Chloroxylenol

Chloroxylenol, also known as para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX), is an antiseptic and disinfectant which is used for skin disinfection and cleaning surgical instruments.[2] It is also used within a number of household disinfectants and wound cleaners.[3] It is less effective than some other available agents.[4][5] It is available as a liquid.[2]

Chloroxylenol
Names
Systematic IUPAC name
4-Chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol[1]
Other names
  • para-Chloro-meta-xylenol
  • PCMX
  • Dettol
Identifiers
CAS Number
3D model (JSmol)
Beilstein Reference
 1862539
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.001.631
EC Number
  • 201-793-8
KEGG
MeSH chloroxylenol
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • ZE6850000
UNII
Properties
Chemical formula
 C8H9ClO
Molar mass 156.61 g·mol−1
Melting point 114 to 116 °C (237 to 241 °F; 387 to 389 K)
log P 3.377
Acidity (pKa) 9.76
Basicity (pKb) 4.24
Pharmacology
D08AE05 (WHO)
Hazards
GHS pictograms
GHS Signal word Warning
GHS hazard statements
 H302, H315, H317, H319
GHS precautionary statements
 P280, P305+351+338
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Side effects are generally few but can include skin irritation.[2][4] It may be used mixed with water or alcohol.[2] Chloroxylenol is most effective against Gram-positive bacteria.[2] It works by disruption of the cell wall and stopping the function of enzymes.[5]

Chloroxylenol was first made in 1927.[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.[7] The wholesale cost in the developing world is about US$2.00–6.20 per litre of 5% solution.[8] It is sold in a number of formulations and under a number of brand names including Dettol.[3][9]

Uses

Chloroxylenol is used in hospitals and households for disinfection and sanitation. It is also commonly used in antibacterial soaps, wound-cleansing applications and household antiseptics such as Dettol liquid (to which it contributes its distinctive odor), cream and ointments.[10]

Side effects

Chloroxylenol is not significantly toxic to humans, is practically non-toxic to birds, and is moderately toxic to freshwater invertebrates. It is highly toxic to fish, cats, and some amphibians and should not be used around them.[11] It is a mild skin irritant and may trigger allergic reactions in some individuals.[12]

Humans

Excessive exposure to chloroxylenol has the potential for causing lethal toxicity. It is poisonous when swallowed and even when it is unintentionally breathed in. A medical study in Hong Kong which analyzed 177 cases of Dettol ingestions that resulted in emergency department treatment (95% of which were intentional), concluded that ″Dettol poisoning resulted in serious complications in 7% of patients, including death".[13]

Animals

Chloroxylenol is toxic to many animals, especially cats.[14] Phenolic compounds are of particular concern because cats are unable to fully metabolize them. A cat may swallow the product by licking its paws after they have come into contact with it.

In Australia, chloroxylenol spray has been shown to be lethal to cane toads, an invasive species that was introduced from Hawaii as a result of bad judgment in 1935. It had been hoped that the amphibian would control the cane beetle but it became highly destructive within the ecosystem. Spraying the disinfectant at close range has been shown to cause rapid death to toads. It is not known whether the toxins are persistent or whether they harm other Australian flora and fauna.

Owing to concerns over potential harm to other Australian wildlife species, the use of chloroxylenol as an agent for pest control was banned in Western Australia by the Department of Environment and Conservation in 2011.[15]

History

Soon after it was created parachlorometaxylenol was then called PCMX, but this was thought to be a poor name and it was renamed Dettol. Then in 1930s it was marketed in Britain, and then in 1932 in India. It had a white on green bottle with a white sword depicted.[16][17] It is sold, in the same style bottle, in Argentina and Uruguay to this day.[18]

Society and culture

A number of brand names are available. Chloroxylenol is the active ingredient in Dettol. It comprises 4.8% of Dettol's total admixture,[19] with the rest made up by pine oil, isopropanol, castor oil, soap and water.

References
  1. CID 2723 from PubChem
  2. WHO Model Formulary 2008 (PDF). World Health Organization. 2009. p. 324. ISBN 9789241547659. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  3. Griffiths, Christopher; Barker, Jonathan; Bleiker, Tanya; Chalmers, Robert; Creamer, Daniel (2016-02-29). Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, 4 Volume Set. John Wiley & Sons. p. 128.38. ISBN 9781118441176. Archived from the original on 2017-01-13.
  4. Digison, MB (2007). "A review of anti-septic agents for pre-operative skin preparation". Plastic Surgical Nursing. 27 (4): 185–9, quiz 190–1. doi:10.1097/01.psn.0000306182.50071.e2. PMID 18165724.
  5. Mahon, Connie R.; Lehman, Donald C.; Jr, George Manuselis (2014). Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology (5 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 67. ISBN 9780323292627. Archived from the original on 2017-01-13.
  6. Larson, E; Talbot, GH (August 1986). "An approach for selection of health care personnel handwashing agents". Infection Control. 7 (8): 419–24. doi:10.1017/s0195941700064663. PMID 3091524.
  7. "WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (19th List)" (PDF). World Health Organization. April 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  8. "Chloroxylenol". International Drug Price Indicator Guide. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  9. "Chloroxylenol - brand name list from Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-28.
  10. Ascenzi, Joseph M. (1996). "Chloroxylenol: an old-new antimicrobial". Handbook of disinfectants and antiseptics. New York: M. Dekker. ISBN 978-0-8247-9524-5. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23.
  11. Dettol liquid at drugs.com Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  12. K Verma, Ghanshyam; K Mahajan, Vikram; Shanker, Vinay; Ram Tegta, Geeta; Jindal, Nidhi; Minhas, Samridhi (2011). "Contact depigmentation following irritant contact dermatitis to chloroxylenol (dettol)". Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 77 (5): 612–4. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.84086. PMID 21860168.
  13. PK Lam; CK Chan; ML Tse; FL Lau (August 2012). "Dettol poisoning and the need for airway intervention" (PDF). Hong Kong Medical Journal. 18 (4): 270–275. PMID 22865169. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  14. "Cats and poisons". icatcare.org. Archived from the original on 2015-08-31.
  15. Narelle Towie (23 May 2009). "Cane toad poison banned". Perth Now. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  16. Susan Pinto, Viveat (12 March 2015). "40 years ago...And now: Not just germs, Dettol fights rivals unabated". Business Standard India. www.business-standard.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  17. C.S.G. Krishnamacharyulu Rural Marketing: Text and Cases (2010), p. 407, at Google Books
  18. "Espadol Dettol CLOROXILENOL Antiséptico". Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  19. "Summary of Product Characteristics / Dettol Liquid" (PDF). MHRA. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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