Lately I've seen several art suggestions for using tar paper. I'm really concerned about the health issues with this. After all, tar paper is paper soaked with a petroleum product.
I decided to google for "tar paper chemicals" and got this info:
"Coal tar is a thick black liquid, produced by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal.
a.. Used to make 'clay pigeons', in asphalt for roads, insulation, tar paper and roofing compounds, and to line wooden water tanks and cover iron pipes.
b.. Wood treatment products may be based on coal tar derivatives.
c.. Cresols are used as disinfectants
d.. Varies in composition and may contain pitch, naphthalene, dimethylnaphthalenes, phenanthrene, pitch greases and resinous bodies. Several of the components may contribute to toxicity; three components are particularly toxic:
a.. cresols (phenolic compounds)
b.. crude creosote (composed of cresols, heavy oils and anthracene)
c.. pitch
e.. Toxicity in animals is often through them chewing or ingesting the product, rather than its inclusion in feed or water.
f.. Cresols are locally corrosive, stimulate the CNS and cause cardiac depression. "
To me, It does not sound like a good product for children to handle. What do you all think? Does anyone have any more specific info about this?
Dale in TN
----- Original Message -----
From: STeacherkipp@aol.com
To: ArtsEdNet Talk
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 9:53 PM
Subject: Re: Ceramics idea /great lesson/tar paper
Tar paper is also a nice surface for oil pastels, colored chalk or pressed crayon.
Susan in OR
