Pentachlorophenol	Last updated: 25/02/2021
(Also known as: PCP; penchlorol; chlorophen)

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Description	A multi-action pesticide used to control wood boring insects, wood fungal rots and as a general herbicide
Example pests controlled	Defoliant; Wood-damaging insects including termites; Timber rot
Example applications	Cotton; Utility wood structures such as railway sleepers, utility poles, fencing
Efficacy & activity	-
Availability status	Unknown
Introduction & key dates	circa 1936

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status	Not approved
Date COPR inclusion expires	Expired
UK LERAP status	No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status	Not approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur	Not applicable
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires	Expired
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)	-
Listed in EU database	Yes
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States	ATAustria BEBelgium BGBulgaria CYCyprus CZCzech Republic DEGermany DKDenmark EEEstonia ELGreece                   ESSpain FIFinland FRFrance HRCroatia HUHungary IEIreland ITItaly LTLithuania LULuxembourg                   LVLatvia MTMalta NLNetherlands PLPoland PTPortugal RORomania SESweden SISlovenia SKSlovakia

Also used in

Also used in	-

Chemical structure

Isomerism	-
Chemical formula	C₆HCl₅O
Canonical SMILES	C1(=C(C(=C(C(=C1Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)Cl)O
Isomeric SMILES	No data
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)	IZUPBVBPLAPZRR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)	InChI=1S/C6HCl5O/c7-1-2(8)4(10)6(12)5(11)3(1)9/h12H
2D structure diagram/image available?	Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
pentachlorophenol	-

General status

Pesticide type	Insecticide, Herbicide, Fungicide, Molluscicide, Plant growth regulator, Wood preservative
Substance group	Organochlorine
Minimum active substance purity	-
Known relevant impurities	-
Substance origin	Synthetic
Mode of action	Accelerates aerobic metabolism and increases heat production
CAS RN	87-86-5
EC number	201-778-6
CIPAC number	106
US EPA chemical code	063001
PubChem CID	992
Molecular mass	266.34
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)	-
IUPAC name	pentachlorophenol
CAS name	pentachlorophenol
Other status information	WFD priority substance; Subject to PIC regulations; Regulated POP; Severe Marine Pollutant; Rotterdam Convention (Class Ib); UK non-statutory standard for dry soil: <0.06 mg/Kg
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards	EU Directive 2008/105/EC EQS surface waters: annual average 0.4 µg l⁻¹; max measured 1.0 µg l⁻¹ UK statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life: annual average for inland, coastal and territorial waters: 2 µg l⁻¹
Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)	Not known
Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)	Not known
Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)	2A
Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)	Not known
Examples of recorded resistance	-
Physical state	Colourless crystals

Formulations

Property	Value
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically	-
Example products using this active	-
Formulation and application details	-

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		1000	P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data	High
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)		500000	P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data Acetone	-
		150000	P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data Benzene	-
		1800000	P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data Methanol	-
		12000000	P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data Ethanol	-
Melting point (°C)		191	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Boiling point (°C)		Decomposes before boiling	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Degradation point (°C)		309	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Flashpoint (°C)		Not expected to self ignite; Not highly flammable	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C	P	2.09 X 1003	Calculated	-
	Log P	3.32	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	High
Bulk density (g ml⁻¹)		1.99	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C		4.73	DW4 DW = Don Wauchope personal database for Pka data: Wauchope, R. D. and Edwards, J. Dissociation constants for pesticide active ingredients: a database and comparison with predicted values. MS in preparation 4 = Verified data	-
		Weak acid
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)		16000	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source	Highly volatile
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)		4.30 X 10-01	H4 H = The US ARS pesticide properties database (click here ) 4 = Verified data	Moderately volatile
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹		-	-	-
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)		-	-	-

Degradation

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
General biodegradability		-
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)	DT₅₀ (typical)	63	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	Moderately persistent
	DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)	48	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	Moderately persistent
	DT₅₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)	-	-	-
	DT₉₀ (field)	-	-	-
	DT₅₀ modelling endpoint	-	-	-
	Note	Data DT₅₀ range 46-63 days
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix	Value	-	-	-
	Note	-
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7	Value	0.03	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	Fast
	Note	-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7	Value	Stable	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes	Stable
	Note	-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)		-	-	-

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Linear	Kd	-	G3 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 3 = Unverified data of known source	Mobile
	Koc	30
	Notes and range	-
Freundlich	Kf	-	-	-
	Kfoc	-
	1/n	-
	Notes and range	-
pH sensitivity		-

