purified grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


controls.
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 11.0 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 8.6 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 8.4 mg/l
Test condition : 12 degree C, reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (43)

Type : static
Species : Salvelinus fontinalis (Fish, estuary, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 7.6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reported to be "purified grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


controls.
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 11.4 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 8.2 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 7.6 mg/l
at concentrations of 6 to 20 mg/l, the approximate
incidences of surfacing were 20 %
Test condition : 12 degree C, reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 327


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Test procedure comparable to standard method and in


accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (43)

Type : static
Species : Oncorhynchus mykiss (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : = 8.6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1969
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reported to be "purified grade"

Method : 10 acclimated fish exposed per concentration, 20 served as


controls.
Result : LC50 (6 h) = 14.9 mg/l
LC50 (24 h) = 10.4 mg/l
LC50 (48 h) = 10.2 mg/l
In an additional test under flow-through conditions a
concentration of 10 mg/l caused total incapacitation in 15
of 20 fish within 11.5 min, after which a recovery to a
higher level of activity was observed
Test condition : 12 degree C, reconstituted water
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (43)

Type : semistatic
Species : Poecilia reticulata (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 23.12
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity 99 % (BDH Chemicals)

Method : 80 % of the test solution renewed at 12 h intervals


Test condition : 25-27 degrees Celsius, pH 7
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (44)

Type : static
Species : Brachydanio rerio (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC0 : 11
LC50 : 15.9
LC100 : 22

328 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Pruefrichtlinie UBA (summer 1980)
Year : 1982
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : pH 7.5 +- 0.3


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (45)

Type : static
Species : Gadus morrhua (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : > 30
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method :
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 98 % as determined by GC (obtained from
Merck)

Method : effect endpoints: death, pathology, inhibition of cleavage


and differentiation, pigment defects
Result : parallel test with larvae (6 days after hatching) showed
pigment effects at 10 and 30 mg/l
Test condition : 5 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (46)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC0 : 10
LC50 : 17
LC100 : 22
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Test procedure of the Abwasserabgabengesetzentwurf (Deutscher
Bundestag 1974)
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (47)

Type :
Species : Cyprinus carpio (Fish, fresh water)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 329


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Exposure period : 24 hour(s)


Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 25
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Remark : results from: Albersmayer and Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical
monitoring, no information about the test substance. Further
details are missing
11.02.2003 (48)

Type :
Species : Rutilus rutilus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 23
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer and Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical
monitoring, no information about the test substance. Further
details are missing
12.05.2004 (48)

Type :
Species : Tinca tinca (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 21
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : results from: Albersmayer and Erichsen: Z. Fisch. 8 (1/3),


29-66 (1959)
Reliability : (3) invalid
Study does not follow any guideline. No analytical
monitoring, no information about the test substance. Further
details are missing
12.05.2004 (48)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 6
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no

330 UNEP PUBLICATIONS


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Method : other: Mann, H., Fischtest mit Goldorfen zur vergleichenden Pruefung der
akuten Toxizitaet von Wasserinhaltsstoffen und Abwaessern, Praktische
Erfahrungen aus 3 Ringtesten, Z. f. Wasser- u. Abwasser-Forschung 9,
103-109 (1976)
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


Secondary literature not available (Mann 1976)
12.05.2004 (49)

Type : static
Species : other: Pleuronectes sp. (plaice)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 10 - 33
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1971
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: cresol, isomer not specified

Test condition : 15 degrees C


Test substance : cresol (isomer not specified)
Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
12.05.2004 (50)

Type :
Species : Lepomis macrochirus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 10 - 13.6
Method :
Year : 1971
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no puritiy reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary literature
12.05.2004 (51)

Type :
Species : Oryzias latipes (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 24
Method :
Year : 1986
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no puritiy reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


secondary literature, original source unknown
12.05.2004 (52)

Type : static
Species : Leuciscus idus (Fish, fresh water)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 331


OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Unit : mg/l
LC0 : 10
LC50 : 17 - 19
LC100 : 21 - 26
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Bestimmung der Wirkung von Wasserinhaltsstoffen auf Fische. DEV,
L 15 (1976)
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Reliability : (4) not assignable


Insufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (53)

Type :
Species : other: Agonus cataphractus (poacher)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 10 - 33
Method :
Year : 1960
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Reliability : (4) not assignable


reference not available
11.02.2003 (54)

4.2 ACUTE TOXICITY TO AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

Type : static
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : 13
EC50 : 25
EC100 : 50
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: immobilisation test according to Bringmann & Kühn: Z. Wasser
Abwasser Forsch. 10, 162-166 (1977)
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Exposure of 24 h old Daphnia (strain IRCHA); 10 individuals


per concentration, duplicate samples
Result : effect values refer to nominal test substance concentrations
Test condition : 20 degrees C; initial pH 8.0 +/-0.2; water saturated with
oxygen; hardness: 16° d.h. (corresponding to 286 mg CaCO3/l)
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (55)

Type : flow through


Species : Daphnia pulicaria (Crustacea)

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OECD SIDS m- / p-CRESOL MIXTURE
4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Exposure period : 48 hour(s)


Unit : mg/l
LC50 : > 99.5
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method : other: US EPA, Methods for acute toxicity test with fish,
macroinvertebrates, and amphibians. Nat. Environm. Res. Center, Corvallis
(1974)
Year : 1980
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : DILUTION AND TEST WATER


- Source: well water
- Hardness: 707.3 mg CaCO3/l
- pH: 8.1
- Oxygen content: 6.5 mg/l (84.5% of saturation)
- Conductance: 1212.3 µhos/cm at 25 degrees C
- Number of replicates, individuals per replicate: 10
- Test temperature: 14 +- 1 degrees C
- Photoperiod: 16 h light, 8 h dark
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
detailed documentation of test procedure and test conditions
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (42)

Type :
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : 1.6
EC50 : 8.9
EC100 : 25
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1977
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Effect endpoint: immobilisation


Test condition : Hardness 16 degrees (German), pH 7.6-7.7, 20-22 degrees
Celsius
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (56)

Type :
Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 19.2
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: AFNOR (1974)
Year : 1987
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 95 %

UNEP PUBLICATIONS 333


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4. ECOTOXICITY ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

Remark : Effect endpoint: immobilisation


Test condition : Reconstituted hard water 200 mg/l CaCO3
pH 7.8-8.2
dissolved oxigen >25% of saturation
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (57) (58)

Type : other: not specified


Species : Daphnia magna (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 18.8
Limit Test : no
Analytical monitoring : no data
Method : other: according to the method described by Parkhurst et al. 1977
Year : 1979
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Parkhurst BR, Gehrs CW, Rubin IB (1977): Proceedings of ASTM


2nd Annual Symposium on Aquatic Toxicology, 122-130
Test condition : Daphnia magna used in the test were adults.
100-ml test beakers were filled with 80 ml test solution and
4 daphnia. All the tests were run in triplicate.
Temperature during the test: 25 +/- 0.5°C
12h light/dark cycle
Test solution was prepared with filtered spring water (pH
7.8 alkalinity mg/l, hardness 140 mg/l)
Control beakers were used
48h-EC50 values were obtained by PROBIT
Test substance : The test substance was obtained from an effluent
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Study well documented (method description in an other
reference) with some restriccions. Age of daphnia used in
the test is not clear. Daphnias were "adults" and adults can
be older than 24h (24h is suggested in the guideline);
temperature was 25°C (in guideline is suggested: 18-22°C);
12 daphnia were used for each test concentration (in
guideline are suggested: 40)
12.05.2004 (59)

Type : static
Species : Daphnia sp. (Crustacea)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 28
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : test organisms were reared from daphnids collected in


surface water
Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; test organisms were reared from
daphnids collected in surface water
Test condition : river water, pH 7.5
Reliability : (3) invalid

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Experimental details missing. Study does not follow any


guideline, concentrations tested were not reported, no
information about the application method of the test
substance is given. Neither O2/pH monitoring nor analytical
monitoring were applied
12.05.2004 (60)

Type :
Species : other aquatic mollusc: Glossosiphonia complanata
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : perturbation level: 1.1 mg/l


