Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc. - Asphalt Preservation: Competitive Products

CRACK SEALING | GSB SEALER BINDER | LINING, STRIPING, MARKINGS | MARKINGS REMOVAL

COAL TAR HAZARDS... ARE COAL TAR COATINGS SAFE?

COAL TAR COATINGS, AN ENVIORNMENTAL HAZARD

US Geologic Watershed (USGS) research has identified 12 toxic, hazardous, persistent bio-accumulative toxins (PBTs’) called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs’) in watershed runoff. These toxic chemicals are created by coal tar coatings in cities and urban areas. As a result of this data, coal tar is now banned in Austin TX and Madison WI. Congress has been briefed on the dangers of this serious issue and considerations of the long term effects to the public at large along with a potential national ban of this hazardous and toxic substance.

As coal tar coatings age and abrade from tires, snow plows, and normal oxidation, the toxic chemicals in the abraded particles of coal tar coatings collect and accumulate in runoff into our streams, waterways, lakes, and underground water table. Scientists are concerned as they do not know the long term effects of exposure to the public from release of these highly toxic PAHs into waterways and soils.

USGS data displayed that coal tar coatings release up to 1000 times greater toxins into the water shed than those released by asphalt pavement or asphalt based coatings. It is true that many sources of PAHs’ exist, however, USGS data shows that up to 93% of toxic PAHs’ in water shed runoff can be eliminated by removing one source from public use - coal tar seal coatings!

ARE COAL TAR COATINGS SAFE FOR HUMANS AND THE ECOSYSTEM?

The question? Where has the sharp increase in toxic PAHs found in our national urban water shed during the last twenty years come from? The answer was uncovered in June of 2005 in Austin Texas Barton Springs water shed study co-authored by the City of Austin and the USGS. The study found extremely high concentrations of PAHs (double the concentrations found in a Federal Superfund Cleanup site in Ohio) in Austin's pristine Barton Springs spring-fed natural aquatic playground.

The June 2005 study identifies Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in coal tar seal coatings as a primary watershed pollutant threatening aquatic life as well as the potential threat to human health. One ingredient in significant quantities is included in The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of twelve persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals (PBTs). According to the EPA, "PBTs are highly toxic and long lasting substances that can build up in the food chain and become harmful to human and ecosystem health."

WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY?

What is our responsibility in this matter? Should we conduct national debate while these carcinogens and toxins continue to rise in our lakes, streams, rivers, aquifers and soils? The fact is, no one really knows just how significant the effect of these lethal carcinogens will be to human, animal, and plant life over time.

WHERE IS THE GOOD NEWS IN THIS STORY?

Finally the good news! You can can choose to eliminate over 90% of PAHs' released into our ecosystem. Choose safer asphalt based treatments. There are many safe and low level PAH's preservation processes that will protect your asphalt investment and our environment, all at the same time. Read the MSDS information on the coatings you consider before making a buying decision. If it contains any coal tar derivatives, say NO!

More information on hazards from coal tar coatings and their runoff can be found at:

Parking Lot Seal Coating Identified as Major Contaminant

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3147/

PARKING LOT SEALANTS by STORMWATER MAGAZINE
http://www.stormh2o.com/sw_0605_parking.html

City of Madison Wisconsin Enacts Coal Tar Coatings Ban
http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2007/04/06/0704060066.php

Coal Tar Sealants Contaminating Waterways
http://www.madisoncommons.org/article.php?storyid=379

Coal Tar Coatings Ban in California?

