Creosote health monitoring

Creosote (CAS 8001-58-9; 8021-39-4; 8007-45-2) is the name used for a variety of products that are mixtures of many chemicals.

There are six major classes of compounds in creosote:

• aromatic hydrocarbons, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs (that can constitute up to 90 per cent of creosote)
• tar acids
• phenolics
• cresols
• tar bases/nitrogen-containing heterocycles
• aromatic amines
• sulfur-containing heterocycles, and
• oxygen-containing heterocycles

Examples of work activities involving creosote that require special attention when assessing exposure include:

• workers who use creosote-treated wood in building fences, bridges or railroad tracks or installing telephone poles, or those who inspect or maintain these materials may be exposed to creosote
• farmers or landscapers who apply coal tar creosote to wood
• workers who apply asphalt or other coal tar pitch-containing materials, or
• workers in the natural gas, rubber, aluminium, iron, steel or tyre industries.

This guide provides information for those registered medical practitioners engaged by a PCBU to carry out or supervise health monitoring for workers. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the following:

• Health monitoring guide for registered medical practitioners
• Health monitoring guides for hazardous chemicals
• Health monitoring guide for workers
• Health monitoring guide for persons conducting business or undertakings (PCBUs)