cresol /krē″sol/ , a mixture of three isomers of an organic acid in a liquid with a phenolic odor. It is derived from coal tar and used in synthetic resins and disinfectants. Cresol is a potentially lethal protoplasmic poison that can be absorbed through the skin. Symptoms of chronic poisoning include skin eruptions, digestive disorders, uremia, jaundice, nervous disorders, vertigo, and mental changes. Acute poisoning by oral intake of 8 g or more can cause circulatory collapse and death. See also phenol poisoning.
