State bans coal tar sealants in big win for foes

[Playinghardball]

Source: MSNBC
By Robert McClure

Washington state has become the first in the nation to ban toxic asphalt sealants made from cancer-causing industrial waste that have been spread over vast swaths of the nation’s cities and suburbs.

The toxic ingredients in coal tar-based sealants are turning up in ordinary house dust as well as in streams, lakes and other waterways at levels that concern government researchers. The chemicals have been found in driveways at concentrations that could require treatment by moon-suited environmental technicians if detected at similar levels at a toxic-waste cleanup site. The sealants are also applied on playgrounds and parking lots.

Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire signed the measure Thursday, making Washington the largest government to ban or restrict coal tar asphalt sealants. Last month, Prior Lake, Minn., joined a growing number of local governments to ban them.

Alternative asphalt-based sealants shed far fewer toxic particles, government tests show.

More at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42917004/ns/us_news-environment

[KT2000]

1. Yeah!! Good for Gregoire

My road gets that stuff every few years and shopping during the summer has been horrible during the summer because of that stuff. There is always a parking lot being resealed.

Now we need to inventory all the other places where industrial wastes are being used to save companies hazardous waste fees. I know they are still allowing it in fertilizers.

[Nihil]

2. Now *that* would be an interesting study indeed ...

> Now we need to inventory all the other places where industrial wastes
> are being used to save companies hazardous waste fees. I know they are
> still allowing it in fertilizers.

Mind you, I suspect it would be too frightening for many people so there
would be a lot of pressure for it simply not to happen.
:-(