Revealing Toxic Skin Exposure
Maybe you’ve seen the headlines across the country discussing the problems with coal tar pavement sealer. This video demonstrates an easy way to see if skin-based exposure to these chemicals is really happening. Other well-known routes of exposure are inhalation and ingestion. All over North America playgrounds still use coal tar sealers. It exposes children […]
A Late Summer Reminder from the State of Minnesota
From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:This is a good time to educate members of your community about the environmental and health impacts of using coal tar-based sealcoats, and how to move to safer alternatives for preserving asphalt pavements. Of course, coal tar sealcoats are now banned throughout Minnesota in order to protect public health and […]
It’s Not a Complicated Story
It seems like a lot of information, but you know it’s not a complicated story. It’s not subtle. There’s not a lot mysteries to tease out in this. As scientists so often we pose ourselves questions and we may find answers, but it’s like this one is 20 percent higher than this or that is 5 […]
Recommended Summer Read: Toms River
Last weekend, my wife and I did a 2,000 mile drive for a wedding. With a hectic schedule leading up to our departure, I quickly downloaded a few audio books from our public library to help the miles go by. I covered the usual genres that we enjoy listening together: historical fiction, cultural commentary, and […]
‘Crack’ Filling in Great Lakes Region is Non-Profit’s Next Effort
Just this week, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced the grant recipient for an effort to reduce the use of coal tar sealants in the Great Lakes States of the US and the Province of Ontario in Canada. Minnesota is outside of the scope of this effort since their statewide ban went into effect […]
Library of Good Coal Tar Reads Now Available
Websites and links come and go and sometimes good information goes with it. So in order to preserve past efforts and make learning about this topic a little easier, a collection of documents is assembled here to assist the reader. Let us know through the contact form if there are kinds of documents you are […]
Improvements to Coal Tar Free America Site in Progress
After 3 years of continuous tinkering with this site’s look and feel, it was time for a major overhaul. What you see today is, hopefully, an improved interface, easier navigation, better viewing on all types of devices, and some aids for both frequent and first time visitors. While there are still a few annoyances which […]
A ‘Superman Ain’t Coming’ Action Guide
Remember that movie from a few years back called “Waiting for Superman”? In the same way, if you’re waiting for someone else to solve this problem, you may be in for a long wait. But what can one person do to make a difference on this issue? Great question and it depends. To guide people […]
An MLK Day Meditation
2013 Review: Snowball Effect Grows, But Avalanche Needed
Snowball by Deutsch used with permission The inter-related aspects of coal tar sealant pollution were never more obvious than in the year 2013. Research affected the press, which in turn mobilized citizens and legislators to act in a snowball-like fashion. And the whole time industry tried in vain to melt the snowball as with a […]