Pentachlorophenol and its salts are used as biocides. Although they are used mainly for preservation and treatment of wood, their antimicrobial, antifungal, herbicidal, insecticidal and molluscicidal properties led to a widespread application of PCP formulations. Bevenue and Beckman reviewed the literature up to 1967 on the chemistry, toxicology and environmental residues of PCP (Residue Rev., 19: 83- 134, 1967). Significant advances in analytical methodology, recurrent incidents of mortalities of non-target organisms exposed to PCP, regulatory actions pertaining to PCP usage in countries...