chemical Class

Alkylphenols


Chemicals in the class:

4-tert-Octylphenol, Nonylphenol


Summary

Alkylphenols are widely used industrial chemicals that act as detergents or surfactants. They are added to cosmetics, paints, pesticides, detergents and cleaning products. As a group they are highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Dozens of recent studies have documented the in-vitro and in-vivo estrogenic activity of alkylphenols in human cell lines and animals (Bechi 2006). Alkylphenols have been detected recently in surface waters contaminated with urban runoff and in wastewater effluent (Espejo 2002; Oros 2003).

Alkylphenols have been measured in air samples. One study found that newer homes, especially those with PVC materials, have more alkylphenol residues than older houses or outdoor air (Saito 2004).




Alkylphenols

Alkylphenols are widely used industrial chemicals that act as detergents or surfactants. They are added to cosmetics, paints, pesticides, detergents and cleaning products. They are highly toxic to aquatic organisms, and endocrine disruptors in laboratory tests.

Top health concerns for Alkylphenols (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Reproduction and fertilityunknown
Endocrine systemstrong

Other health concerns for Alkylphenols (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Birth defects and developmental delayslimited
Respiratory systemlimited
Persistent, accumulates in wildlife and/or peopleprobable

Other relevant risk considerations for Alkylphenols (References)

Wildlife and environmental toxicity.


Toxicity Classifications (References)

classification governing entity/references
Endocrine disruptor - suspected or limited evidenceBechi, N. (2006). "Estrogen-like response to p-nonylphenol in human first trimester placenta and BeWo choriocarcinoma cells." Toxicol Sci 93(1): 6., Diel P., Olff S., Schmidt S., Michna H. (2002). "Effects of the environmental estrogens bisphenol A, o,p'-DDT, p-tert-octylphenol and coumestrol on apoptosis induction, cell proliferation and the expression of estrogen sensitive molecular parameters in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7." J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 80(1): 10.
Endocrine toxicity hazards: suspectedJNIHS, WWF, IL-EPA, JNIHS, Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences. Lists of Paradigmatic Chemicals. http://www.nihs.go.jp/hse/endocrine-e/paradigm/paradigm.html
Limited evidence in humans: reproductive system toxicity; Condition: abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count); Organs/tissues affected: testesCHE Toxicant and Disease Database
Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Limited or emerging evidence in open scientific literatureEmerging PBTs from peer-reviewed literature
Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, chemical of concernOSPAR (2002). OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR. Place Published, OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environement of North-East Atlanic.
Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, priority chemicalOSPAR (2002). OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR. Place Published, OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environement of North-East Atlanic.
Possible risk of impaired fertility; Possible risk of harm to the unborn child; Harmful; Harmful if swallowed; Corrosive; Causes burns; Dangerous for the environment; Very toxic to aquatic organismsEuropean Union - Classification & Labelling
Priority substance in EU water policyEuropean Union - Water Framework Directive
Toxic pneumonitis - Inflammation of the lungs induced by inhalation of metal fumes or toxic gases and vaporsNational Library of Medicine HazMap