[Elevated pentachlorphenol in urine following Fungifen therapy]

Urinary pentachlorophenol (PCP) was monitored in male volunteers exposed to Fungifen solution which is a readily accessible pharmaceutical product containing 1% of PCP as active ingredient, and is recommended for the local treatment of interdigital mycoses. PCP absorbed readily through the skin and its elimination was slow. After the topical application of Fungifen maximum levels of urine-PCP ranged from 109 to 1290 micrograms/liter. In a single case a peak value of 3200 micrograms/liter was measured. At the same time, PCP could be detected in the saliva too. Urinary preexposure levels (ranged around 10 micrograms/liter) were reached within 75 and 90 days, respectively. Maximum urinary levels represent exposures corresponding to occupational ones, known from other studies. The toxicity of PCP as well as the health risk of the Fungifen use to the great masses of the people (including pregnant women and children) are discussed.