An excerpt:

People who lived next to coal-tar-sealcoated pavement had a 38 times higher risk of developing cancer, according to the U.S. government. Here in Hampton Roads, high levels of the associated chemicals have been linked to widespread fish cancer in the Elizabeth River.

A Northern Virginia delegate has now brought a bill targeting toxic sealants. The legislation, advocated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, would allow localities to ban them.

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Inspect Pavement Thoroughly

Inspect your pavement closely for any damage that may have occurred over the winter. Look for cracks, potholes, crumbling and other signs of damage. Repair any major damage as soon as possible and before you move on to the next step.

Sealcoat with Pitch Black

Sealcoating pavement helps seal it and protect against the elements such as UV rays from the sun and rainy weather. It can fill in cracks and help prevent water infiltration. Using Pitch Black sealcoating is an environmentally friendly option that protects your pavement and the local ecosystem.

Touch Up the Paint

If you have any painted areas on your pavement, spring is a good time to touch them up. The paint may have faded or chipped during the winter. Check for fading and chipping in parking lines, no parking areas, speed bumps and handicap areas. Be sure to mark off areas during painting to avoid cars driving on freshly painted surfaces.

Edge to Remove Weeds and Vegetation

Weeds and vegetation can quickly take over an asphalt pavement if not kept in check. Edge your pavement regularly to remove these offenders and keep your pavement looking neat and tidy.

Clean It Regularly

The best way to keep your asphalt pavement looking great is to clean it regularly. This means removing rocks, dirt and debris with a broom or blower. Doing this will help extend the life of your pavement and keep it looking great for years to come.

If you follow these tips, your asphalt pavement will be in great shape for the spring and summer seasons. For more information on spring maintenance for your asphalt pavement, contact EcoShield today. We would be happy to help!

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Why Ban Coal Tar?

In recent years, many states and municipalities across the country have enacted bans on the use of coal tar. While few states or municipalities in the southeast have banned coal tar, there is growing pressure to do so. Coal tar is particularly harmful to children, who are more likely to come into contact with it while playing on treated playground equipment or soil. Studies have shown that exposure to coal tar can increase the risk of cancer, skin problems and other health problems. Coal tar also gets into the local ecosystems such as waterways and wetlands where it kills fish and local wildlife. There is no safe level of exposure to coal tar and bans on its use are the best way to protect public health.

Southeast Bans So Far…

Many stores have banned the sale of coal tar-based sealant products, including Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware and Menards. The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County recently banned any sealant that has greater than 0.1% PAHs, as has the city of Matthews, NC. Greenville, SC now has a ban on any use of coal tar within city limits. Meanwhile, the city of Boone, NC has coal tar-based sealcoat products listed as conditional restricted use. This means its use is prohibited near sensitive areas such as wetlands, watersheds and other fragile ecosystems.

Why are Some Opposed to the Bans?

There are a number of reasons why people may be opposed to coal tar bans. Some may believe that the benefits of using coal tar products outweigh the risks. Others may be concerned about the cost of switching to alternative products. Still others may not be aware of the health risks associated with coal tar. Regardless of the reasons, it is clear that coal tar is a harmful substance that poses serious health risks. Bans on its use are the best way to protect public health, particularly the health of children.

The Alternative

There are alternatives to coal tar sealcoat products. One such product is Pitch Black asphalt emulsion sealcoat. Pitch Black is 100% non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, has 0.00% PAHs and is safe for both people and the environment. If you want to demand safer, cleaner sealcoating, write to your local and state representatives. Insist they take action in banning coal tar-based products and sealcoats for safer, greener and cleaner communities.

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How Does Asphalt Mastic Work?

Asphalt mastic is often used to repair existing asphalt pavement. The mastic is spread over the damaged area and then pressed into place. As it cools, the mastic hardens and forms a strong bond with the underlying pavement. This bond is what makes asphalt mastic an effective repair material. This makes it ideal for repairing wide cracks, potholes and other damage to your asphalt pavement.

