Chemicals and Drugs

Coal Tar

A by-product of the destructive distillation of coal used as a topical antieczematic. It is an antipruritic and keratoplastic agent used also in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin conditions. Occupational exposure to soots, tars, and certain mineral oils is known to be carcinogenic according to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985) (Merck Index, 11th ed).

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A by-product of the destructive distillation of coal used as a topical antieczematic. It is an antipruritic and keratoplastic agent used also in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin conditions. Occupational exposure to soots, tars, and certain mineral oils is known to be carcinogenic according to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985) (Merck Index, 11th ed).

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Tar, Coal
  • Clinitar
  • Estar

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

18 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity.

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D20.749w.354w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 241

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Coal Tar. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D003033. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D003033
  2. Coal Tar. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_tar
  3. Coal Tar. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q948232