USGS: Contaminated house dust linked to parking lots with coal tar sealant, human carcinogens an issue
Coal-tar-based sealcoat—the black, shiny substance sprayed or painted on many parking lots, driveways, and playgrounds—has been linked to elevated concentrations of the contaminants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in house dust.
Apartments with adjacent parking lots treated with the coal-tar based sealcoat contained house dust with much higher concentrations of PAHs than apartments next to other types of parking lots according to new research released Jan. 12 on-line by Environmental Science and Technology (ES&T).
The study was conducted in Austin, Texas, by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Coal tar is a byproduct of the coking of coal, and can contain 50 percent or more PAHs by weight. Coal-tar-based pavement sealants therefore have very high levels of PAHs compared to other PAH sources (e.g., soot, vehicle emissions, used motor oil). PAHs are an environmental health issue because several are probable human carcinogens and they are toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
Access the report here
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