Gardeners stopped arguing the merits of railroad ties a few years ago
(finally, LOL) and agree it ought not be used. Shampoos (see below0
with coal tar (Desenex) really smell, but are very effective. I believe the
sorta campho-ish odor would deter bees. it can make eyes water.

BillSF9c

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creosote

Health Effects <snipped>
A 2005 mortality study of creosote workers found no evidence supporting an increased risk of cancer death, as a result of exposure to creosote.

Wood creosote

Wood creosote is a colourless to yellowish greasy liquid with a smoky odor and burned taste. Other than looks and taste, the chemical makeup is totally different than coal tar creosote. It is made of guaiacol, creosol, o-cresol, and 4-ethylguaiacol, plant phenolics, rather than petrochemicals.

Wood creosote has been used as a disinfectant, a laxative, and a cough treatment, but these have mostly been replaced by newer medicines.

Wood creosote also protects wood from shrinking from the sun, losing its colour and moulding from the rain. Many companies use creosote to protect wood.[citation needed]

Due to its carcinogenic character, the European Union has banned the sale of creosote treated wood [1] and requires that the sale of creosote be limited to professional users.[2][3]

Coal tar creosote
See also: Carbolineum

Another form of creosote is coal tar creosote. Coal tar creosote is the most widely used wood preservative in the world. It is a thick, oily liquid typically amber to black in colour. The American Wood Preservers' Association states that creosote "shall be a distillate derived entirely from tars produced from the carbonization of bituminous coal." Coal tar used for certain applications may be a mixture of coal tar distillate and coal tar. See, AWPA Standards

The prevailing use of creosote in the United States is to preserve wooden utilities/telephone poles, railroad cross ties, switch ties and bridge timbers from decay. It is registered with USEPA for this purpose. Coal tar products are also used in medicines to treat diseases such as psoriasis, and as animal and bird repellents, insecticides, animal dips, and fungicides. Some over the counter anti-dandruff shampoos contain coal tar solutions. Due to its carcinogenic character, the European Union has banned the sale of creosote treated wood [1] and requires that the sale of creosote be limited to professional users.[2][3]

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