Pentachlorophenol (PCP) — biological monitoring

When to suspect: Wood preservation / timber treatment (now largely restricted), former herbicide/fungicide/slimicide, leather/textile treatment. Long half-life → cumulative body burden.

Urinary / plasma pentachlorophenol (mg/g creat · mg/L)

Level	Interpretation
Sub-mg/L	General-population background
Urine 2 / Plasma 5	HISTORICAL ACGIH BEI (withdrawn ~2014) — no current limit

ACGIH BEIs were WITHDRAWN ~2014 — these are historical / reference-lab values. Long half-life (~10–20 days) means timing is less critical.

Biological exposure index

No current ACGIH BEI (withdrawn ~2014). Historical: urine 2 mg/g creatinine (prior to last shift), plasma 5 mg/L (end of shift).

Basis: ACGIH BEI — withdrawn ~2014 (historical); IARC / ATSDR.

Sample collection & preparation

Urine spot or plasma/serum; plain container; assay total PCP after hydrolysis.
Long half-life — timing less critical. Note environmental background.

Statutory basis. Factories Act 1948 sets only AIR limits (Second Schedule TWA/STEL, s.41F) and mandates the hazardous-process exam (s.41C, ≤12-monthly); it gives NO blood/urine values. The ranges below are ACGIH BEI / OSHA / clinical benchmarks (India has not adopted biological limits into law).

Reference information for occupational-health professionals — not medical advice, and not a substitute for examination by a qualified physician.

All 27 agents — toxicology & biological monitoring

MedFactory — Occupational Health Centre software for Indian factories