Chemicals Involved

ATSDR’s Toxicological Profiles contain the latest research and current information about these and other chemicals including:

• Relevance to Public Health
• Health Effects
• Potential for Human Exposure

These profiles contain research-based evaluations of adverse health effects in persons from contaminants found in soil, groundwater, air, and fish.  Creosote was found at the Kerr-McGee site.

What is Creosote?

Creosote is the name used for a variety of products: coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, coal tar pitch volatiles, and wood creosote. Wood creosote is a colorless to yellowish greasy liquid with a smoky odor and burned taste. Coal tar and coal tar pitch are usually thick, black, or dark-brown liquids or semisolids with a smoky odor.