Though mastic asphalt is a durable material, it can still crack and crumble over time. Cracks can form due to temperature changes, traffic and other factors. When cracks form, it is important to repair them promptly to prevent further damage. Asphalt mastic can be used to fill in cracks and help extend the life of your pavement.

Other Uses for Asphalt Mastic

Asphalt mastic can also be used in new pavement applications. After the mastic has been spread over the desired area, it is compacted using a roller or tamper. As it cools, the mastic hardens and forms a strong, durable surface.

Asphalt mastic is a versatile material that can be used for both repairs and new paving projects. It forms a strong bond with the underlying material, making it an ideal choice for areas that experience extreme temperatures or heavy traffic. If you are considering asphalt mastic for your next project, contact EcoShield for everything you need to prepare and apply asphalt mastic.

The post What is Asphalt Mastic and How Does it Work? appeared first on Ecoshield Asphalt.

The Study Parameters

The study followed twenty-one workers on crews from three separate companies using coal tar sealers. The participants had different levels of protection from Tyvek to none at all to wearing the same clothes during the week. They studied skin exposure, air concentrations and urine concentrations of various coal tar chemicals. Urine was tested before and after each shift. Chemicals from coal tar sealers called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can enter the body through the skin, breathing it in or eating with residue on the hands. Many of these PAHs can be measured in urine tests.

The Results of the Study

What did the researchers find out about coal tar sealers and chemicals? Here’s a quick synopsis:

• Coal tar chemicals were found in ALL workers in the crew and were ALWAYS higher after a shift than before.
• By the end of each work week, 9 out of 10 shift-end samples “greatly” exceeded the level where the workers should expect negative health effects and “genotoxicity” (gene mutations caused by exposure to toxins).
• Four of the PAH chemicals found in the urine samples don’t even have individual safe levels of exposure data “because they have been observed to be carcinogenic in animal studies.”
• Urinary levels of one of the PAH chemicals was over 300 times higher than is observed in the general population.
• The exposure levels observed were “substantially” greater than what has been seen with asphalt workers previously.
• Hose men or applicators had higher concentrations of airborne PAH and skin exposure than non-applicators.
• The exposure could not be explained by any other nearby chemical source.

While considering these results, also consider that children are 30 TIMES more susceptible to the dangers of coal tar and other high PAH sealers than adults. Also consider that the exposure routes included breathing in the chemicals as well as skin contact and residue on the hands when eating (ingestion).

The study did not address whether personal protection equipment or PPE would be sufficient to protect workers. The most effective way to address carcinogenic chemicals in the workplace (even if the workplace is outside) is elimination of those chemicals. There IS a way to completely eliminate exposure to coal tar and coal tar toxins. It’s called Pitch Black Asphalt Emulsion and it contains 0.00% of the harmful PAHs found in coal tar products. It’s safe and environmentally friendly. This study makes it clear that coal tar is a serious danger not only for workers but for others near work sites that could be exposed by proximity. Finally, we have a study from the federal government showing the true dangers of coal tar products and sealers. The time to move to a cleaner and greener solution is now!

Note: A copy of this 32-page study can be purchased at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1438463922000542?via%3Dihub

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Why is Coal Tar so Hard to Get Now?

The simple reason is that there is a shortage of the raw material used to make coal tar sealers. This has impacted the supply chain, resulting in limited supplies of coal tar sealer products. The more complex reason is that many of the raw materials to manufacture coal tar sealers have typically come from Russia. Due to international sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine, Russia cannot export these raw materials anymore to many countries – including the US and Canada.

Another reason is environmental. The US has used coal tar sealers since the 1940s, despite the impacts on the environment and on people’s health. A recent study published by NIOSH and the CDC exposes just how much dangerous coal tar products can impact the people who work with it. Coal tar products contain harmful and carcinogenic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These PAHs can cause cancer in people and are toxic to local ecosystems, fish and wildlife. Just working with coal tar products can cause skin irritation, burns and lesions on the skin and respiratory distress. It’s beyond time to switch to a cleaner, greener and just plain safer product.

