Study: What Doesn’t Kill You, Just Might Give You Cancer
Coal Tar Sealants Runoff Packed with Fast-Acting Toxins And Slow-Release Carcinogens Months After Application Sorry Kelly Clarkson, unfortunately “what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger” doesn’t apply to coal tar pavement sealers. New research from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) leaves one wondering when it is safe to apply coal tar pavement sealants. The report, Concentrations of […]
November 20th Marks 2nd Great Lakes Sealant Reduction Webinar
The second in a series of EPA-funded webinars coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Association is set for Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 9:30 am CST. The focus of this session is the State/Provincial-level efforts. As you can see from the agenda below it will include discussions from representatives from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. While […]
FAA Proposes New Options For Airport Pavement Maintenance
Coal tar pavement sealants have long been the mainstay of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for airport pavement maintenance, but that appears to be changing. Just last month, the FAA published proposed changes to their standard recommendations for pavement maintenance. The specifications are more accurately called an “Advisory Circular” because they are intended to advise design […]
More Repetition Than Revelation in Coal Tar Sealer Industry’s New Bias Claims
A few weeks ago, representatives of the coal tar sealer industry came out with new claims of bias by USGS researchers. Press releases, presentations and insider editorials were coordinated to push back on recent research by the USGS and Baylor University, which found high lifetime cancer risks when living near a coal tar sealed parking […]
Coal Tar Industry Offers to Remove Speck from USGS’ Eye via “White Hat Bias” Complaint
Minnesota Gearing Up for Phasing Out Coal Tar Sealants
As you may know, earlier this year the State of Minnesota passed a law banning the sale and use of coal tar pavement sealants. The new law goes into effect January 1, 2014. In order to prepare for this transition, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is hosting a free webinar to explain the details […]
Chicago Council Committee Hears Industry Singing Same Old Song
Last week the City of Chicago’s Finance Committee listened to comments by representatives of the coal tar sealant industry about the City’s proposed ordinance to ban the use of coal tar pavement sealants. Many are based upon flimsy logic and myths perpetuated for years. As reported in today’s Daily Whale, the Pavement Coatings Technology Council […]
The Myth of “Controversial” Coal Tar Sealant Science
In the recent USA TODAY article about pavement sealcoats, the coal tar industry labeled research conducted by USGS and others as “controversial science.” It is a retread of an old industry position, but I thought it might be helpful for a little further examination of this claim. This is only controversial in the spins of […]
USA TODAY: America Near Tipping Point on Coal Tar Sealant Use?
USA TODAY, the nation’s second highest daily circulation newspaper, informed more people about coal tar sealant pollution with its current edition than any newspaper to date. Its publication on Father’s Day was perhaps an ironic nod to the many fathers who have faithfully sealed their own driveways unknowingly with toxic coal tar sealers, myself included. […]
Maine Coal Tar Sealant Industry Lays It on Thick at Committee Hearing
The coal tar sealant industry laid out a thick and deep version of reality to Maine’s Environment and Natural Resources Joint Committee this week. The hearing was for a bill introduced by Matthea Daughtry to ban coal tar sealant sale and use in the State of Maine (LD 1212). Many of the claims were re-treads […]