4 ms·
Interesting. Having grown up in the southwest I had only ever been exposed to creosote as in the bush that gives off the incredible smell when it rains in the S
by nwienert 6y ago
Interesting. Having grown up in the southwest I had only ever been exposed to creosote as in the bush that gives off the incredible smell when it rains in the Sonoran desert.
Reading on creosote tar and was interesting to see no citations (on Wikipedia) for the toxicity, and yet a couple studies against it:
“A 2005 mortality study of creosote workers found no evidence supporting an increased risk of cancer death, as a result of exposure to creosote. Based on the findings of the largest mortality study to date of workers employed in creosote wood treating plants, there is no evidence that employment at creosote wood-treating plants or exposure to creosote-based preservatives was associated with any significant mortality increase from either site-specific cancers or non-malignant diseases. “
- lostlogin 6y agoThis is really surprising. The stuff is horrible to use and if any substance has seemed toxic to me, it’s that.
- MrBuddyCasino 6y agoCreosote is banned in the EU since 2009 (and since 1991 in Germany) for most uses, especially everywhere it might come in contact with humans. There are narrow exceptions for eg railroad ties and utility poles.
- weinzierl 6y ago> (and since 1991 in Germany) I remember that the presumed health risks were discussed years before that date, and it has been avoided by some even before the ban.
- nwienert 6y agoAre there any good studies on it? Seems like the tar can have bad effects due to buildup, but from a very brief search creosote in and of itself seemed fine.
- vaccinator 6y agoAround here, they sell used railroad ties at places like Home depot & Lowe's... probably not a good idea.
- bluGill 6y agoPolitics often ban things without any evidence. EU bans many things without scientific justification.
- NikolaeVarius 6y agoAnd in the state of California everything causes Cancer. The EU likes to ban things before actual evidence of harm
- AtlasBarfed 6y agoAnd the US only bans things after the company that profits from them finally is beaten after decades of political lobbying and judicial precedent. See: CFCs, Dioxin, Asbestos, Global Warming, Glycophoshate, Neonicotinoids, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc
- MrBuddyCasino 6y agoThe stories of US companies knowingly and psychopathically killing people just to make a dollar are hard to comprehend. Its like slowly dropping bricks on people’s heads, destroying one life after the other, for literal decades. With rarely any consequences for the decision makers.
- weinzierl 6y agoWikipedia also says that creosote is literally meat preservative and that it used to be used to save meat from spoiling.
- pessimizer 6y agoSo is saltpetre. It doesn't mean that it's safe in every form for every application. Doesn't even mean that it's safe in meat.
- xkcd-sucks 6y agoWikipedia also says smoked meat consumption is correlated with intestinal cancer...
- kwillets 6y agoCreosote refers to both a tar substance and the result of wood combustion (smoke), which is a bit less toxic. For instance Seirogan pills are wood creosote.