2,4-Dimethylphenol

Synonyms

2,4-Xylenol; 1-Hydroxy-2,4-dimethylbenzene; 4,6-Dimethylphenol; 4-Hydroxy-1,3-dimethylbenzene; Bacticin; Benzene, 2,4-dimethyl-1-hydroxy-; Bulk Lysol Brand Disinfectant; Du Cor Concentrated Fly Insecticide; Gable-Tite Dark Creosote (Creola); Gable-Tite Light Creosote (Creola); Gallex; Lysol Brand disinfectant; Phenol, 2,4-dimethyl-; m-Xylenol; [ChemIDplus] UN2261

Category

Phenols

Description

Colorless solid; [HSDB] May also exist as a dark amber liquid; [CAMEO] Colorless liquid or melt; mp = 22-23 deg C; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used to make phenolic antioxidants, pharmaceuticals, plastics, resins, solvents, insecticides, fungicides, rubber chemicals, polyphenylene oxide, wetting agents, and dyestuffs; Also used as a disinfectant, bacteriocide, germicide, sanitizer, virucide, insecticide, miticide, and fungicide; [HSDB]

Comments

A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; May cause pulmonary edema; May cause skin sensitization; [ICSC] Corrosive to tissues; Inhalation may cause laryngeal spasm, edema of the bronchi, and chemical pneumonitis; May induce methemoglobinemia and injury to the liver and kidneys; [CAMEO] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Inhalation may cause chemical pneumonitis; May be absorbed through skin; [MSDSonline] "As the six dimethylphenol isomers and the mixed isomer substance are generally similar in toxicity, a common TLV for these substances is appropriate. . . . In mice, oral exposure to 250 mg/kg/day produced changes in blood parameters including statistically significant decreases in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (4 and 3% reduction in mean values, respectively. . . . Available data on skin sensitization from exposure to dimethylphenol are mixed but warrant the addition of a DSEN notation. . . . All six dimethylphenol isomers were tested in a mouse local lymph node assay and the results found 2.4, 2,5, and 3,4-dimethylphenol to be positive for skin sensitization." There are no epidemiology studies. In a case report, ingestion of about 250 ml of a mixture of dimethylphenol isomers resulted in CNS depression, hypotension, and death. [ACGIH] See "Phenol."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

1 ppm, inhalable fraction and vapor

0.102 mm Hg

LC (rat) > 30 mg/m3

Explanatory Notes

Flash point > 112 deg C; [HSDB] The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Xylenols." VP from ChemIDplus;

Yes

Yes

MetHgb is secondary toxic effect

Other CNS neurotoxin

Skin burns

Confirmed Animal

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)
• Using Disinfectants or Biocides