Study: Austin Emerging From Coal Tar Sealer Stupor
Downtown Austin as viewed from Lake Bird Lake in 2013. A groundbreaking, new study just released by the USGS (United States Geological Survey) definitively demonstrates the positive watershed effects of a ban of coal tar pavement sealers. For the first time, the study results showed, in the latest version online edition of Environmental Science and […]
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 […]
Should Pregnant Women Avoid Coal Tar Sealed Surfaces?
Is that an appropriate question or might some say this is too extreme? Let’s review some things to consider: PAHs affect the unborn in many negative ways. Research by the United States Geological Survey says that coal tar sealants are high in PAHs and for years continue to off-gas high levels of PAHs to the […]
Reminder: Coal Tar Sealant Reduction Webinar Tomorrow
5/22 Webinar for Community Officials & Staff on Recently Identified Pollution Source You are cordially invited to attend a free webinar on May 22 at 12:00 pm (EST) that highlights an emerging and serious pollution source that is costing communities hundreds of thousands of dollars in clean-up costs and is threatening the health of community […]
Tribune’s Coal Tar Analogy is Now NY’s Coal Tar Reality
“If a company dumped the black goop behind a factory, it would violate all sorts of environmental laws and face an expensive hazardous-waste cleanup.” Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, January 2011. “But playgrounds, parking lots and driveways in many communities are coated every spring and summer with coal tar, a toxic byproduct of steelmaking that contains […]
MSU Shows Leadership on Coal Tar Sealer Issue
Editor’s Note:As of 2015, MSU has gone back to using coal tar sealers!! This article reflects the optimism of that initial announcement to use a non-coal tar sealer. Good news from Springfield, Missouri in an online newsletter by the President of Missouri State University, Dr. Clif Smart: they are seriously looking to move away from coal […]
Another Problem with Coal Tar Sealer Washoffs: Groundwater
We have learned a lot about coal tar sealer pollution over the last decade or so. We know that uncured and recently cured coal tar sealers continue to export toxins days and weeks after application. We know this affects fish, salamanders and other aquatic species. But one line of research that hasn’t been done is […]
Illinois Ban Fails…Illinoisans
Late last month the Environmental Committee of the Illinois House of Representatives failed to move the ban of coal tar pavement sealers, HB 4599, forward. With an 8 to 8 vote, the bill was moved to the Rules Committee to most likely die quietly at the end of this session. How can something so simple, […]
Sealant Worker Safety Myth in Jeopardy
The sealer industry is fond of saying how safe their product is for worker safety. No evidence, no claims, no one harmed. Even during this spring’s legislative season, the statements have continued. Our position has been that it is faulty logic to claim a statement as true without any comprehensive analysis to support it. Until […]
Tales From the Front: What Coal Tar Contractors are Telling Their Customers
A letter is being circulated around among contractors that continue to use coal tar sealants. They use it to convince their customers to continue to use this toxic product. Isn’t it amazing that this was the most read article among sealcoating contractors in 2012 and 2013? It was written from a contractor to his client to […]