Fate & Transport
Small, single releases of phenol do not stay long in the air (usually half is removed in less than 1 day), and usually do not stay in the soil for long periods (usually completely gone in 2-5 days), but can stay in water for longer than 9 days. Phenol will stay in the air, soil, and water for much longer times if a large amount of it is released at one time, or if a steady amount is released over a long time. More phenol than is usually found in the environment has been found in surface waters and surrounding air that were contaminated when phenol was released from industries and commercial products that contain phenol. Phenol has been found in materials released from landfills and hazardous waste sites, and it has been found in the groundwater near these sites. Phenol is usually found in the environment below 100 parts per billion (ppb), although much higher levels have been reported. One ppb or less of phenol has been found in relatively unpolluted surface and ground waters.