Reliability : (4) not assignable
Secondary literature
12.05.2004 (61)

Type :
Species : other aquatic arthropod: Limnoria tripunctata
Exposure period : 100 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC50 : 100
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Reliability : (4) not assignable


Reference not available
11.02.2003 (54)

4.3 TOXICITY TO AQUATIC PLANTS E.G. ALGAE

Species : Scenedesmus quadricauda (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 8 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 15
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1977
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : incubation of 10 ml test solution (algae in defined mineral


salts medium)
Remark : TT (toxic threshold concentration) refers to nominal test
substance concentration and was determined at 3 %
effect compared to the control
Test condition : 27 degrees C; initial pH 7.0
Reliability : (3) invalid
It is unclear whether the algae are within the exponential
growth throughout the whole exposure period of 8 days.
12.05.2004 (62)

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Species : Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Algae)


Endpoint : other: chlorophyll content
Exposure period : 72 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : > 50
EC50 : 127
EC100 : 250
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1968
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : 1000 mg/l: complete destruction of chlorophyll


EC50 was not reported in the study, but it can be taken from the graph
Test condition : TEST ORGANISMS
- Strain: Emerson strain
- Test temperature: 25 +- 1 degrees C
- pH: 7.0
- Photoperiod: continuous illumination
TEST PARAMETER: chlorophyll
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (63)

Species : Microcystis aeruginosa (Algae, blue, cyanobacteria)


Endpoint : other: cell multiplication
Exposure period : 8 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
TGK : 13
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Modified DEV L9 (cell multiplication inhibition test)
Year : 1975
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TGK = Toxicity treshold, determined at 1% effect compared to


control
Reliability : (3) invalid
It is unclear whether the algae are within the exponential
growth throughout the whole exposure period of 8 days.
12.05.2004 (64) (65)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton lucens


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : .22
LOEC : .65
EC50 : .65
EC100 : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

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Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 uS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not
indicated. No information about application mode, number of
plants, controls, test concentrations, statistics,
analytics.
12.05.2004 (66)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton coloratus


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : 1.08
LOEC : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 uS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not
indicated. No information about application mode, number of
plants, controls, test concentrations, statistics,
analytics.
12.05.2004 (66)

Species : other aquatic plant: Potamogeton crispus


Endpoint : other: photosynthesis
Exposure period : 21 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
NOEC : 1.08
LOEC : > 1.08
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : simulation of running water under summer climate conditions


Test condition : water hardness: 9° dH; conductivity: 300 uS; pH 7.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies. Most test conditions not
indicated. No information about application mode, number of
plants, controls, test concentrations, statistics,
analytics.
12.05.2004 (66)

Species : Agmenellum quadruplicatum (Algae)


Endpoint :
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year : 1974
GLP : no

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Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : algae cells embedded in agar, test substance absorbed on


discs (12.7 mm) which are placed directly on the agar
surface
incubation 5 to 8 days
Result : no effect with 0.5 mg test substance on the plate
with 1 mg inhibition between 1 to 10 mm from the disc edge,
with 10 mg complete killing within a zone of 36 mm
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
12.05.2004 (67)

Species : other algae: Chlorella autotrophica


Endpoint :
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year : 1974
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : algae cells embedded in agar, test substance absorbed on


discs (12.7 mm) which are placed directly on the agar
surface
incubation 5 to 8 days
Result : with 1 mg inhibition between 1 to 4 mm from the disc edge,
with 2 mg 1nhibition between 3 to 35 mm from the disc edge
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
12.05.2004 (67)

Species : Scenedesmus quadricauda (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 40
Limit test :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = toxicity treshold


Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (60)

Species : Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Algae)


Endpoint : biomass
Exposure period : 10 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
MTL : 100
Method :
Year : 1976
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : described in: Denson & Bold, The University of Texas


Publication No. 6022, 72 (1960)

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Remark : MTL = median tolerance limit


Result : sublethal concentration 100 mg/l
lethal concentration 500 mg/l
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Insufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (68)

4.4 TOXICITY TO MICROORGANISMS E.G. BACTERIA

Type : aquatic
Species : activated sludge, domestic
Exposure period : 3 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 461.4
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : OECD Guide-line 209 "Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test"
Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, reagent grade

Remark : synthetic sewage stock solution slightly different from OECD


guideline; reference substance 1,5-dichlorophenol
Test condition : 21 degrees C; continuous aeration with 0.5-10 l/min
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Guideline study
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (69)

Type : aquatic
Species : activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
EC75 : 11.4
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: inhibition of nitrification process
Year : 1966
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Quantitative determination of the nitrification rate (1st


step, NH4 to NO2),
colorimetric measurement of the NO2/NO3 concentration;
static test system
Pre-cleaned activated sludge in particle-free communal waste
water (BOD5: 250 mg/l; NH4-N/l: 50-80 mg)
Remark : effect: inhibition of ammonia oxidation
Test condition : Exposure period: 2-4 h; 25 degree C; pH 7.6-7.8
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (70)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria
Exposure period :
Unit :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other
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Year : 1985
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity 99.5 %

Method : 6 different pure bacteria cultures: 3 isolated from a


laboratory activated sludge, 2 from activated sludge from a
municipal plant receiving some industry wastewater, and 1
from a lake sediment
Effect: 50 % resazurin reduction (determination of
dehydrogenase activity)
Result : from laboratory sludges: EC50 = >500, 225, and 410 mg/l
from activated sludges: EC50 = 360 and >500 mg/l
from lake sediment: EC50 = >500 mg/l
Test condition : 21 degrees C; incubation 30-60 min
Test substance : purity 99.5%
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (71)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Aerobic heterotrophic
Exposure period : 49 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC 50 : 440
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1991
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : culture obtained from mixed liquor of a treatment plant


Remark : Effect: inhibition of respiration; prolonged incubation
compared with ISO 8192
Test condition : 25 and 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (72)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Methanogenic bacteria
Exposure period : 96 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC 50 : 890
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Owen, W.F.: Bioassay for Monitoring Biochemical Methane Potential
and Anaerobic Toxicity. Water Res. 13, 485 (1979)
Year : 1991
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Effect: inhibition of gas production


Test condition : 35 degrees C
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (72)

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Type : aquatic
Species : Nitrosomonas sp. (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
IC 50 : .78
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Inhibition of nitrification, comparable to ISO/DIS 9509
Year : 1991
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : culture obtained from mixed liquor of a treatment plant


Remark : Effect: inhibition of N-oxidation
Test condition : 25 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
In principal the test is comparable to standard methods,
but the authors state that the compounds with log IC50<1,5
umol/l had questionable accurate results, so that this
effect value has to be considered invalid.
12.05.2004 (72)

Type : aquatic
Species : anaerobic microorganisms
Exposure period :
Unit :
Analytical monitoring : yes
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : phenol-enriched methanogenic culture


nominal concentrations 50, 100, 150, 250, 300, 400, 500, and
700 mg/l m-cresol + 200 mg/l phenol
incubation at 35 degrees C
Result : m-cresol concentrations above 150 mg/l inhibited the
anaerobic phenol degradation
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (35)

Type : aquatic
Species : Pseudomonas putida (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 16 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 53
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1977
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 3 % effect compared


to control
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Test procedure comparable to standard method and in
accordance with generally accepted scientific standards;
sufficient documentation

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12.05.2004 (65) (62)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Mixed marine bacteria culture
Exposure period : 16 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC10 : 33.4
EC50 : 324 - 326
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Static bioassay (determination of bacterial growth)
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : mixed culture of 13 unidentified bacterial strains isolated


from sea water
Test condition : Incubation at 25-30 degrees Celsius, artificial saltwater
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (73) (74)

Type : aquatic
Species : Chilomonas paramaecium (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 114
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1980
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 5 % effect compared


to control
Test condition : 20 degrees C; initial pH 6.9
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (75)

Type : aquatic
Species : Entosiphon sulcatum (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 72 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 31
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 5 % effect compared


to control
Test condition : 25 degrees C; initial pH 6.9
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail

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12.05.2004 (76)

