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I contacted Dr Shaw yesterday and he communicated the results to me over the phone. I was surprised to hear that only 3 nappies had been tested
and that the results were so variable (9.7, 28, 33 nanograms per gram). Taking the 33 result this transposed to 0.001254 mg in the nappy. He mentioned that some of the 2,4 DCP could be excreted and the baby/toddler could then get as second dose. However, on thinking about this some more, I wondered if he took into account the possiblity that a baby's nappy can be changed up to eight times a day and this would therefore be eight individual exposures. As the 2,4 DCP in the nappies had a noticeable odour, the other route of exposure to consider is via inhalation. While asleep, with the nappy on in a confined space of a basinnette with semi hood or while head was partially under bed covers would cause a risk of inhalation.
I was also surprise when Dr Shaw told me that Treasures had sent him a photo of a shipping container with 2,4 Dichlorophenol clearly marked on it.
How did the nappies get transported in a container marked with this?
He didn't know whether the 2,4 Dichlorophenol was only in the air in the container or if it was present in some other form.
He mentioned that there was a TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) value he was working with. I don't however recall what this figure was or where this figure was reported/obtained from.
I have done some research into case reports of human exposure to 2,4,dichlorophenol and came up with the following 7 cases that I have pasted below. You will note that all 7 died and most within two hours of exposure, one as early as 20 minutes, even following immediate showering.
I found that for repeated oral toxicity studies in animals, the toxic effects of 2,4,DCP have been reported particularly on the liver and hematopoietic and immune systems
For the evaluation of carcinogenicity, no adequate reports are available.
It is also widely known that the primary use of 2,4 dichlorophenol is for the manufacture of 2,4 D herbicide.
2,4 D herbicide is the 50% component of "Agent Orange" used in chemical warfare, where 400,000 people were killed or maimed
and 500,000 children were born with birth defects as a result.
/CASE REPORTS/ /In/ ...1998, a 29-year-old man employed at a ...
chemical company producing 2,4-D was sprayed with 2,4-DCP from a leak in
tubing while he was using steam to clear a blocked pump. The worker
bypassed the nearest safety shower and used a locker room shower, where
he became unconscious. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, and the
worker was pronounced dead at a hospital 1 hour after exposure. Skin
surfaces exposed to 2,4-DCP included his forearms, right knee, right
thigh, and face. Except for chemical burns on his face and extremities
and pulmonary edema, the autopsy findings were unremarkable. 2,4-DCP was
found in his blood (7.2 mg/L free 2,4-DCP, 13.1 mg/L total 2,4-DCP) and
urine (4.8 mg/L free 2,4-DCP, 6.2 mg/L total 2,4-DCP). Death was
attributed to acute dichlorophenol intoxication.
[DHHS/CDC; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 49 (23): 516-518 (2000). Available from, as of February 4, 2009: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4923a3.htm **PEER REVIEWED**
/CASE REPORTS/ In 1991, a 33-year-old man working at a factory ... was
splattered over portions of his right thigh and arm with pure liquid
2,4-DCP while disposing of industrial waste. He walked away from the
scene and washed himself with water without undressing. He experienced a
seizure, collapsed within 20 minutes of exposure, and died after
unsuccessful attempts at resuscitation. 2,4-DCP was found in his blood
(24.3 mg/L), urine (5.3 mg/L), bile (18.7 mg/L), and stomach (1.2 mg/L).
[DHHS/CDC; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 49 (23): 516-518 (2000). Available from, as of February 4, 2009: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4923a3.htm **PEER REVIEWED**
/CASE REPORTS/ In September 1980, a 45-year-old man working at a ...
chemical company ... sustained skin and upper-airway exposure after
being sprayed by steam containing 2,4-DCP. The worker bypassed the
nearest safety shower, started decontamination using an unalarmed shower
in a dressing area, and then moved to an alarmed shower, which
automatically notified emergency personnel and summoned an ambulance. He
sustained thermal burns to his skin, mouth, and upper airway, lost
consciousness, and died despite resuscitation attempts. An autopsy
revealed cutaneous burns on his neck, upper chest, back, and thighs;
pulmonary congestion with alveolar hemorrhage; and moderately severe
hepatocellular fatty change. His larynx was congested in a manner
consistent with a steam/chemical burn, but the trachea was
un-remarkable, suggesting only upper airway exposure to the steam and
2,4-DCP. No reliable data on 2,4-DCP concentration in biologic fluids
were available. The final pathologic diagnosis was "acute steam and
dichlorophenol exposure."
[DHHS/CDC; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 49 (23): 516-518 (2000). Available from, as of February 4, 2009: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4923a3.htm **PEER REVIEWED**
/CASE REPORTS/ In April 1992, a 64-year-old man at a chemical facility
... was using steam to unblock a clogged pump carrying 2,4-DCP. A pump
seal failure allowed steam and 2,4-DCP to spurt onto his face and neck.
Death occurred 20 minutes after exposure.
[DHHS/CDC; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 49 (23): 516-518 (2000). Available from, as of February 4, 2009: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4923a3.htm **PEER REVIEWED**
/CASE REPORTS/ In April 1985, a 33-year-old man working at a ...
manufacturing facility was splashed with a solution containing 51%
2,4-DCP while moving a hose used to transfer the material. The solution
covered 60%--65% of his body surface area (head, chest, neck, abdomen,
arms, and thighs). When paramedics arrived, he was unconscious and
convulsing on the shower room floor. He was transported to a hospital
and pronounced dead approximately 90 minutes after exposure. An autopsy
revealed first-degree chemical burns on exposed skin surfaces; swollen,
red, sloughed mucosa of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi; focal
hemorrhage and considerable hemorrhagic frothy fluid in the lungs (with
fluid extruding through his mouth and nostrils); blue/tan swollen
esophageal mucosa; and reddened mucosa and turbid hemorrhagic fluid in
the stomach. Microsections of the brain revealed intense congestion and
petechial hemorrhages. Serum total dichlorophenol concentration at
postmortem was 67 mg/L. The final pathologic diagnosis was "acute
chlorinated phenolic exposure and 60% chemical burns."
[DHHS/CDC; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 49 (23): 516-518 (2000). Available from, as of February 4, 2009: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4923a3.htm **PEER REVIEWED**
/CASE REPORTS/ A case involving an accidental fatality resulting from
skin absorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol in a factory is presented. The
compound was quantified using gas chromatography after separation on a
SP-1240 DA column and detection with flame ionization. Confirmation was
obtained with mass spectrometry. Blood concentration was 24.3 mg/L.
Other drugs, including ethanol, were not detected.
[Kintz P et al; Arch Toxicol 66 (4): 298-9 (1992)] **PEER REVIEWED** PubMed Abstract
/CASE REPORTS/ One occupational death occurred following an accidental
splash to 2,4-dichlorophenol, melted at 60 deg C, on approximately 10%
body surface.
[European Commission, ESIS; IUCLID
Dataset, 2,4 dichlorophenol (120-83-2) p 51 (2000 CD-ROM edition).
Available from, as of March, 5 2009: http://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ **PEER REVIEWED**
I have not found any studies done on the effects on children, babies or toddlers of 2,4 Dichlorophenol via dermal or inhalation routes of absorption.
There is no question however that 2,4 is a highly toxic compound.
We should keep in touch regarding this as I think our children should be monitored over time.
Thanks
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Alarming Chemical Smell on Treasures Nappy Pants
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