Tar remover Health Article

Definition

Tar remover is a chemical product used to get rid of tar, a dark oily material. This article discusses the health problems that may occur if you breathe in or touch tar remover.

Poisonous Ingredient

Tar remover contains organic compounds called hydrocarbons. They include:

• Benzene
• Dichloromethane
• Light aromatic naphta
• Methane chloride
• Toluene
• Xylene

Where Found

Various tar removal products

Symptoms

• Airways and lungs
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Throat swelling
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Severe pain or burning in the throat, nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
  • Vision loss
• Heart and blood
  • Collapse
  • Low blood pressure
• Intestinal tract
  • Abdominal pain - severe
  • Blood in the stools
  • Burns of the esophagus (food pipe)
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting (may be bloody)
• Nervous system
  • Depression
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
• Skin
  • Burns
  • Irritation
  • Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues

Home Treatment

DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional. Seek immediate medical help.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
• The time it was swallowed
• The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number