Coal Tar Sealants Dangers Topic Of LWV Virtual Presentation

PALOS-ORLAND, IL — The League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area will host a virtual program presented by Dean Hoegger, president of the Clean Water Council of Northeast Wisconsin. Hoegger will talk about coal tar pavement sealants and their effects on people and the local environment.

Coal tar pavement sealants pose a great risk to humans, especially to children, and to aquatic health due to their content of toxic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. Children growing up near parking lots treated with coal tar pavement sealant have 14-fold increase of developing certain types of cancers.

Aquatic organisms are also at risk from exposure to PAHs. Fish exposed to PAHs experience fin erosion, liver abnormalities, cataracts, skin tumors, and immune system impairments.

According to the Clean Water Council, these sealants are absolutely unnecessary, and claim there are safe and cost-effective alternatives such as asphalt and latex sealants.

“Although some effort has been made to eliminate the use of coal tar sealants, we must continue to fight to protect everyone, especially our children, from the toxic PAHs contained in these sealants.”

Have a hot beverage ready and join the Palos-Orland Area League from the comfort of your home Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at 10 a.m. CT.

Access the Zoom link and join with meeting ID 856 7109 1917 and passcode: 865165, or sign up with QR code below.