USGS Science on Coal-Tar-Based Sealcoat and Environmental and Human Health
By PJ BROZYNSKI (Star Patcher) October 8, 2015
DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup and Center for Mission and Identity at Benedictine University are pleased to announce a presentation on Coal-Tar-Based Sealcoat and Environmental and Human Health on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 2:30 PM by United States Geologic Survey Research Hydrologist Barbara Mahler. The presentation will take place at Benedictine University, Kindlon Hall 164.
Coal-tar-based sealcoat is commonly used to protect and beautify the asphalt pavement of our driveways, parking lots and playgrounds.Coal tar contains high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are known to be toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic and can cause birth defects in humans. PAHs can cause severe biological defects and damage the health of aquatic organisms. PAHs can contaminate our stormwater and accumulate in sediments in urban lakes and detention basins.
Dr. Barbara Mahler will discuss a decade of USGS research, which has demonstrated that coal-tar-sealed pavement is a potent source of PAHs to numerous environmental compartments, including soil, stream and lake sediment, house dust, and air, and implications for environmental and human health.
Please contact Terri Treacy at 618-521-1030 with any questions. A map of Benedictine’s campus can be found online at:http://www.ben.edu/about/location.cfm/ Kindlon Hall is #11 and the parking garage where you can park is #19 on the map.