Type : aquatic
Species : Tetrahymena pyriformis (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 24 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
LC100 : 375
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1978
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Test condition : 28 degrees C


Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (77)

Type : aquatic
Species : Uronema parduzci (Protozoa)
Exposure period : 20 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
TT : 62
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: cell multiplication inhibition test
Year : 1980
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = Toxicity threshold; determined at 5 % effect compared


to control
Test condition : 25 degrees C; initial pH 6.9
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (78)

Type : aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 5 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 11
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1983
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : effect: reduction of bioluminescence


Secondary literature. Not enough information supplied for
assessment. Although the author suggests that Microtox may
lack reproductibility due to variations in bacterial cell
suspensions, no information is supplied on the maintenance
of the lyophilized bacteria, their age, duration of
reconstitution and other important parameters.
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin.
Method is not appropriate for the hazard assessment of

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chemicals.
12.05.2004 (79)

Type : aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 15 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 8
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1987
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, analytical grade (either from Merck or EGA Chemie)

Remark : Not enough information supplied for assessment of the test


used (Test done according to Beckman manual). Although it is
suggested that Microtox may lack reproducibility due to
variations in bacterial cell suspensions [Bitton G (1983)
Bacterial and Biochemical Tests for Assessing Chemical
Toxicity in the Aquatic Environment: A Review. Crit Rev
Environ Control 13: 51 -67], no information is supplied on
the maintenance of the lyophilized bacteria, their age,
duration of reconstitution and other important parameters.
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin.
Method is not appropriate for the hazard assessment of
chemicals.
12.05.2004 (80)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Photobacterium (Vibrio) fischeri (marine)
Exposure period : 5 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 8.2
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1981
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Although it is suggested that Microtox may lack


reproducibility due to variations in bacterial cell
suspensions [Bitton G (1983) Bacterial and Biochemical Tests
for Assessing Chemical Toxicity in the Aquatic Environment:
A Review. Crit Rev Environ Control 13: 51 -67], no
information is supplied on the maintenance of the
lyophilized bacteria, their age, duration of reconstitution
and other important parameters. In contrast to Bulich
[Bulich AA (1977), Aquatic Toxicology: Second conference
ASTM STP 667, American Society for Testing of Materials,
Philadelphia, pp 98 - 106], pH not buffered.
Test condition : 15 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin.
Method is not appropriate for the hazard assessment of
chemicals.
12.05.2004 (81)

Type : aquatic
Species : Escherichia coli (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 19 day(s)

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Unit :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : Incubation in microcosms containing sterile sea water


Result : Number of viable cells remained constant
Number of culturable cells decreased, no plasmids were
detected. Changes in membrane protein composition observed.
After transfer into rich medium without test substance,
growth resumed and plasmids were again detectable.
Test condition : Test concentration 1 µg/l, 18 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Tested organism not relevant for environment
12.05.2004 (82) (83)

Type : aquatic
Species : Pseudomonas putida (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 48 hour(s)
Unit :
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : in the culture medium absorbance at 660 nm was measured


Result : absorbance 0.46 with 0.5 g/l and 0.22 with 1 g/l
Test condition : 30 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Experimental details missing
12.05.2004 (84)

Type : aquatic
Species : Photobacterium phosphoreum (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 30 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 11.8
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox
Year : 1981
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Inhibition of bioluminescence


Secondary literature; not enough information for assessment
of cited result
Test condition : 20 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin.
Method is not appropriate for the hazard assessment of
chemicals
12.05.2004 (85)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: gentechnologically constructed luminescent bacteria
originating from wastewater treatment plant
Exposure period : 30 minute(s)
Unit : mg/l

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EC50 : 68 measured/nominal
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other: Microtox assay
Year : 1986
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Inhibition of bioluminescence


Modified microorganisms used which represent the metabolic
potentials present in a wastewater treatment plant and some
properties of a marine organism, but which are not identical
to any known species in natural environments
Test condition : - Wastewater bacteria (Eschericia coli) which were obtained
from a wastewater treatment plant
- Bacteria obtained the luciferase operon of Vibrio fischeri
by transfer from luminescent E. coli
- Incubation at 20 °C
- Result calculated from the difference of the luminescence
between controls and test substance taking into account the
light emissions at 0 and 20 °C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system. Organisms are of marine origin.
Method is not appropriate for the hazard assessment of
chemicals.
12.05.2004 (85)

Type : aquatic
Species : Escherichia coli (Bacteria)
Exposure period : 2 hour(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 1000
Method :
Year : 1954
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : endpoint related to growth inhibition


no effect on cell size
Test condition : 37 degrees C
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (86)

Type : aquatic
Species : Escherichia coli (Bacteria)
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
TT : 600
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1959
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Method : test organisms isolated from river water


endpoint: inhibition of glucose metabolism
Remark : TT = toxicity treshold; determined at 5 % effect compared to
control
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (60) (87)

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Type : aquatic
Species : Pseudomonas fluorescens (Bacteria)
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
TT : 40
Analytical monitoring : no
Method :
Year : 1960
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : TT = toxicity treshold; determined at 5 % effect compared to


control
endpoint: inhibition of glucose metabolism
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (60)

Type : aquatic
Species : other bacteria: Pseudomonas Stamm Berlin 33/2
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/l
EC0 : 180
Analytical monitoring : no
Method : other
Year : 1982
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Remark : Effect endpoint: cell multiplication inhibition


Reliability : (4) not assignable
Insufficient documentation
12.05.2004 (47)

Type : aquatic
Species : Paramaecium caudatum (Protozoa)
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : pertubation level 0.9 mg/l


Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature
12.05.2004 (61)

Type : aquatic
Species : other protozoa: Vorticella campanula
Exposure period :
Unit :
Method :
Year :
GLP :
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported

Result : pertubation level 0.5 mg/l


Reliability : (4) not assignable
secondary literature

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4.5.1 CHRONIC TOXICITY TO FISH

4.5.2 CHRONIC TOXICITY TO AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

4.6.1 TOXICITY TO SEDIMENT DWELLING ORGANISMS

4.6.2 TOXICITY TO TERRESTRIAL PLANTS

Species : other terrestrial plant: Lactuca sativa Ravel R2


Endpoint : growth
Exposure period : 14 day(s)
Unit : mg/kg soil dw
EC50 : 96
Method : OECD Guide-line 208 "Terrestrial Plants, Growth Test"
Year : 1993
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity >= 95 %

Method : analytical monitoring at start and end of test


Result : EC50 based on nominal concentration; for most of the
examined
phenols (including m-cresol) applied concentrations dropped
to < 20% of the nominal values
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Guideline study; applied test concentrations not stable
during the test period
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
12.05.2004 (88)

Species : other terrestrial plant: Lactuca sativa Ravel R2


Endpoint : growth
Exposure period : 16 day(s)
Unit : mg/l
EC50 : 50
Method :
Year : 1993
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity >= 95 %

Method : semistatic test in nutrient solution, renewed 3 times/week


nutrient solution as described in Steiner, A.A.: Soilless
culture. Proceedings, Sixth Colloqium of the International
Potash Institute, Florence, Italy, 324-341 (1968);
analytical monitoring of TS at start and end of exposure and
before renewal of test solution
Result : EC50 based on nominal concentration; TS concentration before
renewal of test solution > 50% of initial concentration
Reliability : (3) invalid
unsuitable test system
11.02.2003 (88)

Species : Raphanus sativus (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate

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Exposure period : 4 day(s)


Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled water


24 degrees C, 10h light, 14 h dark
3 replicates of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate %
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0 - -
1 0 5.3 2.0 -
0.1 82.6 95.0 80.8 104.7
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (89)

Species : Brassica rapa (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled water


24 degrees C, 10h light, 14 h dark
3 replicates of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate %
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0 - -
1 0 0 - -
0.1 85.8 91.5 54.9 72.8
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (89)

Species : Brassica campestris var. chinensis (Dicotyledon)


Endpoint : other: germination and growth rate
Exposure period : 4 day(s)
Unit : g/l
Method :
Year : 1989
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, special grade purity (obtained from Wako Pure
Chemicals Industries, Ltd.)

