2-Ethylphenol

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a recommended classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 530(SRC), determined from a measured log Kow(2) and a recommended regression-derived equation(3), indicates that 2-ethylphenol will have low to moderate mobility in soil(SRC). Limited data suggests that biodegradation of this compound under both aerobic(4) and anaerobic conditions(5) may be possible. 2-Ethylphenol's values for vapor pressure(6) and Henry's Law constant(6,7,SRC) indicate that volatilization from dry and moist soil surfaces is possible, but is not likely to be a major fate process for this compound(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a recommended classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 530(SRC), determined from a measured log Kow(2) and a recommended regression-derived equation(3), indicates that 2-ethylphenol may adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC) in the water column. Limited data suggest that biodegradation of this compound under both aerobic(4) and anaerobic conditions(5) may be possible. 2-Ethylphenol should volatilize from water surfaces based on an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.6X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), from its experimental values for vapor pressure(6), and water solubility(7). Estimated half-lives for a model river and model lake are 9 and 68 days, respectively(3,SRC). An estimated BCF value of 44(3,SRC), from a measured log Kow(2), suggests that bioconcentration of 2-ethylphenol in aquatic organisms is moderate(SRC) according to a recommended classification scheme(8).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a suggested classification scheme(1), a measured vapor pressure of 0.153 mm Hg at 25 °C(2) indicates that 2-ethylphenol will mainly exist in the vapor phase in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 2-ethylphenol is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be about 9 hours(3,SRC).

2-Ethylphenol was detected in industrial wastewater from the following industries: petroleum refining (1 of 21 extracts), electronics (1 of 32 extracts), and publicly-owned treatment works (1 in 44 extracts)(1). 2-Ethylphenol was detected in a sample of finished drinking water from a plant in Philadelphia, PA, in February 1976(2). Wastewater from the gasification of Indian Head lignite coal in North Dakota contained 2-ethylphenol at an estimated concentration of 50 mg/L(3). 2-Ethylphenol was measured in coal conversion wastewaters for two different synthanes at 140-170 and 2185 mg/L(4).

The Koc of 2-ethylphenol is estimated as approximately 530(SRC), using a measured log Kow of 2.47(1) and a regression-derived equation(2,SRC). According to a recommended classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that 2-ethylphenol has moderate to low mobility in soil(SRC).

2-Ethylphenol's production and use as a starting material for photochemicals(1) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC). 2-Ethylphenol is also released in effluent streams from coal gasification plants(2,3).

Two anaerobic digestors were inoculated with groundwater (2-ethylphenol present at 0.38 mg/L); 23-42% of this compound was biodegraded over eight weeks(1). Pseudomonas strain FH23, isolated by enrichment culture with 4-hydroxybiphenyl, had a oxygen uptake rate of 31 nmol/min/mg protein when grown with 2-ethylphenol(2).

An estimated BCF value of 44 was calculated for 2-ethylphenol(SRC), using a measured log Kow of 2.47(1) and a recommended regression-derived equation(2). According to a recommended classification scheme(3), this BCF value suggests that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate, not high(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for 2-ethylphenol is estimated as 4.6X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) from its experimental values for vapor pressure, 0.153 mm Hg at 25 °C(1), and water solubility, 5340 mg/L at 25 °C(2). This value indicates that 2-ethylphenol will volatilize from water surfaces(3,SRC). Based on this Henry's Law constant, the volatilization half-life from a model river (1 m deep, flowing 1 m/sec, wind velocity of 3 m/sec) is estimated as approximately 9 days(3,SRC). The volatilization half-life from a model lake (1 m deep, flowing 0.05 m/sec, wind velocity of 0.5 m/sec) is estimated as approximately 68 days(3,SRC). 2-Ethylphenol's values for vapor pressure(1) and estimated Henry's Law constant(1,2,SRC) indicate that volatilization from dry and moist soil surfaces is possible, but is not likely to be a major fate process for this compound(SRC).

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of 2-ethylphenol with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 4.2X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1,SRC). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 9 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1,SRC). 2-Ethylphenol has a measured pKa of 10.2, indicating that under most environmental conditions this compound will exist mainly as the non-dissociated form(2).

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 93 workers (56 of these are female) are potentially exposed to 2-ethylphenol in the USA(1). Thermal decomposition products which were released during the use of powder paint (an amine-cured epoxy powder paint is applied to metal objects and a protective film is formed by exposing the object to high temperatures) included 2-ethylphenol(2). The general population may be exposed via dermal contact or the inhalation of air containing this compound(SRC).