Difference between revisions of "Octylphenol"

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Octylphenol is in the EU produced (in 2001) at 23.000 tonnes per year. The main areas of use  are as an intermediate in the production of phenol/formaldehyde resins and in the manufacture of octylphenol ethoxylates. These chemicals are used to in rubber, in pesticides and paints. Octylphenol mainly reaches the marine environment in waste waters from factories. Another possibility is from the breakdown of [[APE|alkylphenol ethoxylates]]. It has also been reported that octylphenol is present as an impurity in [[nonylphenol]] and that this may account to some extent for its detection in the environment. <ref name = OECD>[http://www.ospar.org/documents%5Cdbase%5Cpublications%5Cp00273_BD%20on%20octylphenol%20_2006%20version.pdf OSPAR Commission, 2006: OSPAR background document on octylphenol]</ref>
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Octylphenol is in the EU produced (in 2001) at 23.000 tonnes per year. The main areas of use  are as an intermediate in the production of phenol/formaldehyde resins and in the manufacture of octylphenol ethoxylates. These chemicals are used to in rubber, in pesticides and paints. Octylphenol mainly reaches the marine environment in waste waters from factories. Another possibility is from the breakdown of [[APE|alkylphenol ethoxylates]]. It has also been reported that octylphenol is present as an impurity in [[nonylphenol]] and that this may account to some extent for its detection in the environment<ref name = OECD>[http://www.ospar.org/documents%5Cdbase%5Cpublications%5Cp00273_BD%20on%20octylphenol%20_2006%20version.pdf OSPAR Commission, 2006: OSPAR background document on octylphenol]</ref>.
  
 
Considering the low vapour pressure of octylphenol and its tendency to [[adsorption|adsorb]] to soils and sediments it can be expected that atmospheric concentrations will be low. Any octylphenol released to the atmosphere is likely to be degraded rapidly by reacting with hydroxyl radicals. In water and the soil however octylphenol is thought to be quite stable.  
 
Considering the low vapour pressure of octylphenol and its tendency to [[adsorption|adsorb]] to soils and sediments it can be expected that atmospheric concentrations will be low. Any octylphenol released to the atmosphere is likely to be degraded rapidly by reacting with hydroxyl radicals. In water and the soil however octylphenol is thought to be quite stable.  
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It has a low tendency to [[bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] and no tendency to [[biomagnification|biomagnify]] through [[food chain|food chains]].  
 
It has a low tendency to [[bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] and no tendency to [[biomagnification|biomagnify]] through [[food chain|food chains]].  
  
It is a toxic substance as concentrations above 6,1 µg/l can already have adverse effects on marine organisms.  
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It is a [[toxic]] substance as concentrations above 6,1 µg/l can already have adverse effects on marine organisms.  
  
The highest measured concentration (13 µg/l) has been measured in the English Tees [[estuary]]. Sediment concentrations in the Tees estuary could reach levels up to 0,32 mg/kg [[dry weight]]. Concentrations in [[coastal area|coastal]] water are usually below 0,016 µg/l. Concentration is [[North Sea]] [[pollution and pelagic fishes|fish]] are bellow the limit of detection which is 0,004 mg/kg dry weight. In [[pollution and marine mammals|mammals]] and fishes it has been shown to be able to cause [[endocrine disrupting compounds|endocrine disruptive effects]], because it displays estrogen-like behaviour.<ref name = OECD>[http://www.ospar.org/documents%5Cdbase%5Cpublications%5Cp00273_BD%20on%20octylphenol%20_2006%20version.pdf OSPAR Commission, 2006: OSPAR background document on octylphenol]</ref>
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The highest measured concentration (13 µg/l) is situated in the English Tees [[estuary]]. Sediment concentrations in the Tees estuary could reach levels up to 0,32 mg/kg [[dry weight]]. Concentrations in [[coastal area|coastal]] water are usually below 0,016 µg/l. Concentrations in [[North Sea]] [[pollution and pelagic fishes|fish]] are bellow the limit of detection which is 0,004 mg/kg dry weight. In [[pollution and marine mammals|mammals]] and fishes it can cause [[endocrine disrupting compounds|endocrine disruptive effects]], because it displays estrogen-like behaviour<ref name = OECD>[http://www.ospar.org/documents%5Cdbase%5Cpublications%5Cp00273_BD%20on%20octylphenol%20_2006%20version.pdf OSPAR Commission, 2006: OSPAR background document on octylphenol]</ref>.
 
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[[Category:Toxicity chemicals]]

Latest revision as of 13:28, 9 August 2020

Definition of octylphenol:
The term octylphenol represents a large number of isomeric compounds. The octyl group may be branched in a variety of ways or be a straight chain and may be located at either the 2-, 3- or 4-position of the benzene ring. Of these potential isomers, 4-tertoctylphenol is the most commercially important[1].
This is the common definition for octylphenol, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

Octylphenol
Octylphenol
Formula
C14H220

Octylphenol is in the EU produced (in 2001) at 23.000 tonnes per year. The main areas of use are as an intermediate in the production of phenol/formaldehyde resins and in the manufacture of octylphenol ethoxylates. These chemicals are used to in rubber, in pesticides and paints. Octylphenol mainly reaches the marine environment in waste waters from factories. Another possibility is from the breakdown of alkylphenol ethoxylates. It has also been reported that octylphenol is present as an impurity in nonylphenol and that this may account to some extent for its detection in the environment[1].

Considering the low vapour pressure of octylphenol and its tendency to adsorb to soils and sediments it can be expected that atmospheric concentrations will be low. Any octylphenol released to the atmosphere is likely to be degraded rapidly by reacting with hydroxyl radicals. In water and the soil however octylphenol is thought to be quite stable.

It has a low tendency to bioaccumulate and no tendency to biomagnify through food chains.

It is a toxic substance as concentrations above 6,1 µg/l can already have adverse effects on marine organisms.

The highest measured concentration (13 µg/l) is situated in the English Tees estuary. Sediment concentrations in the Tees estuary could reach levels up to 0,32 mg/kg dry weight. Concentrations in coastal water are usually below 0,016 µg/l. Concentrations in North Sea fish are bellow the limit of detection which is 0,004 mg/kg dry weight. In mammals and fishes it can cause endocrine disruptive effects, because it displays estrogen-like behaviour[1].


Environmental standards and legislation

Included in the OSPAR list of substances of priority action

Included in the water framework list of priority substances


See also

Octylphenol on the ED North Database

OSPAR background document on octylphenol


References

The main author of this article is Daphnis De Pooter
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.

Citation: Daphnis De Pooter (2020): Octylphenol. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Octylphenol [accessed on 28-03-2024]