Palmer Events Center
Need More Research on Asphalt Sealers
RECEIVED Thu., April 13, 2006
Dear Editor,
I am in the asphalt paving and pavement maintenance industry. We do not use coal tar emulsion sealers, as we understand them to be highly toxic/carcinogenic. We have been using asphalt emulsion sealers for the past 15-20 years, and found them to be much more "people friendly." However, the articles I’m reading in publications like yours don’t mention much in the way of differences between the two sealers and the environmental impact of coal tar vs. asphalt emulsions. Is there no research available on the subject? The article I found on your Web site seems to be a "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" approach ["Study: Parking Lots Pollute," News, July 1, 2005]. There was little attempt to differentiate between the two sealers, and for companies like ours who are trying to offer consumers a more environmentally friendly, less carcinogenic alternative, it is discouraging to have very little research to fall back on. Help!
I am in the asphalt paving and pavement maintenance industry. We do not use coal tar emulsion sealers, as we understand them to be highly toxic/carcinogenic. We have been using asphalt emulsion sealers for the past 15-20 years, and found them to be much more "people friendly." However, the articles I’m reading in publications like yours don’t mention much in the way of differences between the two sealers and the environmental impact of coal tar vs. asphalt emulsions. Is there no research available on the subject? The article I found on your Web site seems to be a "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" approach ["Study: Parking Lots Pollute," News, July 1, 2005]. There was little attempt to differentiate between the two sealers, and for companies like ours who are trying to offer consumers a more environmentally friendly, less carcinogenic alternative, it is discouraging to have very little research to fall back on. Help!
John Bartelt
Monroe, Wis.
Monroe, Wis.