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
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4-tert-octylphenolAlkylphenol with a C8-Alkyl-chain
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4-NonylphenolAlkylphenol with a C9-alkyl-chain
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4-Nonylphenol monoethoxylateNonylphenol with one ethoxylate group
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A precursor used for the production of tensides
Specimen
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Bioindicator in rivers and lakes
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One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea
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Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29.
Sampling area
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Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany.
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Longest river in Germany
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National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world.
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National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats.
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Fourth largest river basin in Central Europe
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4 university cities as sampling areas.
Sampling period
1985 - 2021
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: First signs of successful action taken against endocrine disruptor
- Die EU stellt Octylphenol an den Pranger. Radio-Interview im Deutschlandfunk vom 13.12.2011.
- Directive 2013/39/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 amending Directives 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC as regards priority substances 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