Method : seeds exposed to test compounds dissolved in distilled water


24 degrees C, 10h light, 14 h dark
3 replicates of 20 seeds
Result : Concentr. Germination rate% Growth rate %
g/l 1 day 4 days Radicle Hypocotyl

10 0 0 - -

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1 0 0 - -
0.1 100 100 86.5 77.1
Reliability : (3) invalid
Methodological deficiencies
12.05.2004 (89)

4.6.3 TOXICITY TO SOIL DWELLING ORGANISMS

4.6.4 TOX. TO OTHER NON MAMM. TERR. SPECIES

Species : other avian: Agelaius phoeniceus (red-winged blackbird)


Endpoint : mortality
Exposure period :
Unit : mg/kg bw
LD50 oral : 113
Method :
Year : 1983
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol

Test condition : birds pre-conditioned to captivity for 2 to 6 weeks


dosed by gavage with solution in propylene glycol or by
pellets resp. gelatin capsules
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
Unsuitable test system
11.02.2003 (90)

4.7 BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS MONITORING

4.8 BIOTRANSFORMATION AND KINETICS

Remark : In aquarium water of 12 species of freshwater fish 48 h


after exposure to 3-15 mg/l m-cresol, cresyl sulphate
(55-64% of 14C recovered) or m-hydroxybenzoic acid (0-39 %)
were found
In bile of 11 species, cresyl glucuronide (63-74 %), cresyl
sulphate (8-20 %) and m-hydrobenzoic acid (5-12 %) were
found
Unchanged m-cresol detected in both aquarium water and bile
Test substance : m-[U-14C]cresol
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
17.10.2001 (91)

4.9 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Memo : Sea urchin test

Remark : Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (sea urchin):


static test, 5 degrees C
Determined effect endpoints: death, pathology, inhibition of
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cleavage and differentiation, pigment defects


EC50 (96 h): ca. 30 mg/l
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, purity > 98 % as determined by GC (obtained from
Merck)
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
No standard test procedure, but in accordance with generally
accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient
detail
12.05.2004 (46)

Memo : Tree neoplasms

Remark : m-cresol (1.5 % v/v) showed a toxicity rating from 3-4 (0 =


no injury, 5 = complete kill within 14 d) in tomato crown
gall tumors incited by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
12.05.2004 (92)

Memo : Hela cell screening

Remark : In a rapid-cell culture assay with HeLa cells, m-cresol (4x10-5 to 4x10-3 M,
4 h incubation) showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of 3H labeled
thymidine incorporation into DNA incubation 4 h
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Reliability : (3) invalid
Unsuitable test system
12.05.2004 (93) (94)

Memo : Mollusc

Remark : Teredo diegensis (Mollusca):


LC50 (72 h): 100 mg/l
Test substance : other TS: m-cresol, no purity reported
Reliability : (4) not assignable
Reference not available
12.05.2004 (54)

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5.0 TOXICOKINETICS, METABOLISM AND DISTRIBUTION

In Vitro/in vivo : In vivo


Type : Toxicokinetics
Species : other
Number of animals
Males :
Females :
Doses
Males :
Females :
Vehicle :

Result : At physiological pH, the conjugated metabolite of phenolic


compounds are ionized to a greater extent than the parent
compound, which reduces renal reabsorption and increases
elimination with the urine.
In addition to urinary excretion, cresols are excreted in
the bile, butr the most part undergoes enterohepatic
circulation.
there are known species differences in the specific
conjugation reactions of cresol isomers. The relative
amounts of gluucuronide and sulfate conjugates therefore
differ between species and also vary with dose.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
basic information
09.01.2003 (95) (96) (97) (98)

5.1.1 ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY

5.1.2 ACUTE INHALATION TOXICITY

17.06.2002

5.1.3 ACUTE DERMAL TOXICITY

17.06.2002

5.1.4 ACUTE TOXICITY, OTHER ROUTES

17.06.2002

5.2.1 SKIN IRRITATION

Species : rabbit
Concentration : undiluted
Exposure : Semiocclusive
Exposure time : 4 hour(s)

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Number of animals : 3
Vehicle : other: none
PDII :
Result : corrosive
Classification :
Method : other: in accordance with classification of corrosive hazards, Fed. Reg. Vol.
37, No.57, §173.240 - D.O.T., see freetext ME
Year : 1972
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data on purity and composition of mixture

Method : 0.5 ml of undiluted sample was applied to the clipped,


intact skin of 3 New Zealand white male and female rabbits
under 1 inch square patch, 2 single layers thick. The
patches were held in place with adhesive tape in such a
manner that evaporation was retarded, but not prevented, for
the 4 hour exposure period.
The data were scored according to the method of Draize,
Woodward and Calvery (J. of Pharm. Exp. therapeutics Vol.
82, December, 1944)
Result : 4-Hours: necrosis, severe edema
24 hours: eschar formation (corrosive)
Scab sloughed off in 14 - 17 days showing injury in depth
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only a summary description: individual animal data not
given, no purity of the TS given
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
16.12.2002 (99)

5.2.2 EYE IRRITATION

5.3 SENSITIZATION

Type : other
Species : guinea pig
Number of animals :
Vehicle : other: acetone
Result : not sensitizing
Classification :
Method : other: a 7,5 % solution of a mixture of m- and p-cresol in acetone was
repeatedly supplied to the skin of guinea pig
Year : 1998
GLP : no data
Test substance : other TS: mixture of m- and p-cresol, not specified further

Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


limited documentation
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
05.02.2004 (100)

04.12.2002

5.4 REPEATED DOSE TOXICITY

Type : Sub-chronic
Species : rat
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Sex : male/female
Strain : other: F334/N
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 13 w
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in feed
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 1880, 3750, 7500, 15000, 30000 ppm (see RM)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
NOAEL : 3750 ppm
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


20 male and 20 female rats (10 of each group designated for
clinical pathology studies)
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 12-13 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into
groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 rat ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:
temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %,
Fluorescent light: 12 hrs/day, room air changes: 10-12
changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly,
and at termination, feed consumption by cage recorded twice
weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy performed on all animals. A complete
histopathologic examination was conducted on all control
animals, all animals in the highest dose group with at least
60 % survivors at study termination, and all aninmals in
higher dose groups inclusive of early deaths. The following
organs and/or tissues were included in complete
histopathological examinations, as well as any tissue
masses, gross lesions, and associated regional lymph nodes:
adrenals, aorta, bone (sternebrae, femur, or vertebrae,
including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral gland,
epididymis, oesophagus, heart, kidney, large intestines
(caecum, colon,rectum), liver, lungs, lymph nodes
(mesenteric), mammary glands, nasal cavity and turbinates,
oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroids, pharynx,
pituitary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary glands,
scrotal sac, seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine
(duodenum, ileum, jejunum), spleen, stomach, testes, thymus,
thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica vaginalis, urinary bladder,
uterus and Zymbal's glands. For lower level dose groups, all
gross lesions and the following target organs were examined
histopathologically: bone marrow, nasal mucosa, thyroid
gland, uterus. Organ weights recorded for brain, liver,
right kidney, thymus, heart, and lungs of all animals, and
the right testis of all males.
HAEMATOLOGIC, CLINICAL CHEMISTRY, and URINALYSIS
determinations included.
haematocrit, haemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean cell
volume (only females), meam cell haemoglobin, mean cell
haemoglobin concentration (only females), platelets,
reticulocytes, white blood cell count, lymphocytes,

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monocytes, eosinophila, urea nitrogen, alanine


aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase,
sorbitoldehydrogenase, bile acids, urine aspartate
aminotransferase, urine n-acetyl-ß-glucose amidase, urine
volume, specific gravity
reproductive toxicity evaluation as described in chapter
5.8.3.
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparison test of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test,
arcine transformation,
multivariate analysis of variance
Remark : mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):
males females
0 ppm 0 0
1880 ppm 123 131
3750 ppm 241 254
7500 ppm 486 509
15000 ppm 991 1024
30000 ppm 2014 2050
Result : All rats lived to the end of the study;
clinical signs of toxicity: 30000 ppm: males, females, rough
hair coat, urine-stained fur; females, thin appearance;
15000-3750 ppm: females, urine stained fur
15000, 30000 ppm: males, females, final body weight reduced;
females, reduced weight gain; 30000 ppm: males, weight gain
reduced; males, females, reduced feed consumption during the
first week
At study termination weights (w) were sign. increased
(mainly p </= 0.05):
Brain (males, rel. w. at 30000 ppm ; females, rel. w. from
15000 ppm), heart (males, abs. w. from 15000 ppm; females,
abs. w. at 30000 ppm), lungs (males, females, abs. w. from
15000 ppm; males, rel. w. at 30000 ppm), thymus ( males and
females abs. w. at 30000 ppm), right kidney (male,rel. w.
from 7500 ppm, abs w from 15000 ppm; females: rel. w. at
30000 ppm), liver (males, abs. w. from 3750 ppm, rel. w.
from 7500 ppm; females, rel. and abs. w from 7500 ppm) and
in males relative weights of right testes from 15000 ppm.

