"phorbin" wrote in message
...
In article , says...


I have used creosote on and off all of my life, and have reached 69
willout any ill effect.
so either I have been very lucky or it is not as bad as we are led to
believe.

My bet is on "lucky."

...That you may be lucky in no way makes the product safe, or safe for
home use.

And having done further research I now know that chronic exposure can
induce nephrotoxicity, renal toxicity and neurotoxicity...

http://jmedicalcasereports.com/content/1/1/102

Which is an inhalant abuse case, and at least cautionary.



http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factshee...prelim_risk_as
sess.htm

With special attention paid to:

"6. Are railroad ties safe for me to use for landscaping around my home?

There are no approved uses of creosote to treat wood for residential
use. The Agency is aware that creosote-treated railroad ties are being
used in the residential setting for landscape purposes and, in some
instances, as a border around gardens. Such uses in residential settings
are not intended uses of creosote and have not been considered in the
preliminary risk assessment. If you do have creosote-treated wood in
your yard, you are reminded to consult the handling precautions outlined
above in this document."

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=65&tid=18

With special attention to the pargraph:

"If you are exposed to wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal
tar pitch, or coal tar pitch volatiles, many factors determine whether
you'll be harmed. These factors include the dose (how much), the
duration (how long), and how you come in contact with them. You must
also consider the other chemicals you're exposed to and your age, sex,
diet, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health."

I don't want to eat the stuff, or make a house out of it, or use it to sleep
on.

Steve