Are You Worried about Exposure to Creosote Treated Wood? Here Are Some Symptoms to Look For

Exposure to creosote treated wood in your home or workplace can lead to symptoms ranging from skin irritation and rashes to eye damage and serious breathing problems. Coal tar creosote is a chemical mixture that has been widely used as a wood preservative for pier pilings, utility poles, and railroad ties, which are sometimes recycled into construction materials for homes and office buildings. These creosote-treated materials often give off potentially harmful emissions, putting the people who live or work in an affected building at risk for health problems related to creosote exposure.

Symptoms of adverse health conditions usually result from inhaling the vapors, absorbing them through the skin or eyes, or actually handling the creosote-treated wood. According to the National Institutes of Health, breathing creosote fumes can lead to irritation of the respiratory tract, which can cause coughing and shortness of breath. People exposed to creosote emissions also have experienced skin irritations that include redness, burning sensations, and rashes. Other symptoms of creosote exposure include permanent damage to the cornea and increased sensitivity to light.

Additionally, exposure to creosote has caused cancer in animals, and the substance is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry.

In the past, people who wanted to avoid the symptoms of exposure to creosote treated wood in their homes or offices had to resort to painstakingly scraping away the creosote paint, sanding the contaminated surface, and repainting. Even then, the odors and potential health risks posed by creosote emissions often lingered.

Today, there’s a much easier and more effective way to address any potentially harmful creosote emissions in your home or workplace: CreoShield™. This long-lasting coating encapsulates the vapors rising from the treated wood, thus eliminating the smell and reducing the emissions to levels that are safe for human exposure. It’s easy to apply, requiring only that the targeted area be pressure washed before application.

This innovative coating is available exclusively from EnviroShield. Contact us today to learn more about creosote and why CreoShield™ is the solution you’ve been looking for if you are concerned about exposure to creosote emissions.