Thymol

Synonyms

1-Hydroxy-5-methyl-2-isopropylbenzene; 1-Methyl-3-hydroxy-4-isopropylbenzene; 2-Hydroxy-1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene; 2-Isopropyl-5-methylphenol; 3-Hydroxy-1-methyl-4-isopropylbenzene; 3-Hydroxy-p-cymene; 3-Methyl-6-isopropylphenol; 3-p-Cymenol; 5-Methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)phenol; 5-Methyl-2-isopropyl-1-phenol; 5-Methyl-2-isopropylphenol; 6-Isopropyl-3-methylphenol; 6-Isopropyl-m-cresol; Cymophenol, alpha-; Isopropyl cresol; Phenol, 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-; Phenol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-; Thyme camphor; Thymic acid; Thymol (natural); m-Cresol, 6-isopropyl-; m-Thymol; p-Cymen-3-ol; p-Cymene, 3-hydroxy-; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Plant Oils and Extracts

Description

Colorless or white solid with an herbal odor like thyme; [HSDB] White crystalline solid with an odor like phenol; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Found in essential oils of Thymus vulgaris and Monardo punctata and other volatile oils; [Merck Index] A natural oil of the plant thyme; [Reference #1] Used as a biocide (mold and mildew), preservative (documents, art objects, and urine), stabilizer (trichloroethylene, chloroform, and halothane), flavoring agent, starting material for racemic menthol, antioxidant, lab reagent, disinfectant in oral hygiene products, antiseptic and antifungal in therapeutic lotions and ointments, and veterinary anthelmintic and antiseptic; [HSDB]

Comments

Mild irritant with systemic effects similar to those of phenol; If ingested causes stomach pain, vomiting, and hyperactivity; Can cause convulsions and coma; Emergency treatment: "Phenol and related agents"; [HSDB] Causes somnolence, ataxia, and coma at lethal doses in rats; [RTECS] Can cause burns; [eChemPortal: ESIS] No increased birth defects in 52 pregnancies with exposure during the first trimester; [REPROTOX] Safe when used as a flavoring agent in food; [JECFA] Causes burns; Harmful if swallowed; [Aldrich MSDS] See "Phenol."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

0.0022 mm Hg

0.001 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.01 ppm

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold (detection) = 0.001-0.01 ppm; [CHEMINFO]

Other CNS neurotoxin

Skin burns

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Using Disinfectants or Biocides