It has commonly been used as a wood preservative protecting against wood-destroying insects and wood-rotting fungi. However, in 2003, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) changed the law so that creosote
was only available to professional users and has been withdrawn from sale for retail customers in the UK
.
Why is creosote banned?
Creosote, derived from coal tar, is widely used on utility poles, railroad ties and marine bulkheads. It is
considered carcinogenic in high quantities
, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The ban on the sale, manufacture or use of creosote would begin on Jan. 1, 2005.
Can you still buy creosote?
Traditional Creosote can only be sold to Professional Users. However,
the product is still available for sale to trades-people
. This means the traditional user such as the agricultural community, builders, etc. are still able to purchase Coal Tar Creosote, providing they do not resell to the general householder.
What has replaced creosote?
Our approved creosote substitute ‘
WOCO Creocote’
is a spirit oil-based, effective treatment for exterior wood. It has been developed as a safer (for the user) alternative to original creosote. It is still designed to be used to protect wood against rotting fungi and wood destroying insects on external timbers.
Is it legal to use creosote?
Therefore, creosote is often applied to wood fencing in order to preserve its lifespan. However, the EPA currently
restricts the use of creosote to commercial uses only
, limited to railroad ties and utility poles. Residential use of creosote is prohibited, including its use in landscaping and gardening.
When did they stop using creosote?
Creosote, derived from coal tar, is widely used on utility poles, railroad ties and marine bulkheads. It is considered carcinogenic in high quantities, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The ban on the sale, manufacture or use of creosote would begin on
Jan. 1, 2005
.
Is creosote safe when dry?
In the wet state harmful to animals and plants but
once dry (48 hours) product is not considered unsafe
. Splashes on leaves of plants will cause burns but long term systemic damage is unlikely.
How long does creosote last?
Complete decomposition is assumed to occur over
approximately 40 to over 100 years
.
How long does creosote last on fence?
One of the environmental study challenges is that creosote-treated wood can last for
40 to 60 years
– some over 100 years! In 2003, the European Commission banned the sale of creosote-treated wood due to the health risks.
Is creosote any good?
First and foremost, the EPA notes that creosote-treated wood – or wood treated with any kind of chemical preservative –
should not be burned
, so do not put it in your bonfire pile. Burning it will release toxic chemicals that could cause respiratory damage if inhaled.
Is the smell of creosote harmful?
Breathing the creosote fumes given off by creosote-treated wood can cause
asthma and other respiratory ailments
, as well as stomach pain and a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, according to researchers from the UCLA Labor Occupational Safety & Health Program.
Can creosote be painted over?
Painting over creosote is possible
, but it takes a very special base paint and then many layers of a sealer-primer and even a couple coats of a finish paint to complete the job.
How do you dispose of creosote?
If homeowners need to dispose of creosote-treated wood, it can usually be disposed of
by ordinary trash collection
(i.e., as municipal solid waste).
Why are railroad ties soaked in creosote?
Railroad ties are thick, durable, cheap, recycled wood that forms long-lasting barriers for beds, paths, and retaining walls. … The wood is
preserved by soaking
it in creosote, which is composed of over 300 chemicals, many of them toxic and persistent in soil. Exposure to creosote has been shown to cause cancer.
How can you tell if creosote wood is treated?
Creosote-treated wood has either
a thick black mixture of coal tar chemicals on the wood
or the clear to yellowish greasy resin of the creosote bush. Many railroad ties are treated with creosote or pentachlorophenol.
Where does creosote build up the most?
It is produced by combustion gases that are given off from burning wood. When the temperature in your flue is below 250 degrees Fahrenheit, these gases condense in your
chimney
and buildup along the lining of the flue. Since flue temperatures often dip below 250 degrees, creosote regularly builds up.
