ABSTRACT
Creosote refers to one of three complex mixtures of organic compounds: One derived from coal tar; one produced from wood; and the third from the resin of the creosote bush. Coal tar creosote is the form commonly found at waste sites. The uses of creosote include: as a wood preservative for commercial treatment of house timbers, railroad ties, telephone poles, marine pilings, and fence posts; component of roofing pitch, fuel oils; lubricant in die molds; as an animal and bird repellent, insecticide, animal dip, fungicide, and component of skin ointments. The major polyaromatic hydrocarbon components of creosote are naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, dimethylnaphthalenes, acenaphthene, dibenzofuran, fluorene, anthracene, carbazole, pyrene, benzofluorenes and chrysene.
