Wood and Coal Tar

Wood and coal tar are described in detail in Sect.E.L These tars are irritants but contact allergic reactions do occur. Van Andel et al. (1974) found 9% of 650 persons tested positive to wood tar 7% reacted to coal tar. Many showed crossreactions to balsam of Peru, colophony, and turpentine. By repeated testing of 33 tar reactors, only 20 were positive to wood tar. Juniper tar was the most active. The majority of patch test reactions to tars are irritant reactions as indicated by Rothenborg and Hjorth (1968). 

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Since wood and coal tar creosotes are complex mixtures, techniques for relating apparent bioaccumulation or biomagnification in food chains to human health concerns are not well defined. Fish or shellfish directly exposed to coal tar creosote wastes will be tainted by offensive odors and tastes. Extracts of shellfish taken from the wharf of the biological station in St. Andrews and from Passamaquoddy Bay (both in New Brunswick, Canada) indicated contamination with creosote oil (Zitko 1975). Concentrations of creosote oil found were as follows ... 

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