m-Cresol - ipcs inchem

OECD SIDS
m- / p-CRESOL
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.
UNEP PUBLICATIONS 33