[The place of pentachlorophenol in general medicinal practice]

Pentachlorophenol is a substance whose widespread use has led to substantial environmental contamination. Causing local irritations the pentachlorophenol can be absorbed into the body by all the routes of occupational exposure. The acute pentachlorophenol intoxication is dangerous for the life: its quick diagnose and adequate therapy is very important. Chronic high pentachlorophenol exposure may increase the incidence of several diseases, eg. immunodeficiency, blood disorders, hepatic lesions and malignancies. The prevalence of alcoholism in working places applying pentachlorophenol is between 6 and 10 per cent, so the general practitioner of these workers should take precautions to distinguish between of drunkenness and acute pentachlorophenol intoxication.