What is coal tar dyes?

Coal Tar Dyes are a group of artificial ingredients consisting of colours or dyes, present in virtually every cosmetic product. Companies can produce these dyes synthetically or they can be derived directly from coal tar. The process of creating Coal Tar Dyes includes combining aromatic hydrocarbons.

What is coal tar short definition?

: tar obtained by distillation of bituminous coal and used especially as an industrial fuel, in making dyes, and in the topical treatment of skin disorders.

What is coal tar What are its uses?

Coal tar is used primarily for the production of refined chemicals and coal-tar products, such as creosote and coal-tar pitch. Certain preparations of coal tar have long been used to treat various skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff.

How is coal tar produced?

Coal tar is obtained by cooling the gas that is formed during the destructive distillation of coal to approximately ambient temperature. Coal-tar pitch is the residue from the distillation of coal tar (Betts, 1997). The largest source of tar and pitch is the pyrolysis or carbonization of coal.

What do you need to know about coal tar hair dye?

Most of these products belong to a category called “coal-tar” hair dyes. Color additives, with the exception of coal-tar hair dyes, need FDA approval before they’re permitted for use in cosmetics. FDA’s ability to take action against coal-tar hair dyes associated with safety concerns is limited by law.

How is coal tar used in everyday life?

Coal tar is among the by-products when coal is carbonized to make coke or gasified to make coal gas. These dyes are used in foods, over-the-counter and prescription drugs, textiles, cosmetics, and personal care products like hair dyes, shampoos, and deodorants.

Why is coal tar called a synthetic color?

Coal-tar colors are also called “synthetic-organic” colors. That’s because, to a chemist, a “synthetic” compound is one formed from simpler compounds and an “organic” compound is one that contains carbon atoms.

What are the colour index numbers for coal tar?

In addition to coal tar dyes, natural and inorganic pigments used in cosmetics are also assigned Colour Index numbers (in the 75000 and 77000 series, respectively). Coal tar-derived colours are used extensively in cosmetics, generally identified by a five-digit Colour Index (C.I.) number.