The body makes a compound called p-cresol when it breaks down proteins and amino acids. These compounds travel to the liver, which converts them into p-cresol sulfate, a toxic uremic substance ...

M-cresol is an organic compound that is extracted from coal tar and is used in the production of other chemicals, including pesticides. It is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.

A team at Nottingham Trent University and Queen Mary University of London investigated the effect on the central nervous system of "p-cresol sulfate," a molecule produced by the gut microbiome.