Chlorophenols in the terrestrial environment

Abstract

Chlorophenols are presently widespread in the environment. Even in the most remote natural environments, the presence of chlorophenols in both aquatic and terrestrial food chains has been recorded. These pervasive compounds have been used for a wide range of domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes for more than 50 years. In addition to industrial production and usage, chlorophenols are produced from naturally occurring phenols as a result of chlorine bleaching of wood pulp in the paper industry and through the chlorination of domestic water supplies and swimming pools. It must be emphasized that chlorophenols, although a local problem in some areas, generally cannot be considered a major environmental problem today because their use is prohibited or restricted in many countries. Future reduction in the use of the herbicidal phenoxy acids will further minimize their levels in the terrestrial environment. Because of the long persistence and high toxicity of pentachlorophenol in particular, however, it is important that the discharge of chlorophenols to the terrestrial environment by way of sewage sludge or pulp mill effluents be maintained at their current levels or even reduced to lower levels.