ABSTRACT
2-Phenoxyethanol is released to the environment in wastewater effluents from various chemical, plastics, photographic, and mechanical product industries. Its use as a solvent will release it directly to air by evaporation. Occupational exposure to 2-phenoxyethanol occurs through inhalation of vapor and dermal contact. Its use as solvent for inks, resins and cellulose acetate and its use as a perfume fixative can expose the general population through dermal contact and inhalation of vapor. Based upon the vapor pressure, 2-phenoxyethanol is expected to exist almost entirely in the vapor phase in the ambient atmosphere. It will degrade relatively rapidly in an average ambient atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals. The value of Henry's Law constant indicates that 2-phenoxyethanol is essentially nonvolatile from environmental waters. Occupational exposure to the ethylene glycol ethers occurs through inhalation of vapor and dermal contact.
