Human absorption of crude coal tar products

Abstract

Five normal adult volunteers without cutaneous disease applied 2% crude coal tar to the skin for 8 periods on 2 consecutive days. Blood extracts subjected to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry yielded evidence of absorption in all 5 volunteers. Phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene and fluoranthene, found in 4 of the volunteers, were tumor initiators or cocarcinogens.