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/living_with_psoriasis/87390

Coal Tar Coatings Ban - Video

http://kvue.iewatershed.com/index.php?pagename=Media

Coal Tar Coatings Ban, Austin Texas

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/coaltar_main.htm

Coal Tar Coatings Ban, Austin Texas

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/coaltar_ban.htm

Coal Tar Coatings Sediments in Watershed Runoff, Austin Texas

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/downloads/coaltar_draft_pah_study.pdf

The Effects of Coal Tar Based Pavement Sealer on Amphibian Development and Metamorphosis

http://www.springerlink.com/content/25477n7h225v2843/

Nationwide Study on Dangers of Coal Tar

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/downloads/coaltar_doggettpr.pdf

Congressional Briefing on Coal Tar Sealant

Congressional Hearing on Tarsealants.pdf

USGS - National Water Quality Assesment

http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/asphalt_sealers.html

Coal Tar Based Pavement Sealers, Usage, Impact and Potential Ban - White Paper

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/downloads/bs_coaltar.pdf

COAL TAR APPLICATIONS UP CLOSE

CRACKING

PEELING

CHECKING

CRAWLING

SITTING ON TOP

FUEL SPILL

LOOKING TOUGH

YOU LOVE THIS?

IT MIGHT BE PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT...

Gypsy Juice? Cosmetic at best? Most commercial seal coatings are made from coal tar derivitives and are water-based. Your local seal coater may be one of those guys who cannot make it in a regular job, so he might try seal coating and starts selling "Gypsy Juice" instead. The cities and towns across the nation are filled with such contractors. And, unfortunately, the most valuable part of these coatings is the cosmetic black color. The "blackness" everybody is most attracted to turns out to be a negative, at least if you're talking about coal tar seal coatings. But seriously, what is that temporary cosmetic curb appeal worth to you or your business?

When coal tar emulsions are applied to the surface of asphalt pavement, they provide a cosmetic black coat on top. In fact, many coatings have been "color boosted" in blackness by the addition of "lamp black" dye. Friction and abrasion from traffic, winter de-icers, snow plows and environmental forces combine to grind or wear away coal tar coatings. Heat and cold act on the sealer and tiny surface cracks just in the coated surface are formed. This type of surface cracking/checking is found only where coal tar coatings have been applied. The condition usually begins within a few months following a coal tar coat application and may become more pronounced or acute with each successive application. Once this condition has been started it cannot be reversed! There is no way to stop it or get rid of it short of removal or overlayment. Another layer of coal tar makes the condition worse (see photo's above).

The Asphalt Industry (the guys who make the pavement, not the seal coating industry) and public agencies learned this lesson decades ago. The thin layer achieved with one, two, three or four "coats" of coal tar simply would not stand up to high volume traffic. The Asphalt Institute even conducted and published a research paper which chemically dissected the two materials (asphalt binder and coal tar binder) and proved incompatible chemistry between the two materials. Why then is the private sector still so confused on this issue? Because both binders are black and they are frequently and mistakenly sold by the coal tar seal coating indutry as equal. Why is there so much confusion? Don't be confused yourself!

Coal tar has a relatively low melting point and can become liquid again during hot summer days. Once melted it can be picked up on tires and shoes and carried into buildings and tracked onto surfaces where you do not want it to be. Once deposited it is nearly impossible to remove! Are you willing to risk the look of that new tile, carpeting or marble floors!

		1. COAL TAR PEELING OFF... 2. TRACKING ON FLOORS... 3. CRACKING AND CRAWLING... 4. ABRADING OFF... 5. INTO OUR WATER!!!

COAL TAR HEALTH RISK LINKS

Recent engineering briefs within the FHWA and the FAA, discuss the toxic and hazardous particulate matter released into the atmosphere when a coal tar coated pavement is recycled. As a result, many engineers have begun banning the recycling of asphalt pavements that have been coated with coal tar. This change in stance and rating of coal tar may require owners to remove coal tar coated pavements completely and dispose of it as "hazardous waste".

Below are many links that will further illuminate the issues described here. Please keep in mind that for many years following the discovery of dangerous health and environment aspects of DDT the government and private sector alike continued its unfettered use. Today we still feel the effects from DDT over fifty years later. Can we today take scientific information regarding this substance that will eventually affects us all, and make informed and responsible decisions that will positively impact those who will follow us in the future? The answer is in your hands.