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- Truth of Seirogan: Misconceptions of creosote, the major ingredient of Seirogan and Seirogan Toi-A
Creosote has different varieties, including medical creosote and preservative creosote.Creosote falls into the categories of wood creosote and coal-tar creosote, and they are completely different and often mistaken as the same thing.
This misconception also makes one think that Seirogan is dangerous and contains carcinogens.
As the major ingredient of Seirogan, creosote is a light yellow transparent liquid obtained from repeated distillation of wood tar through carbonization of wood, such as beech and pine.
This kind of creosote can be used for medical purposes, and thus becomes the major ingredient of Seirogan and Seirogan Toi-A. It was registered as “coal-tar creosote” in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (a record of pharmaceutical specifications in Japan), and later it was changed to “wood creosote”.
It is a natural herb containing phenol compounds, such as guaiacol, creosol and phenol.
The coal-tar creosote is a byproduct tar of the destructive distillation of wood. It is a dark brown liquid after distillation.
This material can be used as the raw material for carbon black and the preservative for crossties and posts. Therefore, it is also called industrial creosote or coal-tar creosote under the regulations of the JIS.
As some coal-tar creosotes contain benzopyrene, a carcinogen, their uses are restricted.
Both types of creosotes are not only often confused in magazines and books, even professionals like physicians and pharmacists sometimes misconceive that they are the same. Incorrect descriptions of them were also found in the NTP and EPA, though they have been corrected and updated.
The Seirogan and Seirogan Toi-A were once considered as hazardous because of the phenol inside.
Concentrated phenol can change protein and is corrosive. When it comes into contact with the skin and eyes, it can cause human functional disabilities. However, phenol exists in our living environment, such as the fumes from lighting a cigarette, smoked fish and drinks. Moreover, it is proven that phenol is found in the blood of healthy people.
More importantly, official reports indicate that phenol taken orally is not carcinogenic. These reports also mention that when compared with the toxic contents found in phenol, the phenol content in Seirogan is very low.
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