Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPP-2004-0301-0009
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2004-09-10T04:00Z

Page
1
of
10
Ecological
Hazard
and
Environmental
Risk
Assessment:
Phenol
and
salts
Phenol
and
sodium
phenate
are
used
as
sanitizers,
primarily
for
hard
surfaces
and
as
materials
preservatives.
Outdoor
uses,
such
as
swimming
pool
waters
and
intermittently
flooded
areas,
were
once
registered
uses
for
phenol
and
sodium
phenate,
but
are
apparently
no
longer
supported
by
any
registrants.
The
following
assessment
of
ecological
and
environmental
risk
is
therefore
based
only
on
indoor
uses
for
these
chemicals.

1.
Ecological
Toxicity
Data
a.
Toxicity
to
Terrestrial
Animals
(
1).
Birds,
Acute
and
Subacute
For
indoor
uses,
an
acute
oral
toxicity
study
using
the
technical
grade
of
the
active
ingredient
(
TGAI)
is
required
to
establish
the
toxicity
of
phenol
to
birds.
The
preferred
test
species
is
either
mallard
duck
(
a
waterfowl)
or
northern
bobwhite
quail
(
an
upland
game
bird).
No
avian
acute
toxicity
studies
were
identified
in
the
reviewed
literature
for
phenol
or
its
salts.
Avian
acute
oral
toxicity
testing
(
850.2100/
71­
1)
is
required
to
support
the
currently
registered
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.

Avian
dietary
toxicity
studies
using
the
TGAI
of
phenol
and
its
salts
are
not
required
for
the
indoor
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.

(
2)
Mammals
Page
2
of
10
b.
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Animals
(
1).
Freshwater
Fish,
Acute
Freshwater
fish
toxicity
studies
using
the
TGAI
are
required
to
establish
the
toxicity
of
phenol
to
fish.
Data
are
generally
required
for
only
one
species.
Testing
in
two
fish
species
is
required
for
stable
chemicals
with
high
volume
effluents
(
e.
g.,
including,
but
not
limited
to,
egg
washing,
fruit
and
vegetable
rinses,
swimming
pools
or
materials
preservatives)
and
if
the
LC
50
in
the
first
species
is
greater
than
(>)
1
ppm.
The
preferred
test
species
are
rainbow
trout
(
a
coldwater
fish)
and
bluegill
sunfish
(
a
warmwater
fish),
although
other
test
species
identified
in
the
OPPTS
Guideline
(
i.
e.,
OPPTS
850.1075
(
e)(
4)(
i)(
A))
may
also
be
used.
Many
freshwater
fish
acute
toxicity
studies
were
identified
from
peer­
reviewed
literature,
but
no
studies
have
been
submitted
to
support
registration
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.
Freshwater
fish
acute
toxicity
testing
(
850.1075/
72­
1)
on
one
species
is
required
to
support
the
currently
registered
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.

The
results
from
freshwater
fish
acute
toxicity
studies
obtained
from
peer­
reviewed
literature
are
summarized
in
the
table
below
(
Table
1).

