Alkylphenol compounds
Class of non-ionic surfactants and their degradation products
Alkylphenols are precursors and degradation products of the alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants.
Alkylphenol ethoxylates belong to the so called non-ionic surfactants. They are used, e.g., in textile-, leather-, and metalworking industries and are applied as industrial cleaners, bore- and flotation additives, moistening agents, solvents and levelling agents in photo industry.
In the environment, alkylphenol ethoxylates are successively degraded to the respective alkylphenols.
The alkylphenols are more toxic than their parent compounds. Under anaerobic conditions they are persistent and may accumulate strongly in organisms. Alkylphenols are endocrine disruptors with estrogenic activity.
The commercially most relevant alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates are the 4-nonyl- und 4-octyl-compounds.
Since 1986 a voluntary self-restriction of German industries resulted in a strong decrease of alkylphenol ethoxylates in cleaners.
Recommended analysis examples
Search data
Substances
| 4-tert-octylphenol | Alkylphenol with a C8-Alkyl-chain |
|---|---|
| 4-Nonylphenol | Alkylphenol with a C9-alkyl-chain |
| 4-Nonylphenol monoethoxylate | Nonylphenol with one ethoxylate group |
Specimen
| Bream | Bioindicator in rivers and lakes |
|---|---|
| Blue mussel | One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea |
Sampling area
| Saarländischer Verdichtungsraum | Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany. |
|---|---|
| Rhein | Longest river in Germany |
| NP Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft | National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world. |
| BR/NP Wattenmeere | National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats. |
| Elbe | Fourth largest river area in Central Europe. |
Sampling period
1986 - 2001
Extended information
Links to external information and legislation
- The Member State Committee identifies the first endocrine disruptor as a Substance of Very High Concern
- ECHA updates the Candidate List with twenty new Substances of Very High Concern
- REACH: Erster Erfolg gegen hormonähnlichen Stoff
- Die EU stellt Octylphenol an den Pranger. Radio-Interview im Deutschlandfunk vom 13.12.2011.
- Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.
- Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy
- Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending Council Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC