Comparative toxicity of certain t-butyl substituted cresols and xylenols.

Of the compounds studied, 2-t-butyl 4-methylphenol, 2-t-butyl 5-methylphenol, 2,4-di-t-butyl 5-methylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol and 3,5-dimethylphenol have a lower degree of acute toxicity than phenol itself. However, 2,4-dimethyl-6-t-butyl-phenol is unique in its toxicity to the rabbit, being as lethal by simple application to the intact skin as by the oral route of administration. This is apparently a species susceptibility since rats and guinea pigs are less susceptible to the compound by both the oral and the skin route. It is concluded that the dialkyl phenols are more irritant locally than the trialkyl phenols studied.