Microscopically, the following changes were reported (contr.


low to high dose, average severity score based on a scale of
1 to 4 given[1 = minimal, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 =
marked]):
Nose (respiratory epithelium hyperplasia, male: 0/10,
3/10[1.0], 8/10[1.1], 10/10[1.4], 8/10[2.2],10/10[3.8];
female: 3/10[1.0],1/10[1.0], 5/10[1.2], 9/10[1.7],
8/10[2.0], 10/10[2.8] and glandular hyperplasia, male: 0/10,
3/10[1.0], 8/10[1.5], 10/10[1.6], 9/10[2.6], 9/10[3.8];
female: 0/10, 2/10[1.0], 6/10[1.3], 10/10[2.1], 8/10[2.5],
6/10[2.8], no evidence of other inflammatory or degenerative
changes),
thyroid gland (increased colloid in follicles: males: 0/10,
0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 7/10[1.1], 9/10[1.6]; females: 0/10, 0/10,
0/10, 0/10, 6/10[1.0]),
the biological significance is uncertain (the effect was not
noted in studies with the individual isomers, nor was it
associated with overt follicular cell hypertrophy and/or
hyperplasia)
bone marrow (hypocellularity: males: 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10,
1/10[1.0], 8/10[1.0]; females: 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10,

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6/10[1.0]) and
uterus atrophy in females: 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10,
3/10[1.0], 7/10[1.7].

Evaluation of other reproductive organs (see also chapter


5.8.3) revealed no significant findings in males but
lengthened oestrus cycle in females significant from 7500
ppm

Haematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis data (only sign.


changes, incidences not given):
haematocrit (male, female, increase, 30000 ppm, d5; female,
decrease, d43 from 15000 ppm), haemoglobin (increase, male,
female, d5, 30000 ppm), red blood cell count (increase,
male, female, d5, d21, 30000 ppm), mean cell volume
(decrease, female, 30000 ppm at d5, from 15000 ppm d21 to
d90), mean cell haemoglobin (decrease, female, 30000 ppm,
d21, d90), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (increase,
female, from 15000 ppm d5, d43), platelet count (increase,
male, 15000 ppm, d21; 30000 ppm, d21, d43; female, d21 from
7500 ppm, d43 at 15000 ppm), reticulocytes (decrease,
female, from 15000 ppm d5), white blood cell count
(increase, male, d21, 15000 ppm), lymphocytes (male,
increase, d21, 15000 ppm), monocytes (male, increased from
1880 ppm at d5; female, decrease d90 at 30000 ppm),
urea nitrogen (male, increase, from 15000 ppm at d5,
decrease from 1880 ppm at d43 and from 15000 ppm at d90;
female, increase at d 5 from 3750 ppm, decrease at d43 from
3750 ppm),
alanine aminotransferase (increase, d5: male, 30000 ppm,
female from 15000 ppm), alkaline phosphatase (male,
decrease, d21 from 15000 ppm, d43, 7500 ppm, 30000 ppm),
5'-nucleotidase (decrease, male, d5 30000 ppm, d21 from 3750
ppm, d43 from 7500 ppm, d90 30000 ppm: female, d5 from 15000
ppm, d21, d43 from 7500 ppm, d90 from 3750 ppm), sorbitol
dehydrogenase (male, increase d5 from 7500 ppm), bile acids
(increase, male, d5 from 15000 ppm and at 30000 ppm, d21,
d43, and d90 at 3750 ppm and 30000 ppm; female, d21 from
1880 ppm, d43 from 15000 ppm, d90 30000 ppm),
urine aspartate aminotransferase (male, increase, d43, d90,
from 7500 ppm; female, decrease, d41, from 3750 ppm), urine
N-acetyl-ß-glucose aminidase (increase, male, d41, from 7500
ppm, d90 from 15000 ppm; female, d90 30000 ppm), urine
volume (decrease, male, d41 30000 ppm, d90 from 7500 ppm),
specific gravity (increase, male, d41,d90, from 7500 ppm)

local toxicity: NOAEL(male, female): < 1880 ppm


systemic toxicty: NOAEL(male, female): 3750 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
16.12.2002 (101)

Type : Sub-chronic
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 13 w
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in feed
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 625, 1250, 2500, 5000, 10000 ppm (see RM)

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Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment


NOAEL : 2500 ppm
Method : other: see freetext ME
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


10 male and 10 female mice per group
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 12-13 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into
groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 mouse ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:
temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %,
Fluorescent light: 12 hrs/day, room air changes : 10-12
changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly,
and at termination, feed consumption by cage recorded twice
weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy performed on all animals. A complete
histopathologic examination was conducted on all control
animals, all animals in the highest dose group with at least
60 % survivors at study termination, and all aninmals in
higher dose groups inclusive of early deaths. The following
organs an/or tissues were included in complete
histopathological examinations, as well as any tissue
masses, gross lesions, and associated regional lymph nodes:
adrenals, aorta, bone (sternebrae, femur, or vertebrae,
including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral gland,
epididymis, oesophagus, gallbladder, heart, kidney, large
intestines (caecum, colon,rectum), liver, lungs, lymph nodes
(mesenteric), mammary glands, nasal cavity and turbinates,
oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroids, pharynx,
pituitary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary glands,
scrotal sac, seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine
(duodenum, ileum, jejunum), spleen, stomach, testes, thymus,
thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica vaginalis, urinary bladder,
uterus and Zymbal's glands. For lower level dose groups, all
gross lesions and the following target organs were examined
histopathologically: nasal mucosa. Organ weights recorded
for brain, liver, right kidney, thymus, heart, and lungs of
all animals, and the right testis of all males.
Haematologic, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis
determinations performed at necropsy. Sperm morphology and
vaginal cytology< examinations were performed.
HAEMATOLOGY and CLINICAL CHEMISTRY DATA:
haematocrit, haemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean cell
volume (only male), mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell
haemoglobin concentration, platelets, reticulocytes, white
blood cell count, urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine
aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase,
sorbitol dehydrogenase (only male)
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparisontest of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test,
arcsine transformation,
multivariate analysis of variance

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Remark : mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):


males females
0 ppm 0 0
625 ppm 96 116
1250 ppm 194 239
2500 ppm 402 472
5000 ppm 776 923
10000 ppm 1513 1693
Result : All mice lived to the end of the study;
as clinical signs of toxicity rough fur in females of the
10000 ppm-group.
10000 ppm: male, female reduced final body weight, slightly
decreased feed consumption, males: reduced body weight gain

At study termination significantly increased abs. and rel.


liver weight were noted from males at 5000 ppm (abs:
p</=0.05; rel: p</=0.01) and 10000 ppm (p</=0.01) and
relative liver weights in females at 10000 ppm (p</=0.01).

