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From: levy@ttrdc.UUCP (Daniel R. Levy)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: question concerning phenol in cosmetics/medicines
Message-ID: <662@ttrdc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 21:32:16 EST
Article-I.D.: ttrdc.662
Posted: Wed Dec 18 21:32:16 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 02:22:44 EST
Organization: AT&T, Computer Systems Division, Skokie, IL
Lines: 31

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I have a question that I wish to toss out to the med students and others
out there in net.med land, hoping to satisfy my curiosity.

My understanding of phenol (the same as carbolic acid, right?) is that
it is a fairly toxic substance, and I have heard it said that it is a
carcinogenic material.

Is this an accurate understanding?  (Especially with respect to carcino-
genicity.) Phenol seems to be used a lot in ointments and lotions, such
as in Blistex lip ointment and Noxzema lotion, and I've seen it in cough
drops too.  Is it harmless or beneficial in the small amounts used in
those items?  Or is it possibly dangerous?  I kind of find it hard to
believe those things would be allowed on the market without debate if it
were really harmful, given the usual vigorous brouhaha when something is
discovered to possibly cause cancer, but mistakes have been made before and
will continue to be made (not that the usage of this particular chemical is
necessarily a mistake, however).

Thank you for any views (pro, con, or neutral) concerning this matter.  I
do not wish to debate; this is largely a matter of curiosity.  Perhaps I
am even getting phenol mixed up in my mind with other substances with similar
molecular structure that ARE carcinogenic.  Thanx again....
-- 
 -------------------------------    Disclaimer:  The views contained herein are
|       dan levy | yvel nad      |  my own and are not at all those of my em-
|         an engihacker @        |  ployer or the administrator of any computer
| at&t computer systems division |  upon which I may hack.
|        skokie, illinois        |
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