p-Tert-Butylphenol - UNEP Chemicals

OECD SIDS P-TERT-BUTYLPHENOL
Remarks: Samples were acid-hydrolyzed and analyzed by gaschromatography.
Detection limit in urine was 0.2 µg/ml.
Reference: Ikeda et al.: 1978
C. Effects of occupational exposure
(a)
Results: In a Russian factory producing p-t-butylphenol and p-t-butylphenolformaldehyde
resin, depigmentation was observed in 23 of 52 workers. The
first 3 cases of them occurred one year after the start of the work and in 21
workers of them the vitiligo had a symmetrical distribution. In addition,
some workers suffered from headache, dizziness, thirst, hyperhidrosis,
disturbed sleep and neurological and otolaryngological disturbances.
Remarks: In this factory, p-t-butylphenol was produced from phenol and
isobutylalchohol in the presence of sulfuric acid and subsequently p-tbutylphenol
formaldehyde resin was produced from p-t-butyl phenol and
formaldehyde in alkaline medium. The end product is washed with water,
ground and packed. The measured concentrations of phenol and
formaldehyde in the air were considered frequency to surpass the maximal
allowable concentration.
Reference: Chumakov et al.: 1962
(b)
Results: 23 workers handling p-t-butylphenol (chemical factory, Westfalia,
Germany) showed depigmentation on the skin of hands and arms after a
few months to 2 years of exposure. Some patients exhibited symmetrical
depigmentation of body regions covered with clothing. No other abnormal
changes, especially in liver and thyroid, were observed (data not given).
Remarks:
Reference: Forck et al.: 1981
(c)
Results: 3 patients occupationally exposed to p-t-butylphenol showed
hepatosplenopathy and a goiter (euthyreotic struma diffusa grade II) with
disorder of the synthesis of thyroid hormone, auto-antibodies against
thyroid material and vitiliginous depigmentation. (Germany, 1974).
Remarks: The systemically disseminated depigmentation was concluded to be caused
by inhalation or ingestion of p-t-butylphenol.
Reference: Rodermund et al.: 1975a, b, Rodermund and Wieland: 1975a, b
(d)
Results: Three male patients (22, 23 and 51 years old) occupationally exposed to
fine dusts of p-t-butylphenol developed vitiligo 18 months to 6 years after
the beginning of their exposure. This symptom occurred especially at the
skin of exposed body sites like hands and forearms, but no skin irritation
occurred prior to or during the development of vitiligo. No sensitization
was found. All patients developed antibodies against thyroid-microsomes
and parietal cells and 2 of 3 patients developed antibodies against
thyreoglobulin. Serum transaminases were unremarkable (Germany, not
dated).
Remarks:
Reference: Budde and Stary: 1988
(e)
UNEP Publications 125