CAS Number
108-95-2
Properties
- compounds consisting of one aromatic ring and one or more alcohol groups, and possibly other functional groups (e.g. nitro groups)
- weak acids, form phenolate in the presence of bases
- vary according to compound
- phenol: white crystals
Main sources
- industrial waste water
- secondary product in the process of turning black coal to coke
- precursor for synthetic resins (phenoplast), plastics, dyes, pharmaceuticals and pesticides
- disinfectant
Thresholds for the reporting requirement of facilities in accordance with Annex 2 PRTRO
(Ordinance on the Register relating to Pollutant Release and the Transfer of Waste and of Pollutants in Waste Water)
- Air -
- Water 20 kg/year
- Soil 20 kg/year
Impacts
- very toxic to aquatic organisms
- affect the taste of water and fish
- suspected hormonally active effect
- low degree of biodegradability; widely dispersed in nature (plants, animals, humans)
- phenol: toxic, carcinogenic, caustic
