Carcinogenic Risk Low for Coal Tar

Carcinogenic Risk Low for Coal Tar

WASHINGTON--According to California's Proposition 65, consumers would have toabsorb 29 micrograms per day of coal tar to experience carcinogenic effects thatanti-dandruff shampoos may harbor. This finding comes after a lawsuit was filedby Occupational Knowledge International's executive director Perry Gottesfeldand California attorney general Bill Lockyer. In March, Occupational Knowledgeasked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a formal review on theuse of coal tar in shampoo, soap and ointment.

In regards to FDA's evaluation of coal tar-containing shampoos, there is a3.5 in 10 million risk of developing skin cancer from shampoos with aone-percent coal tar level, and a 1.7 in one million risk with shampoos with 2.5percent. According to California's Prop 65, products must carry a warning ifthey expose consumers to a greater than one in 100,000 risk of developing cancerduring a 70-year period. Additional information can be found at www.fda.gov.