The effects of exposure to different concentrations of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolites were studied in human erythrocytes, with particular attention to catalase (CAT-EC. 1.11.1.6-hydrogen peroxide: hydro gen peroxide oxidoreductase). 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), 2,4-dimethylphenol (2,4-DMP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) did not affect CAT activity, but 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) decrease its activity, the latter being the more inhibitory. (C) 2000 Academic Press.