Microscopical examination:
liver: no changes were observed (both sexes);
nose (contr. low to high dose, average severity score based
on a scale of 1 to 4 given[1 = minimal, 2 = mild, 3 =
moderate, 4 = marked]):
respiratory epithelium hyperplasia: male, 1/10[1.0], 0/10,
0/10, 0/10, 4/10[1.0], 8/10[1.0]; female, 2/10[1.5], 0/10,
0/10, 3/10[1.0], 2/10[1.0], 5/10[1.0]
respiratory glandular hyperplasia: male, 1/10[1.0], 0/10,
0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 2/10[1.0]; female, 1/10[1.0], 0/10,0/10,
0/10, 07/10, 2/10[1.5]

Evaluation of reproductive organs revealed no biologically


sign. findings in males and females (see also chapter 5.8.3
for further information)
Hematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis data (sign.
changes):
In males at 30000 ppm, d90.haemoglobin as significantly
reduced and Sorbitol dehydrogenase was significantly
increased. In Females hemoglobin was reduced on d90 at 30000
ppm and 5'-Nucleotidase was significantly increased on d 90
from 5000 ppm.

local toxicity: NOAEL(male, female): 2500 ppm


systemic toxicity:
NOAEL(male): 2500 ppm; NOAEL(female): 5000 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
04.05.2004 (101)

Type : Sub-acute
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: F344/N
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in feed
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm (see RM)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
NOAEL : 1000 ppm
Method : other: see freetext ME

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Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


5 male and 5 female rats per group
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 13-15 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into
groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 rat ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:
temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %,
Fluorescent light: 12 hrs/day, room air changes : 10-12
changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly,
and at termination, feed consumption by cage recorded twice
weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy and tissue collection performed for all animals. A
complete histopathologic examination was conducted on all
control animals, all animals in the highest dose group with
at least 60 % survivors at study termination, and all
aninmals in higher dose groups inclusive of early deaths.
The following organs and/or tissues were included in
complete histopathological examinations, as well as any
tissue masses, gross lesions, and associated regional lymph
nodes: adrenals, aorta, bone (sternebrae, femur, or
vertebrae, including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral
gland, epididymis, oesophagus, heart, kidney, large
intestines (caecum, colon, rectum), liver, lungs, lymph
nodes (mesenteric), mammary glands, nasal cavity and
turbinates, oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroids,
pharynx, pituirary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary
glands, scrotal sac, seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine
(duodenum, ileum, jejunum), spleen, stomach, testes, thymus,
thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica vaginalis, urinary bladder,
uterus and Zymbal's glands.Target organs and gross lesions
were examined at lowere doses until a no-observed chemical
effect was determined. Target organs included the following:
nasal epithelium, bone marrow, forestomach, oesophagus,
thyroid and uterus. Organ weights recorded for brain, liver,
right kidney, thymus, heart, and lungs of all animals, and
the right testis of all males.
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparison test of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test
Remark : mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):
males females
0 ppm 0 0
300 ppm 26 27
1000 ppm 90 95
3000 ppm 261 268
10000 ppm 877 886
30000 ppm 2600 2570
Result : All rats survived.
30000 ppm: Body weight gain was significantly reduced in
males and females, feed consumption was depressed during
the first week, all rats had thin appearance by day 6 not
beyond d 7.

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At study termination, weights (w) were sign. increased:


brain (males: rel. w. at 30000 ppm, p</=0.01)), right kidney
(males: rel. w. from 10000 ppm, p</=0.05); females: abs. and
rel. from 10000 ppm, p</=0.05), liver (males: rel. from 3000
ppm, p</=0.05 and absol. at 10000 ppm, p</=0.05; females:
rel and absol. w. from 1000 ppm, p</=0.05), and rel right
testes weight in males at 30000 ppm (p</=0.01).
No gross lesions were noted at necropsy.
Microscopically no changes were reported from brain, liver
and kidney.
Microscopically changes: (avarage severity score based on a
scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal. 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=marked),
contr., low to high dose):
respiratory epithelium in the nasal cavity (hyperplasia:
males, 0/5, 0/5, 0/5, 5/5[2.0], 5/5[2.4], 5/5[3.2]; female,
0/5, 0/5, 3/4[1.0], 5/5[1.6], 5/5[1.6], 5/5[2.8]),
thyroid gland (increased colloid in the follicles: males,
0/5, low dose: not performed, 0/5, 3/5[1.0], 5/5[1.0],
5/5[1.8]; female,1/5[1.0], low dose not performed, 0/5[1.0],
4/5[1.0], 5/5[1.8], 4/5[3.2], the biological significance is
uncertain (not noted with the individual isomers,nor
associated with overt follicular cell hypertrophy and/or
hyperplasia),
oesophagus (hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis of the
epithelium: males, females, minimal from 3000 ppm),
forestomach (hyperplasia of the epithelium: males, females,
minimal from 10000 ppm; females, minimal hyperkeratosis from
10000 ppm)
and bone marrow (hypocellularity: males, minimal from 30000
ppm; females, minimal from 10000 ppm)

local toxicity: NOAEL(male, female): 300 ppm


systemic toxicty: NOAEL(male, female): 1000 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
02.05.2003 (101)

Type : Sub-acute
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in feed
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm (see RM)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
NOAEL : 300 ppm
Method : other: EPA OTS 7952600
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Method : SIZE OF STUDY GROUP:


5 male and 5 female mice per group
TIME HELD BEFORE STUDY: 13-15 days
METHOD OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION:
randomized for each sex on the basis of body weight into
groups per sex
DIET: NIH-07 mouse ration
ANIMAL ROOM ENVIRONMENT:

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temperature: 72° +/-3° F, humidity: 50 % +/-15 %,


Fluorescent light: 12 hrs/day, room air changes : 10-12
changes/hr
TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF OBSERVATION:
observed twice daily, body weight taken initially, weekly,
and at termination, feed consumption by cage recorded twice
weekly
NECROPSY AND HISTOLOGIC EXAMINATION:
necropsy and tissue collection performed for all animals. A
complete histopathologic examination was conducted on all
control animals, all animals in the highest dose group with
at least 60 % survivors at study termination, and all
aninmals in higher dose groups inclusive of early deaths.
The following organs and/or tissues were included in
complete histopathological examinations, as well as any
tissue masses, gross lesions, and associated regional lymph
nodes: adrenals, aorta, bone (sternebrae, femur, or
vertebrae, including marrow), brain, bronchi, clitoral
gland, epididymis, oesophagus, gallbladder, heart, kidney,
large intestines (caecum, colon, rectum), liver, lungs,
lymph nodes (mesenteric), mammary glands, nasal cavity and
turbinates, oral cavity, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroids,
pharynx, pituitary, preputial gland, prostate, salivary
glands, scrotal sac, seminal vesicles, skin, small intestine
(duodenum, ileum, jejunum), spleen, stomach, testes, thymus,
thyroid, tongue, trachea, tunica vaginalis, urinary bladder,
uterus and Zymbal's glands. Target organs and gross lesions
were examined at lower doses until a no-observed chemical
effect was determined. Target organs included the following:
nasal epithelium, bone marrow, forestomach, oesophagus, lung
and uterus and ovaries. Organ weights recorded for brain,
liver, right kidney, thymus, heart, and lungs of all
animals, and the right testis of all males.
STATISTICAL METHODS:
nonparametric multiple comparison test of Dunn and Shirley,
Jonckheere's test
Remark : mean compound consumption (mg/kg bw/day):
males females
0 ppm 0 0
300 ppm 50 65
1000 ppm 161 200
3000 ppm 471 604
10000 ppm 1490 1880
30000 ppm 4530 4730
Result : No effect on survival;
clinical signs of toxicity in males and females: alopecia,
dehydration, hunched posture, hypothermia, lethargy, rough
hair coat, thin appearance.
30000 ppm, males, females: weight loss; decreased feed
consumption during the first week and during the third week
(females only);
30000 and 10000 ppm: sign. decreased weight gain,
At study termination weights (w) were sign. increased:
brain (male, female: abs. and rel. w at 30000 ppm,
p</=0.01), right kidney (male: abs. w at 30000 ppm,
p</=0.01; female: rel. w at 30000 ppm, p</=0.05), liver
(male: rel. w from 1000 ppm, p</=0.05; female: rel. and abs.
w from 3000 ppm, p</=0.05) and right testes in males at
30000 ppm (p</=0.01)
No gross lesions were observed at necropsy.
Microscopically no changes were reported from brain, kidney

