Chloroxylenol

Chloroxylenol	Last updated: 05/09/2025
(Also known as: 2-chloro-m-xylenol; p-chloro-m-xylenol ; PCMX)

SUMMARY

Chloroxylenol is a bactericide and antiseptic used mainly in public health situations. Available data is limited. It is moderately toxic to aquatic species. Mammalian toxicity is low and, whilst it may be an eye irritant, no data is available that suggests it may cause more serious health impacts.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A chlorinated phenol compound used as a general bactericide and antiseptic

Examples of veterinary uses

Used as an aid in the treatment of minor wounds, bites and skin conditions.

Examples of species treated

Cats; Dogs

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

Not approved

EU Regulatory approval status

Not approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₈H₉ClO

Canonical SMILES

CC1=CC(=CC(=C1Cl)C)O

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

OSDLLIBGSJNGJE-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C8H9ClO/c1-5-3-7(10)4-6(2)8(5)9/h3-4,10H,1-2H3

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
chloroxylenol	-

General status

Veterinary substance type

Veterinary hygiene

Other bioactivity & uses

Disinfectant; Bactericide; Antiseptic; Microbiocide

Substance groups

Chlorinated phenol compound; Unclassified pesticide

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Causes disruption of cell membrane potentials, blocking production of adenosine triphosphate

Molecular targets

[Adenosine triphosphate, Blocker]

CAS RN

88-04-0

EC number

201-793-8

CIPAC number

None allocated

US EPA chemical code

086801

PubChem CID

2723

CLP index number

604-038-00-4

Therapeutic Class

Dermatologicals: Antiseptics and disinfectants

ATCvet Code

QD08AE99

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Molecular mass

156.61

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol

CAS name

chloroxylenol

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

Colourless oily liquid with pleasant aromatic odour

Commercial

Property

Product

Manufacturer

Authorisation Route

Legal Class (GB/UK)

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1923, first synthesised USA; 1959, first recorded use USA

Example products (past and present) using this active

Vetzyme Antiseptic Cutaneous Powder

Bob Martin (UK) Ltd

Not licensed

Formulation and application details

Commercial production

The production of chloroxylenol typically involves the chlorination of xylenol, specifically 3,5-dimethylphenol, under controlled conditions. In a high-temperature chlorination process, chlorine gas is introduced into a reaction vessel containing xylenol, often in the presence of a catalyst or solvent like carbon tetrachloride or acetic acid, to selectively substitute a hydrogen atom with a chlorine atom at the para-position. The reaction is carefully monitored to avoid over-chlorination and ensure high yield of the desired 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol compound. After chlorination, the mixture undergoes crystallisation and purification, including centrifugation and drying, to isolate the final product.

Impact on climate of production and use

Data for the amount of life cycle GHGs produced by chloroxylenol are not available in the public domain. However, whilst estimates vary, more general data suggests that between 11 and 30 kilograms of CO₂e is emitted per kilogram of fungicide produced.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

250

Moderate

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Melting point (°C)

115

Boiling point (°C)

246

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

1.86 X 10⁰³

Calculated

Log P

3.27

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

1.12

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

9.7

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Refractive Index

Environmental release

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

3830

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis 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)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

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 bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

1.6

Lepomis macrochirus

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

6.7

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

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 (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

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)

3830

Rat

Low

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

Intraperitoneal LD₅₀ = 115000 mg kg⁻¹

Mouse

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

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Excreted in the urine as a glucuronide conjugate and as the sulphate together with some unchanged chemical

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

IARC Group 2B carcinogen; Other data sources do not consider substance to have potential for carcinogenicity
May cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea
May cause pulmonary edema and neurological changes
Possible liver and renal toxicant

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Highly corrosive

CLP classification 2013

Health: H302, H315. H319, H317

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

chloroxylenol

French

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

cloroxilenol

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	05/09/2025
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