Fate indices

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index		4.24	Calculated	High leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate	Value	1.43 X 1000	Calculated	-
	Note	-
Potential for particle bound transport index		Medium	Calculated	-
Potential for loss via drain flow		Mobile	Calculated	-

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Bio-concentration factor	BCF (l kg⁻¹)	216	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source (Whole body Other literature values Log BCF range 1.2-3.2 (R3))	Threshold for concern
	CT₅₀ (days)	Not available		-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		80	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes Rat	High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL	(mg kg⁻¹)	3.9	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	High
	(ppm diet)	-		-
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		> 380	G4 G = Extension Toxicology network database EXTOXNET (click here ) 4 = Verified data Anas platyrhynchos	Moderate
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)		-	-	-
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)		-	-	-
Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 0.17	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Oncorhynchus mykiss	Moderate
Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		0.05	P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data Carassius auratus	Moderate
Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		> 0.45	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Daphnia magna	Moderate
Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)		> 0.18	P4 P = Other governments and regulators 4 = Verified data Daphnia magna	Moderate
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.11	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Chironomus riparius 2 day	Moderate
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)		-	-	-
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)		-	-	-
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)		0.12	F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source Lemna gibba	Moderate
Non-target plants		-	-	-
		-	-	-
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)		0.08	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Scenedesmus quadricauda	Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)		> 0.4	P3 P = Other governments and regulators 3 = Unverified data of known source Chlorella pyrenoidosa	Moderate
Honeybees (Apis spp.)	Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	48	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data	Moderate
	Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)	Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
		-
	Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
		-
Mason bees (Osmia spp.)	Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)	-	-	-
Other pollinators (1)	Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Mode of exposure	-
Other pollinators (2)	Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)	-	-	-
	Mode of exposure	-
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		48	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Eisenia foetida	Moderate
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)		10	F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 4 = Verified data Eisenia foetida	Moderate
Other soil macro-organisms	Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)	64.0	A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes Folsomia candida 33d	-
	Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)	-	-	-
Other arthropod (1)	LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹	-	-	-
	% Effect	-	-	-
Other arthropod (2)	LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹	-	-	-
	% Effect	-	-	-
Soil micro-organisms		-	-	-
Mesocosm study data	NOEAEC mg l⁻¹	-	-	-
	NOEAEC mg l⁻¹	-	-	-

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property		Value	Source; quality score; and other information	Interpretation
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)		High (class III)	-	-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)		80	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes Rat	High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)		105	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)		0.355	L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source Rat	-
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints		-	-	-
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)		-	-	-
Dermal penetration studies (%)		-	-	-
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464		List I; List II	-	-
Exposure Routes	Public	-
	Occupational	Readily absorbed through the skin
MRLs	European	EU MRL pesticide database
	Notes	-
Drinking Water Standards		Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.009 mg l⁻¹	B5 B = UK CRD and ACP evaluation documents / and other Defra (UK) documents (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes UK EA QS database 2018	-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)		-	-	-

Health issues

Specific human health issues		Carcinogen Genotoxic Endocrine disruptor ✓Yes, known to cause a problem A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative ✓Yes, known to cause a problem Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant ✓Yes, known to cause a problem XNo, known not to cause a problem ✓Yes, known to cause a problem Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser ✓Yes, known to cause a problem ✓Yes, known to cause a problem No data found Eye irritant Phototoxicant   ✓Yes, known to cause a problem No data found
General human health issues		Liver and thyroid toxicant Heart failure may occur following acute inhalation Bioaccumulates IARC group 2B carcinogen; USEPA - probable human carcinogen Endocrine issues - Weak estrogenic and anti-androgenic affect

Handling issues

Property	Value and interpretation
General	Prevent generation of dust
CLP classification 2013	Health: H301, H311, H315, H319, H330, H335, H351 Environment: H400, H410
EC Risk Classification	Carcinogen category 3: R40 T+ - Very toxic: R26 T - Toxic: R24/25 Xi - Irritant: R36/37/38 N - Dangerous for the environment: R50, R53
EC Safety Classification	S1/2, S22, S36/37, S45, S52, S60, S61
WHO Classification	Ib (Highly hazardous / Highly hazardous)
UN Number	3155
Waste disposal & packaging	-

TRANSLATIONS

Language	Name
English	pentachlorophenol
French	pentachlorophénol
German	Pentachlorphenol
Danish	pentachlorphenol
Italian	pentaclorofenolo
Spanish	pentaclorofenato
Greek	-
Polish	pentachlorofenol
Swedish	-
Hungarian	-
Dutch	pentachloorfenol

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Record last updated:	25/02/2021
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242