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and liver.
Microscopic changes which were characterized by average
severity score based on scale of 1 to 4 (1=minimal, 2=mild,
3=moderate, 4=marked) were reported from
nose (contr., low dose to high dose, respiratory epithelium
hyperplasia: male, 0/5, 300 and 1000 ppm: not performed,
0/5, 1/5[1.0], 5/5[1.6]; female, 2/5[1.5], low dose: not
performed, 0/5, 3/5[1.0], 3/5[1.7], 4/5[1.5]; olfactorium
epithelium: at 30000 ppm, male, atrophy 2/5[1.0] and
respiratory metaplasia 3/5 [1.3]; female, olfactory
epithelium respiratory metaplasia at 30000 ppm, 2/5[1.0]),
lung (bronchiolar hyperplasia, minimal in males and females
at 30000 ppm),
oesophagus (males, minimum hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis at
30000 ppm),
forestomach (males, at 30000 ppm, minimal hyperplasia of the
squamous epithelium),
bone marrow (minimal hypocellularity at 30000 ppm),
atrophy of the ovary (mild) and uterus (moderate) at 30000
ppm

local toxicity:
NOAEL(male): 3000 ppm; NOAEL(female): 1000 ppm systemic
toxicity:
NOAEL(male): 300 ppm; NOAEL(female): 1000 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
05.02.2004 (101)

Type : Sub-acute
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : CD-1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 14 d
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Post exposure period : no
Doses : 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 % (target dose: 0, 375, 750, 1500, 2250,
3000, 4500 mg/kg bw)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Method : other: NTP continuous breeding protocol, task 1 see freetext ME
Year : 1990
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%/40%)

Method : 48 male and 48 female mice: 8 per sex per dose, data
collected included clinical signs, individual body weights,
feed and water consumption, mortality data
Result : mortality:
3.0 %-gr.: 1/8 (12.5 %) males, 1/8 (12.5 %) females (due to
indeterminant causes)
Clinical signs:
all mice in 3.0 %-, and some in 2.0 %- and 1.0 %-group:
lethargy, hunched back, squinted eyes, rough coat
dose related reduced feed consumption, water consumption and
reduced body weight gain
3 %-group: sign. terminal weight loss of males and females
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
preliminary dose range finding study for the two generation
reproductive study: see also chapter 5.8.1
04.09.2002 (102)

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5.5 GENETIC TOXICITY ‘IN VITRO‘

Type : Ames test


System of testing : Salmonella typhimurium TA 97, TA98, TA100, TA 1535
Test concentration : 0, 10, 33, 100 333, 1000, 3333 , 6666 ug/plate dissolved in DMSO
Cycotoxic concentr. : High dose was limited by toxicity or solubility
Metabolic activation : with and without
Result : negative
Method : other: EPA OTS 798.5265, see also fretext ME
Year : 1990
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m/p-cresol (60/40),

Method : detailed protocol in Zeiger 1988 Environ. Molec. Mutagen. 11 (Suppl.12), 1-


158: The metabolic activation system was prepared from Aroclor 1254-
induced male Sprague-Dawley rat and male Syrian hamster livers, and
used as 10% or 30% concentrations
SOLVENT: DMSO
CONTROL. DMSO and 2-aminoanthracene, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine,
sodium azide, 9-aminoacridine served as negative and positive controls,
respectively.
Remark : The positive control was functional.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
only 4 strains were used
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
05.02.2004 (101)

5.6 GENETIC TOXICITY ‘IN VIVO‘

Type : Micronucleus assay


Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 13 weeks
Doses : 0, 625, 1250, 2500, 5000, 10000 ppm (approx. m: 0,96, 194, 402, 776,
1513mg/kg bw; f: 116, 239, 472, 923, 1693 mg/kg bw)
Result : negative
Method : other: see ME
Year : 1990
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m/p-Cresol: 60:40

Method : 10 mice/sex/dose treated for 13 weeks (see also Chapter 5.4)


at termination smears were prepared from blood sampled by
cardiac puncture from control and dosed mice: 10000
normochromatic erythrocytes from each mice scored for
micronuclei
Remark : for signs of toxicity see chapter 5.4
Result : No significant elevation in the frequency of micronucleated
erythrocytes was observed in either male or female mice
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
not fully in accordance with the guideline, e.g. no positive
control
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
16.12.2002 (101)

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Type : other
Species : Drosophila melanogaster
Sex : no data
Strain : other: Berlin - Wild Type eggs
Route of admin. : other: see method
Exposure period : other: see method
Doses : other: see method
Result : negative
Method : other: Isolated ovaries of Berlin wild Typ Drosophila melanogaster were
treated with cresol (1:10^3) for 15 min and then implanted into a host. The
chromosomes of the descendants were examined.
Year : 1949
GLP : no
Test substance : other TS: no data

Result : no mutations were found.


Reliability : (4) not assignable
unusual test method
23.10.2002 (103)

5.7 CARCINOGENICITY

17.06.2002

17.06.2002

5.8.1 TOXICITY TO FERTILITY

Type : other: Reproductive Assessment by Continuous breeding (RACB)


Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : CD-1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 14 w
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in diet
Premating exposure period
Male : 7d
Female : 7d
Duration of test : 41 w
No. of generation : 2
studies
Doses : 0, 0.25, 1.0, 1.5 % (target dosage: 0, 375, 1500, 2250 mg/kg bw/day)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
NOAEL parental : .25 %
other: NOAEL (Fertility : 1 %
F0, F1)
Method : other: NTP 2 generation continuous breeding protocol, see freetext ME
Year : 1990
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Method : NTP continuous breeding protocol:


Task 1:
dose-finding, see Chapter 5.4
Task 2:
reproduction and fertility study: 20 ps/group, 40 ps

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(contr.); exposure period, F0: 7d prior to cohousing, 98 d


(14 w) of continuous breeding, then pairs were seperated and
any litters born after the final litter were reared by the
dams until weaning, at the end of week 15: evaluation of
clinical signs, parenteral bw, fertility (number producing a
litter/number of breeding pairs), litters per pair, live
pups per litter, proportion of pups born alive, sex of live
pups, pup body weights within 24 hrs of birth, feed and
water consumption.
Task 3:
determination of the affected sex only when pos. effects on
reproductive function during task 2:
one week crossover mating trial with parental mice from
control and high dose groups, vaginal cytology evaluation
for 12 d prior to sacrifice; low dose and mid dose mice were
hold for necropsy together with task 3 mice: body and organ
weight determination and sperm evaluation of all males.
Task 4:
offspring assessment: mice born after week 15 were kept
until maturity and cohabited for 7 d and housed singly until
delivery, collection of vaginal smears, body and selcted
organ weights, epididymal and testicular spermatozoa
evaluation, mating index, pregnancy index, fertility index,
live F2 pups per litter, proportion of F2 pups born alive,
sex ratio, live F2 pup weight, adjusted live F2 pup weight,
average dam weight, average number of days to litter
Statistical methods:
Test for linear trend: ANOVA
Turkey's test for pairwise compairison to controls
nonparametric multiple comparison procedures of Dunn and
Shirley as modified by Williams
Jonckheere's test
Cochran-Annitage test
Chi-square test
parametric analysis of covariance
F-test,
Dunn's test
Result : F0:
mortality:
7 mice died: 2 in the controlgr., 2 in the 1.5 % dose-gr., 1
in the 1.0 %-dose-gr., 2 in the 0.25 %-dose-gr.
1.0 and 1.5 %-group:
reduced body weight gain and feed consumption after 16 w,
especially in delivering and lactating dams
1.5 %-group:
decreased bw, increased liver and kidney weight
all mice:
reproductive competence was not affected, including inital
fertility, the proportion of pups born alive or the sex of
the pups born alive,
1.5 % -group:
adjusted live pup weight and the number of pups per litter
(both sexes) were decreased by 5% and 20%, respectively;
cumulative days to fifth litter were increased by almost 3 d
compared to control
1.5 %-group, males:
decreased epididymal and seminal vesicle weights by 10 and
21 %, respectively, but no change in testis weight, sperm
parameters or testicular and epididymal histology

Cross over mating did not clearly reveal the affected sex,

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as the only parameter affected (adjusted live pup weight)


was decreased if either sex was dosed.

