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Abstract: Pentachlorophenol (P.C.P.) is a fungicide of relatively high toxicity with oral LD50 values of between 40 and 200 mg/kg (Mason et al. 1965). Dermal toxicity of P.C.P. is similarly high as it is readily transferred through the intact skin (Benevue et al, 1967) and, in addition, may cause an irritating dermatitis (Bergner et al. 1965). Poisoning cases resulting in deaths have been reported from gross occupational exposures to pentachlorophenol or its sodium salt (Mason et al. 1965; Bergner et al, 1965; Blair 1951). Between 1953 and 1956, five deaths in Queensland were attributed to sodium pentachlorophenate (Gordon, 1956) and dermal absorption was believed to be the main contributing factor. In New South Wales two common uses of pentachlorophenol (P.C.P.) are for preservative treatment of electricity poles and, in the mushroom industry (as the soidum salt), for treatment of wooden mushroom cases. From the literature, it was expected that dermal contact would account for the greater part of operator exposure to P.C.P. Following a high level of P.C.P. in urine of an electricity pole operator in 1977, which resulted in trade union prohibition on its use, a code of safe handling of pesticides for ground line pole maintenance (Electricity Authority of N.S.W., 1979) was accepted by all parties concerned. To assist in drawing up this Code it was necessary to determine the extent of potential dermal exposure resulting from the two main methods of pole treatment. These methods are direct impregnation of new poles by oil/ P.C.P. under pressure or ground-line treatment using P.C.P. either as a paste or an oil spray. In the mushroom industry many operators with raised P.C.P. levels in urine were encountered and, in view of the variety of treatment methods for cases, the handling and exposure situation required closer examination. Cases were either treated by manual or automatic dipping or by spraying in booths or in situ in the sheds. The degree of exposure of operators to pentachlorophenol was determined for each operation and correlated with urinary P.C.P. levels in operators. The results gave an indication of the possible routes of exposure.
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