Switching to Asphalt Emulsion

Now is the time to switch to an asphalt emulsion product like Pitch Black. This asphalt emulsion contains 0.00% PAHs, so it’s safer for people and for our local ecosystems and wildlife. There are a number of other benefits too…

• No supply issues and no shortage. Because asphalt emulsion doesn’t use coal tar or the other dangerous raw ingredients in coal tar sealers, there is no manufacturing shortage and there is plenty of supply available. All of the ingredients are sourced locally so there is no supply chain issue.
• It’s safer for people. Non-toxic and non-carcinogenic asphalt emulsion is safer for the contractors who work with it and safer for the families in the areas where it is applied.
• It’s better for the environment. Because it’s non-toxic and contains no PAHs, any runoff into local ecosystems is neutral and doesn’t harm fish, plants or wildlife.
• It gives a rich, long-lasting black color. Many coal tar sealers just produce a color that quickly turns gray once applied. Pitch Black has a deep black color that is durable and lasts a long time while providing all the benefits of a great sealcoat product.

Making the switch to asphalt emulsion is easy – simply change who you get your sealcoat product from. In the Carolinas, you can get Pitch Black Asphalt Emulsion from EcoShield Asphalt Products. We have locations in Conway and Columbia in South Carolina and Charlotte in North Carolina. We have no restrictions on quantity and no shortages of product. Have questions? We’d love to answer them! Give us a call or drop us an email today.

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Public Works Pavement Protection Projects

The first thing public works departments needed to do was prioritize where repairs were needed versus where the pavement protection program could prevent such repairs. A common list of public works pavement projects could include:

• Minor pavement repairs
• Crack sealing
• Replacing raised pavement markers (turtles)
• Addressing uneven and cracked public basketball and tennis courts
• Sidewalk repair and protection
• Pavement maintenance needs
• Overall pavement protection with sealcoating

Pavement Protection and Damage Prevention Saves Money

What these public works departments realized was that addressing pavement protection and proactive damage prevention as a priority saved money. These pavement protection programs exposed that proper sealcoating prevented potholes, divots and cracks that were far more expensive to repair than the cost of the sealcoating. This shifted their priority to one of using a preventative and proactive approach to their pavement protection programs by emphasizing sealcoating as a way to be cost efficient and to extend the lifespan of the pavement, reducing the need for the expensive repair work down the line. By shifting their focus to sealcoating as a priority task in their pavement protection programs versus focusing on just repairs, they prevented the deterioration of roads and other paved areas across the district.

Whether your public works department maintains your pavement protection program directly or hires an outside contractor to do so, EcoShield Asphalt Products is your pavement protection partner! EcoShield carries all of the tools and equipment needed for pavement maintenance and also manufactures Pitch Black Asphalt Emulsion sealcoat. Pitch Black is the eco-friendly sealcoat product with 0.00 PAHs that is safe for workers, people, ecosystems and the communities the public works department serves. Have questions about how Pitch Black and EcoShield can help your public works department best maintain and protect pavement in your district? Give us a call!

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Environmentally Friendly

Asphalt emulsion sealcoat is made from asphalt that has been recycled from old pavements. This makes it eco-friendly since it doesn’t require new materials to be produced. It also doesn’t pollute streams and watersheds near application sites.

Nontoxic

Unlike other types of asphalt pavement sealers, asphalt emulsion sealcoat doesn’t contain coal tar or other harmful chemicals. Asphalt emulsion sealcoat is nontoxic and noncarcinogenic. This makes it safe to use and also doesn’t cause any irritation to skin or eyes.

Better Supply – No Limits or Lack of Supply

Asphalt emulsion sealcoat is made from recycled materials. This means that there is no limit to the supply of asphalt emulsion sealcoat. There will never be a lack of supply, making it a reliable choice for your pavement sealing needs.

