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Sitelab Corporation
completed a U.S. EPA funded grant with Chesapeake Bay Trust for DOEE in
Washington, DC to create a certification program testing the PAH
content in pavement sealants. Materials used to manufacture
sealcoats vary; most in commercial use are made with coal tar,
ethylene cracked residue (ECR) or are asphalt-based. Manufacturers who
participate will know if their product meets a 1,000 ppm (Gold) or
10,000 ppm (Silver) regulatory limit.
Download:
CBTRUST FINAL REPORT
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The Quality Assurance
Protocol developed by Sitelab requires laboratory analysis be
performed using EPA Method 8270D by GC/MS to report 17 polycyclic
aromatic compounds. Pavement sealants are used on driveways
and parking lots only. These products are not used on roads or
highways.
An ongoing list of
CERTIFIED SEALCOAT PRODUCTS
is available informing the public of the general concentration of
PAHs in each manufacturer's product. This information can be used for
communities that want to ban sealcoats made with high concentrations
of PAHs.
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Sealcoating is applied to parking lots and driveways to improve the
look and longevity of pavement.
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What Compounds
are Regulated?
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Asphalt-based sealcoats, like these bucket brands purchased at
retail stores, are mostly used on driveways by homeowners.
Most manufacturers who make coal tar and ECR products, also
make asphalt-based sealants used by professional contractors for
commercial applications.
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Learn More About PAH Contents in
Pavement Sealants...
Feb 10, 2023 Article:
"Forensic
Analysis using UVF and USGS Laboratory Results Testing PAHs in Coal
Tar Pavement Sealants."
This
study compares Sitelab’s UVF-Trilogy data and laboratory GC/MS data
using double ratio plots testing the PAH content in pavement sealants. Ratios were then applied using data in three studies conducted
by the U.S. Geological Survey concerning the use of
coal tar sealants and how they impact the environment. Download:
COAL TAR FORENSICS STUDY
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Current Bans in U.S. With and Without PAH Limits
See this website for more info:
COALTARFREEUSA.COM
New Regulations in Canada: Canada is moving forward with a
law banning coal tar and high-PAH sealcoats with the 1,000 ppm
limit beginning in 2025.
See link on Canada.ca website:
CANADA GAZETTE: NOV 18, 2023
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Visit City of Austin's Watershed Protection website to learn more
about bans. Austin has adopted DOEE's QA Protocol for sealcoat
analysis and certification.
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Want to Help the Merrimack River? Ban Coal Tar and High-PAH Parking Lot Sealants
Read the Op-Ed written by
Steve Greason of Sitelab Corp for ACES, in Newburport's
THE DAILY NEWS
newspaper, November 25, 2022.
The Merrimack River watershed in New Hampshire and
Massachusetts is 5,000 square miles in size with 2.6 million
residents, 600,000 of which use the river for drinking water.
Combined sewer overflows is the biggest problem, but urban runoff is
also polluting the river. Prohibiting the use of coal tar
sealants in both States would be an easy fix and help protect human
health and the environment.
The New York State of Maine recently
passed a ban into law with a 10,000 ppm PAH limit, which is too
high, but a good start. New York has plans in the works to
lower the limit to 1,000 ppm, similar to Canada.
"If our
neighbors are doing it, we should too. It’s time New Hampshire and Massachusetts take action. Ask your
elected officials to get legislation started. It
can only help the river."
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See Merrimack River Survey
Visit:
ACES-ALLIANCE.ORG
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Types of Sealcoats, Concentration Ranges and Products Available in
U.S. Market
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Manufacturers who make asphalt-based sealcoats, which are low in PAH
content, are encouraged to submit samples for analysis. In most
cases, testing is free. Use the chain
of custody forms to collect and submit your samples. See
DOEE's QA Protocol, Appendix &
User's Guide below for details.
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DOEE, Washington, D.C.
Manufacturers who want to get
their products certified with the Department of Energy and Environment
(DOEE), can ship samples to Sitelab for laboratory analysis using DOEE's new QA Protocol.
Use the
DOEE CHAIN OF CUSTODY
FORM if you are a sealcoat manufacturer and
would like to get your products tested or visit DOEE's website for
details:
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DOEE QA PROTOCOL
APPENDIX A & B
DOEE USER'S GUIDE
See list of qualified sealcoat products tested to date:
See SOP for collecting field 'scrapings' from
driveways and parking lots for analysis:
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City of Austin, Texas, Watershed
Protection Department
Sitelab Corporation is contracted with Austin's
Watershed Protection Dept. to analyze and qualify sealcoat products
for the City's 1,000 ppm PAH limit.
Use the
AUSTIN CHAIN OF CUSTODY
FORM if you are a sealcoat manufacturer and
would like to get your products tested or visit Austin's website for
details:
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water
Services, North Carolina
Sitelab Corporation is contracted with Mecklenburg
County's Storm Water Services in Charlotte, NC, to analyze and qualify sealcoat products
for the County's 1,000 ppm PAH limit.
Use the
MECKLENBURG CHAIN OF CUSTODY
FORM if you are a sealcoat manufacturer and
would like to get your products tested or visit their website for
details:
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