Product Name: Cresol
Chemical Names: o-Cresol, m-Cresol, p-Cresol
Recommended Uses: Disinfectant, solvent in the chemical industry, intermediate for resins
Chemical Family: Alkylphenols
Molecular Formula: C7H8O
Molecular Weight: 108.14 g/mol
CAS Numbers: 95-48-7 (o-cresol), 108-39-4 (m-cresol), 106-44-5 (p-cresol)
Emergency Contact: Call local poison control or emergency services
Manufacturer: Contact information listed on product label
GHS Classification: Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation), skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed or inhaled, causes skin burns and serious eye damage, harmful by skin contact, may cause respiratory irritation
Precautionary Statements: Wear protective gloves and eye protection, avoid breathing fumes or mist, wash exposed skin thoroughly, do not eat, drink, or smoke when using
Label Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, Corrosive, Exclamation mark
Component: o-Cresol, m-Cresol, p-Cresol
Concentration: Usually supplied as mixtures, each up to 100% pure in specific preparations
Impurities/Additives: May contain trace amounts of phenol, xylenols or other cresol isomers
Synonyms: 2-methylphenol, 3-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol
Inhalation: Move to fresh air, keep victim at rest, seek immediate medical attention for difficulty breathing
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse skin with water for at least 15 minutes, seek medical help for burns and persistent irritation
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for at least 15 minutes, hold eyelids apart, contact poison center or physician
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting, seek urgent medical care, never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person
Self-protection: Use appropriate PPE to avoid secondary contamination during rescue
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide
Unsuitable Media: Avoid straight water streams—they may spread fire
Hazards: Burns with evolution of toxic vapors such as carbon monoxide, phenol derivatives
Protective Equipment: Full protective clothing including self-contained breathing apparatus
Special Precautions: Evacuate area, contain runoff to prevent chemical entering waterways
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unprotected personnel, ventilate area, wear chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and clothing
Environmental Precautions: Prevent product from entering drains, watercourses, or soil
Clean-up Methods: Absorb liquid spills with inert material such as sand or earth, scoop into containers for disposal, decontaminate area with detergent and water
Handling: Use only in well-ventilated areas or fume hoods, avoid formation of aerosols, never open containers near heat or ignition sources, always ground containers during transfer
Storage: Keep in tightly closed containers, store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, keep away from oxidizers, food, and incompatible materials
Special Considerations: Segregate from strong acids, bases, and reactive chemicals, use corrosion-resistant storage systems
Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 5 ppm (skin); ACGIH TLV: 5 ppm (skin)
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation, safety showers, eyewash stations
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemically resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene), safety goggles with side shields, face shields, flame-retardant lab coats, respirator with organic vapor cartridges if exposure risk exists
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and face after handling, remove contaminated clothing, avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing
Appearance: Colorless to yellowish liquid or solid, needle-like crystals
Odor: Phenolic, medicinal
Melting Point: o-cresol: 31°C, m-cresol: 11°C, p-cresol: 36°C
Boiling Point: o-cresol: 191°C, m-cresol: 202°C, p-cresol: 202°C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, easily soluble in alcohol, ether, and alkalis
Density: 1.03–1.05 g/cm³
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature
pH: Weakly acidic
Flash Point: Between 81°C and 86°C (closed cup, isomer dependent)
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended conditions, sensitive to air and light over long periods
Hazardous Reactions: Reacts with strong oxidizers, strong acids, alkalis
Decomposition Products: Phenol vapors, carbon monoxide, other organics on combustion
Polymerization: Unlikely
Incompatible Materials: Chlorinated compounds, acid chlorides, anhydrides, peroxides, strong reducing agents
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, eye contact
Symptoms: Burns, redness, headache, dizziness, nausea, CNS depression, possible kidney or liver damage on repeated exposure
Acute Toxicity: LD50 oral (rat): 205 mg/kg; LD50 dermal (rabbit): 890 mg/kg
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure may lead to dermatitis, respiratory disorders, organ damage
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by OSHA, IARC, or NTP
Aquatic Toxicity: Toxic to fish (LC50 for Pimephales promelas: 22 mg/L (96hr)), harmful to aquatic invertebrates and algae
Persistence/Degradability: Moderately persistent, not readily biodegradable in water, partial breakdown possible in soil and air
Bioaccumulation: Potential for accumulation exists in aquatic organisms
Soil Mobility: Mobile in soil, may leach to groundwater
Other Adverse Effects: Phenolic odor can affect wildlife, avoid contamination of water systems
Disposal Methods: Incineration in approved facilities, containment in sealed drums for hazardous waste landfill
Container Disposal: Triple rinse, puncture, ensure disposal follows local, regional, national, and international laws
Precautions: Do not release into environment, minimize waste whenever possible, offer surplus and non-recyclables to licensed disposal company
UN Number: 2076 (o-, m-, p-crerol)
Proper Shipping Name: Cresols
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (toxic substances)
Packing Group: II
Labels: Toxic, corrosive
Special Precautions for Transport: Handle with care to avoid leakage, keep away from food, animal feed, and incompatible materials, transport using certified personnel and reliable containers
Environmental Hazards: Listed as marine pollutant in some jurisdictions
OSHA: Listed as hazardous chemical under 29 CFR 1910.1200
EPA: Listed on TSCA Inventory, subject to RCRA and CERCLA reporting requirements
SARA Title III: Section 313 reportable substance
WHMIS (Canada): D1B (Toxic), D2A (Very toxic), D2B (Toxic), E (Corrosive)
Other Regulations: Complies with REACH, subject to Canadian, EU, and Australian restrictions on manufacture and use
Label Requirements: Clearly indicate toxicity, corrosivity, and required safety measures under international GHS system
Restrictions: Use restricted to industrial, laboratory, and professional applications