Table
1.
Acute
Toxicity
of
Phenol
to
Freshwater
Fish
Organism
Results
­
LC50
(
mg/
L)
(
95%
Confidence
Limit)
Toxicity
Category
Comments
Reference
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
5.02
(
4.23
­
7.49)
moderately
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
juvenile
organisms;
­
renewal
system
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
11.6
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
13.1
(
11.9­
14.1)
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
system
type
not
reported;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
Tisler
and
Zagorc­
Koncan,
1995
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
6.1
(
5.5­
6.8)
moderately
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
8.9
moderately
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
9.7
moderately
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system;
­
used
active­
ingredient
Hodson
et
al.,
1984.
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Organism
Results
­
LC50
(
mg/
L)
(
95%
Confidence
Limit)
Toxicity
Category
Comments
Reference
Page
3
of
10
concentration
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
10.5
(
9.1
­
12.2)
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system;
­
used
active­
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
7.7
moderately
toxic
­
96h
duration;
­
flow­
through
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Rainbow
trout
(
Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
8.9
moderately
toxic
­
96h
duration;
­
flow­
through
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Bluegill
(
Lepomis
macrochirus)
17.4
(
11.9
­
25.3)
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration.
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Bluegill
(
Lepomis
macrochirus)
13.5
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
static
system
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Bluegill
(
Lepomis
macrochirus)
19.3
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
juvenile
organisms;
­
renewal
system
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Bluegill
(
Lepomis
macrochirus)
11.5
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
renewal
system;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration.
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Bluegill
(
Lepomis
macrochirus)
23.9
(
20.2
­
31.5)
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
static
system
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
As
shown
in
Table
1,
acute
toxicity
for
freshwater
fish
ranged
from
5
mg/
L
(
rainbow
trout)
to
23.9
mg/
L
(
bluegill),
with
average
values
of
9.1
mg/
L
for
rainbow
trout
and
17.1
mg/
L
for
bluegill.
These
data
indicate
that
phenol
is
moderately
toxic
to
coldwater
species,
such
as
the
rainbow
trout,
and
slightly
toxic
to
warmwater
species,
such
as
the
bluegill.

(
2).
Freshwater
Fish,
Chronic
Fish
early
life
stage
testing
is
not
required
for
the
currently
registered
indoor
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.
Page
4
of
10
(
3).
Freshwater
Invertebrates,
Acute
A
freshwater
aquatic
invertebrate
toxicity
test
using
the
TGAI
is
required
to
establish
the
toxicity
of
a
pesticide
to
aquatic
invertebrates.
The
preferred
test
species
is
Daphnia
magna
or
Daphnia
pulex.
Many
acute
toxicity
studies
were
identified
for
these
species
in
peer­
reviewed
literature,
but
no
studies
have
been
submitted
by
registrants
to
support
the
registered
uses
of
phenol
or
sodium
phenate.
Freshwater
invertebrate
acute
toxicity
testing
(
850.1010/
72­
2)
is
required
for
the
currently
registered
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.
The
results
of
the
studies
obtained
from
peer­
reviewed
literature
are
summarized
in
Table
2.

Table
2.
Acute
Toxicity
of
Phenol
to
Freshwater
Invertebrates
Organism
Results
­
EC50
(
mg/
L)
(
95%
Confidence
Limit)
Toxicity
Category
Comments
Reference
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
9.6
moderately
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
7
moderately
toxic
­
50h
test
duration;
­
juvenile
organisms;
­
static
system
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
88
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system
EPA
AWQC,
1980;
and
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna
St.)
0.102
(
mmol/
L)
(=
9.6
mg/
L)
moderately
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
renewal
system
Arambasic
at
al.,
1995
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna
Strauss)
33.9
(
30
­
39.2)
slightly
toxic
­
24h
test
duration;
­
system
type
not
reported
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
Tisler
and
Zagorc­
Koncan,
1995
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
23.5
(
21
­
26.3)
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
6.6
moderately
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna
Strauss)
4.2
moderately
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
30
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
12.6
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system;
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Organism
Results
­
EC50
(
mg/
L)
(
95%
Confidence
Limit)
Toxicity
Category
Comments
Reference
Page
5
of
10
(
10.2
­
15.5)
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
10
(
8.8
­
12)
moderately
to
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
15
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
5.5
(
4.9
­
6.3)
moderately
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
system
type
not
reported;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
12*
(
7.3
­
20)
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
30.1*
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
system
type
not
reported
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
32*
(
24
­
43)
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
8.6*
(
7.2
­
10.2)
moderately
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
19.8*
(
18
­
22)
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
23*
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
13*
(
10­
17)
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
11.2*
(
9.8
­
12.6)
slightly
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
static
system;
­
used
active
ingredient
concentration
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Water
flea
(
Daphnia
magna)
8.3*
(
5.8
­
12.5)
moderately
toxic
­
48h
test
duration;
­
system
type
not
reported
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Page
6
of
10
*
Endpoint
in
study
is
identified
as
LC
50
As
shown
in
Table
2,
acute
toxicity
for
aquatic
invertebrates
(
Daphnia
magna)
ranged
from
4.2
mg/
L
to
88
mg/
L.
The
endpoint
for
these
studies
is
the
EC
50
for
immobilization
or
the
LC
50.
The
average
value
for
the
endpoint
concentrations
shown
in
Table
2
is
18.8
mg/
L.
Notably,
when
considering
only
the
studies
where
the
endpoint
is
reported
to
be
based
on
the
active
ingredient
concentration
(
Table
2),
the
average
concentration
is
relatively
lower
at
14.6
mg/
L.
These
data
results
indicate
that
phenol
is
moderately
to
slightly
toxic
to
aquatic
invertebrates.

