Editing Coal tar (section)

{{cs1 config|name-list-style=vanc}}
{{Short description|Chemical mixture}}
{{about|the substance|the book|
Coal Tar: How Corrupt Politics and Corporate Greed Are Killing America's Children}}
{{Infobox drug
| drug_name         =
| INN               =
| type              =<!-- empty -->
| IUPAC_name        = 
| image             =
| alt               = 
| caption           = An old advertisement for soap containing coal tar
<!-- Clinical data -->
| synonyms          =liquor carbonis detergens (LCD)<br />liquor picis carbonis (LPC)<ref name=bmj>{{cite journal | vauthors = Berenblum I | title = Liquor picis carbonis; a carcinogenic agent | journal = British Medical Journal | volume = 2 | issue = 4577 | pages = 601 | date = September 1948 | pmid = 18882998 | pmc = 2091540 | doi = 10.1136/bmj.2.4577.601 }}</ref>
| pronounce         =
| tradename         = Balnetar, Cutar, others
| Drugs.com         = {{Drugs.com|mtm|coal-tar-topical}}
| MedlinePlus       = 
| pregnancy_AU      = <!-- A/B1/B2/B3/C/D/X -->
| pregnancy_AU_comment = 
| pregnancy_US      = C
| pregnancy_category= 
| routes_of_administration = Topical
| legal_AU = <!-- S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9 or Unscheduled-->
| legal_AU_comment =
| legal_CA = <!-- OTC, Rx-only, Schedule I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII -->
| legal_DE = <!-- Anlage I, II, III -->
| legal_NZ = <!-- Class A, B, C -->
| legal_UK = <!-- GSL, P, POM, CD, CD Lic, CD POM, CD No Reg POM, CD (Benz) POM, CD (Anab) POM or CD Inv POM / Class A, B, C -->
| legal_US = OTC
| legal_US_comment = /&nbsp;Rx-only
| legal_UN = <!-- N I, II, III, IV / P I, II, III, IV-->
| legal_status      = 
<!-- Pharmacokinetic data -->
| bioavailability   = 
| protein_bound     = 
| metabolism        = 
| metabolites       =
| onset             = 
| elimination_half-life = 
| duration_of_action =
| excretion         = 
<!-- Identifiers -->
| CAS_number        = 8007-45-2
| UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}}
| UNII = R533ESO2EC
| class             = 
| ATCvet            = 
| ATC_prefix        = D05
| ATC_suffix        = AA
| PubChem           = 
| DrugBank          = 
| ChemSpiderID      = none
<!-- Chemical and physical data -->
| chemical_formula  = 
| molecular_weight  = 
}}
<!-- Definition and medical uses -->
'''Coal tar''' is a thick dark liquid which is a by-product of the production of [[coke (fuel)|coke]] and [[coal gas]] from [[coal]].<ref name=CDC2002/><ref>{{cite book| vauthors = Vallee Y |title=Gas Phase Reactions in Organic Synthesis|date=1998|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9789056990817|page=107|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lfBC9hj9iH8C&pg=PA107|language=en}}</ref> It is a type of [[creosote]]. It has both medical and industrial uses.<ref name=CDC2002/><ref name=Ric2015/> Medicinally it is a [[topical medication]] applied to [[Human skin|skin]] to treat [[psoriasis]] and [[seborrheic dermatitis]] ([[dandruff]]).<ref name= WHO2008/> It may be used in combination with [[ultraviolet light therapy]].<ref name=WHO2008>{{cite book | title = WHO Model Formulary 2008 | year = 2009 | isbn = 9789241547659 | vauthors = ((World Health Organization)) | veditors = Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR | hdl = 10665/44053 | author-link = World Health Organization | publisher = World Health Organization | page = 308 }}</ref> Industrially it is a [[railroad tie]] preservative and used in the surfacing of roads.<ref name=Ho1991/> Coal tar was listed as a known human carcinogen in the first [[National_Toxicology_Program#Office_of_the_Report_on_Carcinogens |Report on Carcinogens]] from the U.S. Federal Government, issued in 1980.<ref name=ROC1980>{{cite book | title = First Annual Report on Carcinogens | year = 1980 |url=https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB84122852.xhtml|publisher = National Technical Reports Library}}</ref>

<!-- History and culture -->
Coal tar was discovered circa 1665 and used for medical purposes as early as the 1800s.<ref name=Ho1991>{{cite book| vauthors = Hornbostel C |title=Construction Materials: Types, Uses and Applications|date=1991|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780471851455|page=864|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oaxKD0pEKxkC&pg=PA864|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918185259/https://books.google.com/books?id=oaxKD0pEKxkC&pg=PA864|archive-date=2017-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| vauthors = Sneader W |title=Drug Discovery: A History|date=2005|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780471899792|page=356|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cb6BOkj9fK4C&pg=PA356|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918185259/https://books.google.com/books?id=Cb6BOkj9fK4C&pg=PA356|archive-date=2017-09-18}}</ref> Circa 1850, the discovery that it could be used as the main raw material for the synthesis of [[dye]]s engendered an entire industry.<ref name="bayereh">{{cite news |title=History The Early Years (1863–1881) |url=https://www.bayer.com/en/history/1863-1881 |access-date=4 February 2021 |publisher=Bayer AG}}</ref> It is on the [[WHO Model List of Essential Medicines|World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines]].<ref name="WHO21st">{{cite book | vauthors = ((World Health Organization)) | title = World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019 | year = 2019 | hdl = 10665/325771 | author-link = World Health Organization | publisher = World Health Organization | location = Geneva | id = WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO | hdl-access=free }}</ref> Coal tar is available as a [[generic medication]] and [[over the counter]].<ref name=Ric2015>{{cite book| vauthors = Hamilton R |title=Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition|date=2015|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=9781284057560|page=X}}</ref>

<!-- side effects and mechanism -->
Side effects include skin irritation, sun sensitivity, [[allergic reactions]], and skin discoloration.<ref name=WHO2008/> It is unclear if use during [[pregnancy]] is safe for the baby and use during [[breastfeeding]] is not typically recommended.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coal Tar use while Breastfeeding {{!}} Drugs.com|url=https://www.drugs.com/breastfeeding/coal-tar.html|website=www.drugs.com|access-date=13 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118034352/https://www.drugs.com/breastfeeding/coal-tar.html|archive-date=18 January 2017}}</ref> The exact mechanism of action is unknown.<ref name=Mai2011/> It is a complex mixture of [[phenols]], [[polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon]]s (PAHs), and [[heterocyclic compound]]s.<ref name=CDC2002>{{cite web|title=Background and Environmental Exposures to Creosote in the United States|url=https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp85-c2.pdf|website=cdc.gov|access-date=13 January 2017|page=19|date=September 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125025514/https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp85-c2.pdf|archive-date=25 January 2017}}</ref> It demonstrates [[antifungal]], [[anti-inflammatory]], [[antipruritic|anti-itch]], and [[antiparasitic]] properties.<ref name=Mai2011>{{cite book| vauthors = Maibach HI |title=Evidence Based Dermatology|date=2011|publisher=PMPH-USA|isbn=9781607950394|pages=935–936|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V2L1MAoGHVkC&pg=PA935|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918185259/https://books.google.com/books?id=V2L1MAoGHVkC&pg=PA935|archive-date=2017-09-18}}</ref>