GENERAL INFORMATION ON EXPOSUREPhenol is mainly produced synthetically, the most important method being the Hock method onthe basis of cumene. The method for the production of phenol, which takes toluene as thestarting point, is also of industrial significance. In 1989 the cumene method accounted for about93% of the production capacity for phenol in Western Europe and the toluene method for about7%. Phenol can also be obtained by processing coal-tar fractions. Within the EU approximately15,000 tonnes/annum of phenol are obtained by processing coal-tar fractions.