"The plaintiffs -- California Attorney General Bill Lockyer and a private citizen -- argue that in whatever amount, the products contain chemicals 'known to the state' to be carcinogenic and therefore should carry cancer warnings under the state’s Proposition 65," says an article on the NPF's website. "This proposition, passed by the state's voters in 1986, requires warnings on products containing chemicals 'known to the state' to be carcinogens or reproductive toxicants."
There isn't any credible evidence that use of coal tar products increases users' cancer risk. You still want a warning on the packaging? OK, fine. But what concerns me is the reaction of coal tar product manufacturers.
Denorex is pulling its coal tar products from shelves in California, and has already changed the active ingredient in one of its shampoos to salicylic acid in a move toward settling the lawsuit.
That's great, if salicylic acid works for you. What about those of us whose scalp psoriasis gets worse when exposed to salicylic acid? What about the person who has psoriasis and fibromyalgia, and is taking guaifenesin for fibromyalgia? Salicylic acid blocks receptors in cells and reduces the effectiveness of guaifenesin therapy.
This lawsuit seems to me to be the want of one person interfering with the needs of many. The companies that are supposed to be helping the healing process along are actually going to do harm as they act to protect their bottom line from having to pay fines and other damages. It is possible to imagine a "black market" for coal tar products, with people crossing state lines in search of a stash -- much the same way people leave a dry county in search of a stiff drink.
I have used coal tar products on and off for almost 9 years. Coal tar is an inexpensive and readily available part of my treatment regimen. I suspect many people feel the same way I do - that their quality of life would be diminished without the availability of coal tar products.
You can take steps to let influential people know that it is important to keep coal tar treatments available.
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