Skin contact with high levels of cresols can burn the skin and damage the kidneys, liver, blood, brain, and lungs. No human or animal studies have shown harmful effects from cresols on the ability to have children. It is not known what the effects are from long-term ingestion or skin contact with low levels of cresols. No studies are available in people on the carcinogenic effects of cresols. Animal studies show that cresols may increase the ability of some carcinogenic chemicals to cause tumors.
Tests are available that measure the amount of cresols in the urine.
The tests must be performed within one day of exposure since cresols break down quickly in the body. Since cresols occur naturally in the body, results of tests for cresol exposure would have to be compared to results of tests taken from the same person both before and several days after the exposure. These tests are usually not available in your doctor's office. The EPA requires that discharges or accidental spills of 1,000 pounds or more of cresols be reported. OSHA advises avoiding eye and skin contact because this may be a route of significant exposure.