(
4).
Toxicity
to
Estuarine
and
Marine
Organisms
Acute
toxicity
testing
with
estuarine
and
marine
organisms
using
the
TGAI
is
not
required
for
the
indoor
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.
Several
studies
on
marine/
estuarine
invertebrates
were
found
in
the
ECOTOX
database
(
EPA,
2002).
The
endpoints
from
these
studies
are
summarized
in
the
table
below:

Table
3:
Acute
Toxicity
of
Phenol
to
Marine/
Estuarine
Invertebrates
Organism
Results
­
LC50
or
EC
(

g/
L)
(
95%
Confidence
Limit)
Toxicity
Category
Comments
Reference
Mysid
(
Archaeomysis
kokuboi)
96­
hr
LC50
=
260
­
4530
(
formulation)
highly
to
moderately
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Opossum
shrimp
(
Americamysis
bahia)
96­
h
LC50
=
12500
(
10700
­
15600)
(
formulation)
slightly
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Daggerblade
grass
shrimp
(
Palaemonetes
pugio)
96­
hr
LC50
=
5800
(
4330
­
7770)
moderately
toxic
­
96h
test
duration;
­
static
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Table
4:
Chronic
Toxicity
of
Phenol
to
Marine/
Estuarine
Invertebrates
Organism
Results
­
LOEC,
NOEC,
MATC
(

g/
L)
Comments
Reference
Opossum
shrimp
(
Americamysis
bahia)
mortality
27­
d
NOEC=
2410
LOEC
=
6880
MATC
=
4080
­
27
day
test
duration;
­
flow­
through
system
U.
S.
EPA,
2002
Page
7
of
10
C.
Toxicity
to
Plants
Terrestrial
and
aquatic
plant
testing
is
not
required
for
the
registered
indoor
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.
There
were
aquatic
phytotoxicity
endpoints
reported
in
the
ECOTOX
database
(
EPA,
2002).
While
these
data
were
reported
in
summary
form,
they
indicate
that
phenol
demonstrates
low
toxicity
to
various
aquatic
plant
species,
with
4­
day
EC
50
values
ranging
from
12,000
ppb
(
duckweed,
Lemna
minor)
to
370,000
ppb
(
green
alga,
Chlorella
vulgaris).
Page
8
of
10
2.
Environmental
Risk
Characterization
A.
Environmental
Fate
Assessment
(
excerpted
from
the
Environmental
Fate
Science
Chapter
of
this
RED)

No
environmental
fate
studies
have
been
submitted
to
the
Agency
to
support
the
registration
of
phenol.
Environmental
fate
and
chemical
properties
of
phenol
were
evaluated
based
on
data
found
in
peer­
reviewed
published
literature.

Phenol
degrades
rapidly
in
soil,
air,
and
water,
with
half­
lives
of
less
than
one
day
to
five
days.
It's
low
Kow
indicates
little
potential
for
bioaccumulation
in
fish,
and,
although
it
is
readily
taken
up
by
plants,
the
high
respiratory
decomposition
rate
of
phenol
to
CO
2
indicates
little
potential
for
bioaccumulation
in
plant
tissues.
It
is
not
expected
to
sorb
to
sediment.
Due
to
multi­
media
degradation
pathways,
phenol
is
not
expected
to
be
of
environmental
concern.

B.
Environmental
Exposure
Assessment
Environmental
exposure
modeling
was
not
conducted
for
the
indoor
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate
considered
in
this
RED.

