Is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol used for decontamination of dermal phenol exposures?
Author Department
Emergency Medicine
Document Type
Article, Peer-reviewed
Publication Date
12-2025
Abstract
Dermal phenol exposures have the capacity to cause extensive chemical burns and systemic toxicity. Decontamination with low molecular weight (300-400 MW) polyethylene glycol (LMW-PEG) is recommended, but it is unclear if LMW-PEG is readily accessible. Our aim was to identify dermal exposures of phenol that were reported to a regional poison center and describe the types of decontamination agents used. We performed a a retrospective study of phenol exposures reported to a single poison center from 2002-2025. Dermal decontamination was performed in 14/17 (82%) of cases, utilizing LMW-PEG in 0/14 (0%), water in 7/14 (50%), high molecular weight PEG (HMW-PEG) in 1/14 (7%), both water and HMW-PEG in 5/14 (36%), and water and isopropanol in 1/14 (7%). No systemic toxicity was reported. Our findings suggest alternative measures such as water or HMW-PEG are effective for decontamination of dermal phenol exposures.
Keywords: dermal decontamination; low molecular weight – polyethylene glycol; phenol; poison center.
Recommended Citation
Testa J, Chambers A, Cumpston K. Is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol used for decontamination of dermal phenol exposures? J Occup Environ Med. 2025 Dec 15. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003646. Epub ahead of print.
PMID
41396257