Chapter 7: Disinfectants and antibacterials · Part 3: Phenols
Chlorocresol
- Officially classed skin allergen
- Contaminant risk
The worst fact: the pure chemical is corrosive to eyes and skin in rabbit tests, rated in the most severe US category for both. It has caused contact allergy and, in one reported case, anaphylaxis.
Why brands use it: it kills bacteria and fungi, and preserves creams and industrial products.
Take care if: you get it on skin or in your eyes. Australia classes it as "Causes severe skin burns and eye damage" and "May cause an allergic skin reaction". It's Schedule 5 (Caution) above 3%.
Comes from: m-cresol reacted with chlorine.
Myth check: "It's a strong allergen": allergy is real but uncommon. Of 1,462 patients patch-tested, 5 reacted.
Contaminants: m-cresol, under 0.1%. It's unlikely to matter in a well-made product, but it's a factor you can't see on the label.
Fair to say: the US EPA found it not classifiable for cancer and no unreasonable risk from approved uses.
Correct as of November 2026. What the badges mean
Sources
- Australian Government. Poisons Standard October 2026 (SUSMP), F2026L01327: didecyldimethylammonium salts; quaternary ammonium compounds; triclosan; o-phenylphenol; chlorocresol; p-dichlorobenzene; thymol; methanol; Appendix B.
- Safe Work Australia. Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS): classifications for each chemical, and for benzene and benzyl chloride.
- US EPA. Reregistration documents: chloroxylenol (1994), 2-phenylphenol (2006), p-chloro-m-cresol (1996), o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol (1995), thymol (1993); 40 CFR 152.25.
- HSDB (US National Library of Medicine), via PubChem: manufacturing, toxicity and impurity data.
- Mehrtens SH et al. Contact urticaria with anaphylaxis caused by chlorocresol, chloroxylenol and thiourea. Contact Dermatitis 2019.
The full source list is at the end of Chapter 7.