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The Toxicity of Creosote

Creosote is a collection of chemicals that often makes up a tar-like substance used in wood preservatives, and many other industrial applications. However, even though the substance is highly useful, it is also highly toxic. When creosote gets into the ground and water it can become harmful to humans. Humans exposed to creosote in their jobs also have a higher potential for health problems.

  1. Definition

    • Creosote is a type of chemical compound made of several different types of chemicals. The most common form of creosote is wood creosote, which comes from wood resins mixed with other chemicals present naturally in wood. Several different types of creosote exist, including coal tar creosote, coal tar pitch and beech wood creosote. Coal tar creosote is one of the most toxic forms of creosote, and is a byproduct of the process of coal production.

    Location

    • Creosote is used in many industrial and health applications. Tire, asphalt, rubber aluminum and steel factories use large amounts of creosote to produce their products. The health and beauty industry also uses creosote in shampoos, soaps, topical skin treatments and some herbal teas. The lumber industry, specifically the wood preservative industry, is also susceptible to creosote exposure.

    External Toxicity

    • Creosote can be absorbed through the skin and lungs. Coming into direct contact with creosote and breathing in airborne creosote particles increase the chances for creosote exposure inside the body. Through the lungs and skin, creosote will slowly pass into the bloodstream. Common external effects include rashes, either severe or mild, chemical burns around the eye area, sensitivity to light, eye damage and blistering or peeling skin.

    Internal Toxicity

    • Internal damage can also occur from exposure to creosote from eating, drinking or breathing in the creosote chemicals. Internal toxic damages can include unconsciousness, cancer, convulsions, mental impairment, kidney and liver problems and several other internal issues. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has declared creosote a probable carcinogen.

    Environmental Toxicity

    • Creosote is a naturally-occurring chemical in wood. However, the industrialization of creosote has increased the amount of the chemical present in groundwater and soil. The creosote forms a tar-like substance in the water, where it takes many years to completely break down. One or 2 percent of creosote used to treat wood ends up in the air. Any plant or animal that is near the creosote in the water, air or soil absorbs the chemicals. Plants absorb less of the creosote than animals. The main danger of creosote exposure to the environment is then that the chemicals absorbed by the animals or plants move on to humans.

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