Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management

Updates from the Daily News Blog

Commentary: Will Playing Fields, Parks, and Lawns Be Safe After Glyphosate in Roundup Residential Use Ends in 2023?
July 30, 2021

EPA Proposes Cancellation of Highly Toxic Wood Preservative Pentachlorophenol ("Penta")
March 9, 2021

Take Action by Sept. 13: Tell Canada to Ban Horrifically Hazardous Wood Preservative Pentachlorophenol
September 8, 2020

As the World Bans Highly Toxic Wood Preservative, Pentachlorophenol, a Low-Income U.S. Community May Be Home to the Last Production Plant
March 10, 2020

Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Over Dioxin Contamination from Poison Poles in Central California
September 14, 2018

Label Warning on Dangerous PCP-Treated Poles Deemed Unconstitutional
March 3, 2016

International Treaty Bans Pentachlorophenal, U.S. Continues Use on Utility Poles and Railroad Ties
May 18, 2015

U.S. Senator Calls for Suspension of Pentachlorophenol, Used to Treat Utility Poles
March 10, 2015

North Hempstead Sued by Utilities over Pole Warning Signs
January 21, 2015

United Nations Committee Recommends Global Elimination of Toxic Wood Preservative
November 4, 2014

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Pentachlorophenol

General Information

• Product Names:
  Penta 5 Sure-Treat Wood Preserver (KMG-Bernuth)
  Dura-Treet 40 Wood Preserve (KMG-Bernuth)
  Pentacon (KMG-Bernuth)

• Chemical Class: Chlorophenol compound
• Uses: Restricted use heavy duty wood preservative (fungicide, bactericide, herbicide, molluscicide, algaecide and insecticide) targets carpenter ants, mold, powderpost beetles, termites, wood rot/decaying fungus, wood rot/decaying organisms, wood stain fungus.
• Alternatives: Wood preservative
• Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic

Health and Environmental Effects

• Cancer: Probable (15)
• Endocrine Disruption: Probable (5)
• Reproductive Effects: Yes (31)
• Neurotoxicity: Yes (31)
• Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes (31)
• Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes (31)
• Birth/Developmental: Yes (31)
• Detected in Groundwater: Yes (31)
• Potential Leacher: Yes (31)
• Toxic to Birds: Yes (40)
• Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (31)
• Toxic to Bees: Not documented

Additional Information

• Regulatory Status:
  • EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) signed (9/2008)
  • Beyond Pesticides' Revised Risk Assessment comments (6/2008)
• Supporting information:
  • Wood Preservatives Campaign (Beyond Pesticides)
  • Poison Poles (Beyond Pesticides, 1999)
  • Pole Pollution (Beyond Pesticides, 1997)
  • NCAP Pentachlorophenol Factsheet (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
  • Extoxnet Pentachlorophenol Factsheet (Extension Toxicology Network)
  • PAN Pesticides Database:Pentachlorophenol (Pesticide Action Network)
  • Scorecard Pentachlorophenol Factsheet (The Pollution Information Site)
  • Pentachlorophenol Factsheet (Washington Toxics Coalition)