Pitch and coal tar

Calcining, sintering or smelting of nickel copper matte or acid leaching or electrorefining of roasted matte Coal soots, coal tar, pitch and coal tar fumes Hardwood dusts... 

Coal soots, coal tar, pitch and coal tar fumes... 

Components of pitch and coal tar produce cutaneous photosensitization skin eruptions usually are limited to areas exposed to ultraviolet light. " Most of the phototoxic agents will induce hypermelanosis of the skin if chronic photodermatitis is severe and prolonged, leukoderma may occur." Some oils containing PNAs have been associated with follicular and sebaceous gland changes, which commonly take the form of acne. ... 

The subject area is extensive and beyond the scope of this paper. However, several references are available which provide a lead into this subject area (96-101). In both petroleum pitch and coal-tar pitch the presence of hydros aromaticity and methylene linkages may provide the hydrogen for the transfer reactions. The removal of hydrogen from such linkages does not in itself produce stable radicals. ... 

TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR WOOD CREOSOTE, COAL TAR CREOSOTE, COAL TAR, COAL TAR PITCH, AND COAL TAR PITCH VOLATILES... 

This public health statement tells you about wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles and the effects of exposure. 

This profile is specifically about the toxicity of wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles, so we will not discuss in detail the health effects of individual chemicals in them, such as PAHs or phenol. In the chapters describing what happens to creosote in the environment and exposure to creosote, we will discuss some of the individual chemicals or groups of chemicals (such as PAHs) because many of the tests done in the scientific laboratories can tell us which of these chemicals are present in the soil, water, and air. 

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (1995), the ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Cresols (1992), and the ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Phenol (1998) provide more information on these chemicals. For more information on the chemical and physical properties of creosotes, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles, see Chapter 4. For more information on these substances in the environment, see Chapters 5 and 6. 

No information is available on what happens to wood creosote when it enters the environment. Coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles do not occur in the environment naturally, but are by-products produced in coke or gas manufacturing plants using high-temperature processes. Coal tar creosote is released to water and soil mainly as a result of its use in the wood preservation industry. In the past, waste water from wood-treatment facilities was often discharged to unlined lagoons where it formed a sludge. Also, companies that... 

Asphalt workers rubber, aluminum, iron, steel, and tire factory workers and people working in the coke-producing industries are also at risk for potential exposure to coal tar pitch and coal tar pitch volatiles. They may breathe in vapors from or have direct skin contact with wood-preservation solutions, freshly treated wood, asphalt mixtures, or other products of coke-producing industries. Workers who use creosote-treated wood in building fences, bridges, or railroad tracks or installing telephone poles may be exposed those who inspect or maintain these materials, or apply asphalt or other coal tar pitch-containing materials, may also be exposed. Homeowners, farmers, or landscapers who apply coal tar creosote to wood in noncommercial... 

Coal tars are by-products of the carbonization of coal to produce coke and/or natural gas. Coal tar creosotes are distillation products of coal tar, while coal tar pitch is a residue produced during the distillation of coal tar. Coal tar pitch volatiles are compounds given off from coal tar pitch when it is heated. Coal tar creosotes, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles are composed of many... 

This profile addresses the toxicological and toxicokinetics database for several substances, wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles, whose production stems from the incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of carbon-containing materials. Creosotes, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles are composed of many individual compounds of varying physical and chemical characteristics. In addition, the composition of each, although referred to by specific name (e.g., wood creosote or coal tar creosote) is not consistent. For instance, the components and properties of the mixture depend on the temperature of the destructive distillation (carbonization) and on the nature of the carbon-containing material used as a feedstock for combustion. 

Wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles differ from each other with respect to their composition. Wood creosotes are derived from beechwood (Fagus, referred to herein as beechwood creosote) and the resin from leaves of the creosote bush (Larrea, referred to herein as creosote bush resin). Beechwood creosote consists mainly of phenol, cresols, guaiacol, xylenol, and creosol. It is a colorless or pale yellowish liquid, and has a characteristic smoky odor and burnt taste (Miyazato et al. 1981). It had therapeutic applications in the past as a disinfectant, a laxative, and a stimulating expectorant, but it is not a major pharmaceutical ingredient today in the United States. 

Throughout this profile, every attempt is made to specify the characteristics of the creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, or coal tar pitch volatiles under discussion, and to indicate which health effects may be expected to be common to two or more forms. The intent of this profile is to discuss the creosotes, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles. Therefore, the health effects of the individual components (e.g., PAHs, phenol, or others) will not be discussed in great detail even though it is likely that the toxicity of wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles is due largely to these major individual components. However, it is understood that the toxicity of the individual components may not... 

The creosotes vary tremendously in respect to their sources (wood or coal), components, and preparation conditions. Similarly, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles will differ in composition depending on the source of the coal. Hence, mechanisms of action most likely differ among individual creosotes, coal tars, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles. 

The available data indicate that creosote is an indirect mutagen and induces gene mutation in bacteria and mouse lymphoma cells. However, a substantial database exists on the genotoxic effects of the PAHs found in the creosote mixture. More in vivo assays using human tissues with coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles, or specific components of these mixtures, would be useful to more completely characterize the genotoxic potential of these mixtures. 

The chemical synonyms and identification numbers for wood creosote, coal tar creosote, and coal tar are listed in Tables 4-1 through 4-3. Coal tar pitch is similar in composition to coal tar creosote and is not presented separately. Coal tar pitch volatiles are compounds given off from coal tar pitch when it is heated. The volatile component is not shown separately because it varies with the composition of the pitch. Creosotes and coal tars are complex mixtures of variable composition containing primarily condensed aromatic ring compounds (coal-derived substances) or phenols (wood creosote). Therefore, it is not possible to represent these materials with a single chemical formula and structure. The sources, chemical properties, and composition of coal tar creosote, coal tar pitch, and coal tar justify treating these materials as a whole. Wood creosote is discussed separately because it is different in nature, use, and risk. 

Table 8-1. Regulations and Guidelines Applicable to Coal Tar Creosote, Coal Tar, Coal Tar Pitch, and Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles...

Petroleum pitches and coal tar pitches are becoming increasingly important as raw materials for the production of low cost, high performance carbon fibers. This development has been primarily due to the ability of the pitch to form an oriented liquid crystalline mesophase. Since the 1st observation of mesophase spheres in pitch material by Brooks Taylor ( ), a number of studies on the kinetics of mesophase formation have been made by several different groups. 

Coal tar and related products produce a very distinctive photosensitive reaction known as tar smarts or pitch smarts [6, 7]. The patient experiences burning and stinging while in the sun. This occurs with as little as 15 min of exposure. Roofers with exposure to pitch and coal tar are most susceptible and direct skin contact is not necessary, since aerosolized contact is sufficient to produce the reaction. Associated ophthalmologic involvement may occur [8]. Kochevar and colleagues reported that the sensitizers in coal tar included acridine, anthracene, benzopyrene and fiu-orabthene [9]. Reactions to creosote in roof paper and creosote-soaked wood products, including saw dust and boxes, have been reported in over 400 workers [10,... 

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