C.
Environmental
Risk
Assessment
The
indoor
uses
of
phenol
considered
in
this
RED
make
it
unlikely
that
any
appreciable
exposure
to
terrestrial
or
aquatic
organisms
would
occur
when
phenol
is
used
according
to
label
directions.
The
rapid
degradation
through
multiple
pathways
in
environmental
media,
as
well
as
low
toxicity
to
fish,
invertebrates,
and
aquatic
plants,
indicate
a
low
potential
for
risk
in
the
unlikely
event
of
environmental
exposure
from
the
registered
uses.
The
toxicity
of
phenol
to
birds
cannot
be
addressed
due
to
a
lack
of
available
data,
but
the
low
exposure
potential
makes
risk
to
birds
unlikely
from
the
registered
indoor
uses
of
phenol.

D.
Endangered
Species
Considerations
The
Agency
has
developed
the
Endangered
Species
Protection
Program
to
identify
pesticides
whose
use
may
cause
adverse
impacts
on
endangered
and
threatened
species,
and
to
implement
mitigation
measures
that
address
these
impacts.
The
Endangered
Species
Act
requires
federal
agencies
to
ensure
that
their
actions
are
not
likely
to
jeopardize
listed
species
or
adversely
modify
designated
critical
habitat.
To
analyze
the
potential
of
registered
pesticide
uses
to
affect
any
particular
species,
EPA
puts
basic
toxicity
and
exposure
data
developed
for
risk
assessments
into
context
for
individual
listed
species
and
their
locations
by
evaluating
important
ecological
parameters,
pesticide
use
information,
the
geographic
relationship
between
specific
pesticide
uses
and
species
locations,
and
biological
requirements
and
behavioral
aspects
of
the
particular
species.
A
determination
that
there
is
a
likelihood
of
potential
impact
to
a
listed
species
may
result
in
limitations
on
use
of
the
pesticide,
other
measures
to
mitigate
any
potential
impact,
or
consultations
with
the
Fish
and
Wildlife
Service
and/
or
the
National
Marine
Fisheries
Service
as
necessary.
Page
9
of
10
Based
on
the
low
likelihood
of
environmental
exposure
from
the
registered
indoor
uses,
coupled
with
phenol's
rapid
degradation
in
air,
water,
and
soil,
as
well
as
the
low
toxicity
of
phenol
to
fish,
aquatic
invertebrates,
and
aquatic
plants,
adverse
impacts
to
endangered
species
are
not
expected
from
the
registered
uses
of
phenol/
sodium
phenate.
Page
10
of
10
REFERENCES
Arambasic,
M.
B.,
Bjelic,
S.,
and
G.
Subakov.
1995.
Acute
Toxicity
of
Heavy
Metals
(
Copper,
Lead,
Zinc),
Phenol
and
Sodium
on
Allium
cepa
L.,
Lepidium
sativum
L.
and
Daphnia
magna
Strauss.
Water
Res.
29(
2):
497­
503.

Hodson,
P.
V.,
Dixon
D.
G.,
and
K.
L.
Kaiser.
1984.
Measurement
of
Median
Lethal
Dose
as
a
Rapid
Indication
of
Contaminant
Toxicity
to
Fish.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
3(
2):
243­
254.

Tisler,
T.
and
J.
Zagorc­
Koncan.
1995.
Relative
Sensitivity
of
some
Selected
Aquatic
Organisms
to
Phenol.
Bulletin
of
Environmental
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and
Toxicology,
54:
717­
723.

U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
EPA).
2002.
ECOTOX
User
Guide:
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Database
System.
Version
3.0.
Available:
http://
www.
epa.
gov/
ecotox/

U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
EPA).
1980.
Ambient
Water
Quality
Criteria
for
Phenol.
U.
S.
EPA
440/
5­
80­
066.
October,
1980.

U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
EPA).
1978.
Effects
of
Aqueous
Effluents
from
In­
situ
Fossil
Fuel
Processing
Technologies
on
Aquatic
Systems.
Contract
No.
77­
C­
04­
3913.