The review on pentachlorophenol was undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides in response to the 9th Amendment to the Marketing and Use Directive. The high toxicity to man and the environment was noted and the associated risks were assessed. The Cornmittee concluded that the potential carcinogenicity was probably via a non-genotoxic mechanism but required further information. It also recommended that the continued approval of the remaining products used in wood preservation did not pose an unacceptable risk to man or the environment because of the contained exposure. Thus further restrictions, beyond those required by the 9th Amendment, were considered unnecessary. However, there was evidence that intermittent high levels of PCP were detected around large chemical, petrochemical and steel manufacturers and industrial areas and these might warrant further investigation.

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