F1-pups: 1.5 %-group:


birth weights decreased by 5 %, decreased preweaning growth
by 26 % and postweaning survival decreased by 39 %
clinical signs: reduced size, dehydratation, lethargy, rough
coat
F1-adults:
no effect on reproductive performance:
1.0 and 1.5%-group, male:
decreased bw, decreased reproductive organ weights
(prostate, seminal vesicles, testes), but no effects on
sperm parameters or histology, increased relative liver and
kidney weights
1 and 1.5 %-group, female:
terminal bw reduced
0.25-, 1.0-, and 1.5 %-group, female:
ovarian weight reduced, kidney- and liver-weights increased
no effect of treatment on oestrous cyclicity and ovarian or
liver and kidney histology

NOAEL(F0, F1, general toxicity): 0.25 %, based on


differences in bw and organ weights to the concurrent
controls.
Reproductive competence of F0, F1-generation was not
affected by treatment.
NOAEL(fertility, F0, F1): 1 %
F0-generation 1.5 % - group: decreased adjusted live pups
weights, decreased number of live pups per litter and
increase of the cumulative days to the fifth litter
F1 generation 1.5 % -group: live pup weights and adjusted
live pup weights reduced.
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
05.02.2004 (102)

5.8.2 DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY/TERATOGENICITY

19.06.2002

5.8.3 TOXICITY TO REPRODUCTION, OTHER STUDIES

Type : other:
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: F344/N
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 13 w
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : 13 w
Doses : 0, 1880, 7500, 30000 ppm
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Result : See freetext RS

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Method : other: determination of sperm motility and concentration in males and


length of oestrus cycle and vaginal cytology following repeated dose
according EPA OPP 82-1
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Remark : see also chapter 5.4.


Result : males:
no difference to the respective controls in weights of right
testicle, right epididymis, right epididymal tail, no
difference in the concentration of viable sperm, only slight
but sign. reduced sperm motility at 30000 ppm
females: increased oestrus cycle length from 7500 ppm
Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
16.12.2002 (101)

Type : other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 13 w
Frequency of treatm. : daily
Duration of test : 13 w
Doses : 0, 625, 2500, 10000 ppm
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Result : No findings
Method : other: determination of sperm motility and concentration in males and
length of oestrus cycle and vaginal cytology following repeated dose
according EPA OPP 82-1
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m-/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Remark : see also chapter 5.4.


Reliability : (1) valid without restriction
Flag : Critical study for SIDS endpoint
18.06.2002 (101)

Type : other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : rat
Sex : male/female
Strain : other: F344/N
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in feed
Duration of test : 28 d
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm (m: 0, 26, 90, 261, 877, 2600 mg/kg
bw; f: 0, 27, 95, 268, 886, 2570 mg/kg bw)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Result : male, 30000 ppm: increased right testes weight without histopathologic
correlate
Method : other: description in chapter 5.4
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

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Reliability : (1) valid without restriction


12.11.2002 (101)

Type : other
In vitro/in vivo : In vivo
Species : mouse
Sex : male/female
Strain : B6C3F1
Route of admin. : oral feed
Exposure period : 28 d
Frequency of treatm. : continuously in feed
Duration of test : 28 d
Doses : 0, 300, 1000, 3000, 10000, 30000 ppm (m: 0, 50, 161, 471, 1490, 4530
mg/kg bw; f: 0, 65, 200, 604, 1880, 4730 mg/kg bw)
Control group : yes, concurrent no treatment
Result : m, 30000 ppm: increased testes weight without histopathologic correlate; f,
30000 ppm: atrophy of ovaries and uterus
Method : other: see chapter 5.4.
Year : 1991
GLP : yes
Test substance : other TS: m/p-cresol (60%:40% mixture)

Reliability : (1) valid without restriction


05.09.2002 (101)

5.9 SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIONS

5.10 EXPOSURE EXPERIENCE

Remark : Case Report: Muenchhausen's Syndrome with multiple skin


ulcers caused by cresol is the diagnosis resulting from the
findings of a 25 years old female nursing student.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (104)

Remark : It is reported that mortality from bladder cancer was


increased among molders in the foundry industry. The author
suggest that cresols might act as tumour promotor.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (105)

Remark : It is reported that 2 patients with chronic exposure to


cresol or creosote developed multifocal transitional
carcinoma of the bladder with muscle invasion.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
16.01.2003 (106)

Remark : Case Report: A 52 year old man attempted to commit suicide


by ingesting approximately 100 ml of penetrating oil, a
petroleum distillate containing 85% kerosine, 12% mixed
cresols, 2% surfactant and 1% artificial colour. He revealed
a massive intravascular Heinz-body hemolytic anemia
associated with the presence of bizarre-looking
erythrocytes. He was treated successfully.

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Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions


16.01.2003 (107)

Remark : Case Report: A 74 old widow died after ingestion of an


overdose of lysol. Post morten findings: lower third of the
oesophagus and the whole of the stomach lining were bleached
white, areas of mucosal desquamation, pylorus and duodenum
showed a marked degree of congestion; 30.4 mg/100 ml mixed
cresols in the urine, 48.0 mg/100 g mixed cresols in the
liver; 19.0 mg/100 ml mixed cresols in the blood.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
16.01.2003 (108)

Remark : A 76 year old unmarried woman swallowed an unknown quantity


of lysol. She was found shortly afterwards unconscious, and
despite resuscitative measures, she died within 2 hours;
post mortem findings: oesophagus, denuded of mucosa, was
deep purple; stomach dilated, containing 500 ml chocolate -
coloured fluid, mucosa: dark brown, necrotic; small
perforations on the anterior gastric wall; trachea and
bronchi with mucosal oedema, lungs congested; 90 mg mixed
cresols/100 g liver; 39.6 mg mixed cresols/100 g kidney ;
7.1 mg mixed cresols/100 ml blood.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
16.01.2003 (108)

Remark : Case report: A 46 year old labourer, working in a chemical


factory, had a cresol solution poured over his upper trunk
when he was transporting a tub containing hot cresol. The
lesion consisted of a light brown eschar with well-defined
margine, minimal oedema. He developed gross haemeturia,
oliguria and finally anuria within 24 h, upper
gastrointestinal bleeding within 2 days, on day 4
progressive dyspnoe and tachypnoe, hypertension with blood
pressure arround 200/100 mmHg during the first 10 days. On
day 15 he developed a septic shock with severe jaundice and
renal failure. He was treated successfully and discharged on
day 38 after injury.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
16.01.2003 (109)

Remark : Case Report: A man (50 years old) has drunk cresol solution
to commit suicide. 2 hours later he was found to be
unconscious, cyanotic with methemoglobinemia, blood pressure
90-136 mm Hg; pulse 101/min; light reflex: slow; urine
colour: black brown. Methb increased in the patients blood
drastically within 15 hours. He was treated successfully.
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
16.01.2003 (110)

Remark : Workers exposed to organic solvents (i.e. cresol) showed


increased levels of cresol, hippuric acid and phenols in
urine and decreased levels of albumiun and delta-globulin in
the serum.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (111)

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Remark : There are several human case studies reporting the use of
Lysol, a cresol-containing solution, as an abortificant. In
addition, intravaginal application of Lysol produces
extensive hemolysis, erosion of blood vessels, kidney
tubular damage, liver necrosis and death.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (112) (113)

Remark : The probable oral lethal dose for humans is 50-500 mg/kg bw
Reliability : (2) valid with restrictions
16.01.2003 (114)

5.11 ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Type : other

Remark : 0.2% Formocresol, containing 35% cresol and 19%


formaldehyde, causes the cell death of 50% of the treated
Hela cells within 4 hours.
Reliability : (4) not assignable
16.01.2003 (115)

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6. REFERENCES ID: 15831-10-4
DATE: 24.05.2004

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