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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Description of key information

Skin Irritation: 
Key study: 3,5 xylenol. Wortmann, 1981 (IUCLID4). KL.2 - Not irritating; 
Supporting study: 2,4 xyelnol. Uschdavini, 1974. KL.3. Necrosis; 
Supporting study: 2,6 xyelnol. Uschdavini, 1974. KL.3. Necrosis; 
Supporting study: m-cresol. IBTL, 1969. KL.3 - Corrosive; 
Supporting study: o-cresol. IBTL, 1969. KL.3 - Corrosive; 
Supporting study: p-cresol. IBTL, 1969. KL.3 - Corrosive; 
Eye Irritation: 
Key study on 3,5 xylenol. Wortmann, 1981. KL.2 (IUCLID 4) - Highly irritating; 
Supporting study on m-cresol. IBTL, 1969. KL.2. - Highly irritating; 
Supporting study on o-cresol. IBTL, 1969. KL.2. - Highly irritating; 
Supporting study on p-cresol. IBTL, 1969. KL.2. - Highly irritating; 
Respiratory irritation: 
No data identified;

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
adverse effect observed (corrosive)

Eye irritation

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
adverse effect observed (irritating)

Respiratory irritation

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
adverse effect observed (irritating)

Additional information

Skin irritation

The key study on 3,5 xylenol reports that this test material is non-irritating. Supporting studies on other xylenol and cresol isomers all conclude that these test materials are all highly irritating.

 

Currently no skin irritation data is available for ethyl phenols; based on structural similarities one would assume that the ethyl phenols would give a similar value to that observed for the 2,4 /2,6 xylenols and cresols, highly irritant to corrosive.

 

Currently under EU Directive 67/548 EEC both xylenols and cresols are classified as corrosive, with the R phrases of R24 'toxic in contact with skin and R34 'cause burns' applied. Therefore this mixture would be assumed to be corrosive to skin.

 

Eye irritation

The key study on 3,5 xylenol reports that this test material is highly irritating (irritation score of 58.4). Supporting studies on all three cresol isomers also confirm that these test materials are highly irritating. No reversibility data was reported for the cresols data, however all three reports confirm total irritation scores of 89 or more/110.

 

Currently no eye irritation data is available for ethyl phenols; based on structural similarities one would assume that the ethyl phenols would give a similar value to that observed for the 2,4 / 2,6 xylenols and cresols, highly irritant to corrosive.

 

Currently under EU Directive 67/548 EEC both xylenols and cresols are classified as corrosive, with the R phrases of R24 'toxic in contact with skin and R34 'cause burns' applied. There for this mixture would be assumed to be corrosive to eyes.

Respiratory irritation

As identified no studies are available which address this endpoint adequately. Therefore a reasonable precaution is to assume that as cresols and xylenols (and potentially ethylphenols) are considered to be highly irritating / corrosive such substances would also expect to cause respiratory irritation when vapourised or in the form of an aerosol.


Effects on skin irritation/corrosion: corrosive

Effects on eye irritation: corrosive

Effects on respiratory irritation: irritating

Justification for classification or non-classification