Hazard Recognition

Coal tar pitch volatiles (CTPVs) are found in the industry when heating of coal tar or coal tar pitch takes place. Once the pitch is heated, chemicals vaporize and may be inhaled by workers. Industries where workers are potentially exposed to CTPVs include coking, roofing, road paving, aluminum smelting, wood preserving and any others where coal tar is used. The following links provide information about the health effects of CTPVs:

• Coal tar pitch volatiles. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (May 1994). Provides an Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) document that includes acute toxicity data for CTPVs.
• Carcinogen Assessment of Coke Oven Emissions. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Health and Environmental Assessment Publication No. EPA-600/6-82-003F, (February 1984). Summarizes studies of the health effects resulting from exposures to coke oven emissions.
• PubChem – Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles. The National Library of Medicine (NLM).
• Report on Carcinogens (RoC). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Toxicology Program (NTP). Identifies and discusses agents, substances, mixtures, or exposure circumstances that may pose a health hazard due to their carcinogenicity. The listing of substances in the RoC only indicates a potential hazard and does not establish the exposure conditions that would pose cancer risks to individuals.
  • Coal Tars and Coal-Tar Pitches. NTP classification: Known to be human carcinogens
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: 15 Listings. NTP classification: Reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks for Humans. World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Coal Tar Pitches. IARC Classification: Carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
• Toxicological Profile for Creosote. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (September 2002). Provides exposure risks, exposure limits, and health effects for creosote.
• ToxFAQS™ for Creosote. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (September 2002). Summarizes the properties and health effects for creosote, including CTPVs.
• Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (August 1995). Provides exposure risks, exposure limits, and health effects for PAHs.
• ToxFAQs for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (September 1996). Covers what PAHs are, how a person is exposed to PAHs, the acute and chronic health effects, human and animal studies associated with high levels of exposures, medical tests to determine if a person has been exposed to PAHs, and the regulations associated with PAHs.
• Coke oven emissions (CASRN 8007-45-2). Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Discusses the health effects of coke oven emissions.
• Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • Coke Oven Emissions. Lists coke oven emissions as a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) under the National Emissions Standard Hazardous Air Pollutants section of its Clean Air Act.
  • Polycyclic organic matter (POM). Lists polycyclic organic matter (POM) as a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) under the National Emissions Standard Hazardous Air Pollutants section of its Clean Air Act.
• Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Includes detailed reports on specific chemicals, covering hazard summaries, identification, exposure routes, health hazards, and ways of reducing exposure. The following polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are included.
  • Acenaphthene. (November 1998).
  • Anthracene. (June 2002).
  • Benz(a)anthracene. (August 2008).
  • Benzo(b)fluoranthene. (July 2001).
  • Benzo(a)pyrene. (October 2007).
  • Creosote. (February 2007).
  • Coal Tar Pitch. (August 2009).
  • Fluorene. (May 1999).
  • Naphthalene. (March 2012).
• Evaluation of Employee Health Risk from Open Tire Burning. California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) Advisory #46, (November 1, 1997). Provides a compilation of available information through literature review, known tire fire data, and other available information.
• International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Summarizes essential health and safety information.
  • Coal Tar Pitch