New Science, Old Tricks and Progress: 2014 Coal Tar Video Review
From dramatic new research showing Austin’s recovery from coal tar pollution to old industry myths to real progress in reducing coal tar sealer use, 2014 was a memorable year. We attempted to capture those key moments in the year in a brief, but entertaining way. Of course in a minute and a half some efforts […]
Righting the Politics of Coal Tar
While industry hasn’t been shy to hide behind political skirts before, they are now using them to attack the science of sealant pollution. Recently the Director of the Pavement Coatings Technology Council (PCTC), posted an article a conservative website called American Thinker. For some strange reason (sarcasm), she did not disclose that her day job […]
Coal Tar Inspiration from Toxic Hot Seat
Even if you’ve read the Chicago Tribune’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated, expose on the use of flame retardants in furniture and mattresses, you’ve got to watch an HBO documentary film about it. It should be required viewing for any voting American. Why’s that? Just as the above graphic highlights, the film shows how deception by industry, which […]
MN & NonProfit Work to Reduce Coal Tar Sealcoat Use in Great Lakes Region
This post was co-authored by Al Innes of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Cheryl Kallio of Freshwater Future and copied from the GLRPPR (Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable) website. Freshwater Future, a non-profit based in west Michigan, has been “spreading” the word about reducing PAH contamination from coal tar sealcoat across the […]
Congressman, Mayor Honor Bashara for Coal Tar Sealer Efforts
Tom Bashara, left, with Dr. Peter Van Metre of the USGS c.2008. Tom Bashara, who was the first to attribute increasing pollution concentrations in Austin-area streams to coal tar pavement sealers, was remembered recently in a letter from Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Austin’s Mayor Lee Leffingwell. In the letter addressed to his widow, Christine, the […]
First Canadian Actions to Reduce Coal Tar Sealer Use
While there have been several research studies in Canada about coal tar sealer pollution in the last few years, no one has taken action to curtail the use of the product–until now. Through efforts of Freshwater Future via a grant from the State of Minnesota and the EPA, Redeemer University College (Hamilton, Ontario) and Humber College […]
Western Michigan Communities Stop Coal Tar Sealer Use
Western Michigan has recently seen an uptick in activity to curb the use of coal tar sealers. In the last two months Whitehall Township, the City of Whitehall, Fruitland Township and Laketon Township have, by resolution, decided to no longer use the sealers at a governmental level and to encourage their residents to do the […]
Scariest Part of Halloween? The Coating on the Driveway Not the Candy
Researchers have found the some ingredients found in typical Halloween candy can have coal tar derivatives. Some found that one family of chemicals, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) present in all chocolate samples and the most carcinogenic compound was found in 23 of 25 samples. Others point out that the typical yellow dye used in traditional […]
When Popular Isn’t Good Enough
Ah the accolades of peers! ….the adoration of the masses! Sometimes it just isn’t good enough! Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying this is the status of this site, by any means. However about two months ago, Stormwater Magazine published a story about the decline of PAHs in Austin, Texas since the ban of […]
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 […]