Please conduct a current literature search and check the appropriate current online database for the most recent quantitative information. Phenol is considered to be quite toxic to humans via oral exposure, with blood changes, liver and kidney damage, and cardiac toxicity reported. Chronic inhalation exposure to phenol in humans has been associated with gastrointestinal irritation, liver injury, and muscular effects. No data are available on the developmental or reproductive effects of phenol in humans. Animal studies have reported reduced fetal body weights, growth retardation, and abnormal development in the offspring of animals exposed to phenol by the oral route.
Limited data are available on the carcinogenic effects of phenol.
No human studies are available and animal studies have not reported carcinogenic effects from oral exposure to phenol. EPA has classified phenol as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity . Exceedance of the RfD does not imply that an adverse health effect would necessarily occur. As the amount and frequency of exposures exceeding the RfD increase, the probability that adverse health effects may be seen also increases. However, no test will tell whether a person has been exposed only to phenol, because many substances are changed to phenol in the body.