Pentachlorophenol (PCP): Its Salts and Esters

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is the most toxic compound of the chlorophenols family tested yet and falls under the category of Persistent Organic Compound. In the seventh Conference of Parties (COP) meeting held during 4–15 May 2015, the chemical Pentachlorophenol was added to the POPs list along with two other chemicals Polychlorinated Naphthalene and Hexachlorobutadiene. India has also banned PCP and its salts from production, import and further, Central Insecticides Board and Registration (CIBR) have already banned its use in agriculture in 1998. Several scientific studies have reported detection of PCP and its metabolites in different environmental matrix, namely, air, soil, water and its sediments. The routes of exposure established in human beings is through foul air, contaminated water, food or through dermal contact to PCP-coated products. Although, due to restricted use chances of exposure lessen but occupational exposure at manufacturing units cannot be denied. Significant concentrations of PCP have been detected in umbilical cord, spinal cord, blood plasma and serum in communities of different age group and the details of various related aspects have been dealt in detail in this chapter.