Dries Blacker with Dark, Rich Color

Asphalt emulsion sealcoat dries blacker than other types of asphalt pavement sealers. This gives your pavement a dark, rich color that looks great and lasts long.

Dries Fast

Asphalt emulsion sealcoat dries quickly, so you won’t have to wait long for it to dry. This makes it convenient and easy to use, especially for commercial applications that are time sensitive.

High Quality

Asphalt emulsion sealcoat is made from high quality materials. It can withstand heavy traffic and weather conditions. This makes it a durable and long lasting choice for your pavement sealing needs.

Why Choose Asphalt Emulsion Sealcoat? Pitch Black asphalt emulsion sealcoat is the best choice for your sealcoat projects. It is made from high quality materials, is environmentally friendly, doesn’t irritate skin or eyes, has an endless supply, and dries blacker with a dark, rich color. Pitch Black asphalt emulsion sealcoat is also durable and long lasting. Have questions about Pitch Black Asphalt Emulsion Sealcoat? Give us a call or drop us a line! We’re happy to answer any questions you have about Pitch Black or asphalt emulsion sealcoat.

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1. Only doing one spray coat.

A single sealcoating spray coat may not be enough to properly seal and protect the asphalt surface. It’s important to follow industry standards and apply multiple coats as needed.

2. Watering down sealer material.

This not only weakens the sealer’s effectiveness, but it can also result in uneven application and potential cracks in the asphalt surface. Use the correct mix ratio for optimal sealcoating results.

3. Not applying enough sealer for the condition of the asphalt.

It’s important to properly assess the condition of the asphalt and apply enough sealer for thorough coverage and protection. Skimping on sealer application can lead to premature cracking and deterioration.

4. Not using an additive.

Additives greatly improve the performance of asphalt emulsion. Only so much additive can be used during the manufacturing process. It’s important that additional additive is added prior to sealer application for faster drying time, reduced tracking, faster curing in the shade, opening roads sooner to traffic, better adhesion, and better aggregate suspension.

5. Using a toxic material such as coal tar sealer.

In recent years, there has been growing concern over the health hazards associated with coal tar sealers. It’s important to use safer, cleaner and greener sealcoating options like Pitch Black Asphalt Emulsion Sealcoat. It’s eco-friendly, non-toxic, contains 0.00% PAHs and is safe for people and animals. Using a toxic material when a non-toxic product is available can really blow it with your customers.

Avoid these major sealcoating mistakes to ensure satisfied customers who not only rely on you for other projects or future sealcoating needs but also spread the word about your excellent service and products. Happy customers is the key to keeping your sealcoat business busy and profitable.

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Proactive versus Reactive Pavement Maintenance

Asphalt pavement is a valuable and long-lasting material, but it can be susceptible to damage from a variety of sources. When it comes to pavement maintenance, there are two main approaches that you can take: reactive or proactive maintenance. Reactive maintenance refers to addressing pavement problems only after they have already occurred, such as by doing simple repairs like crack sealing and pothole repair. This approach can be effective in the short-term, but it does not do much to extend the lifespan of your pavement or prevent more serious issues from developing over time. By contrast, proactive pavement maintenance involves taking steps to proactively maintain your pavement in order to minimize the risk of damage and extend its lifespan. Some common examples of proactive pavement maintenance techniques include sealcoating, pavement overlays and using permanent pavement repair materials instead of temporary ones.

Pavement Maintenance Mistakes

1. Only doing crack sealing and pothole repair – While these simple pavement repairs can help to temporarily prolong the life of your pavement, they do not address the underlying issues that may be causing damage. If you only focus on reactive maintenance, you run the risk of allowing more serious issues like pavement failure and pavement delamination to develop over time.

2. Using cold patch asphalt only – Cold patch asphalt is a temporary pavement repair material that can help to fill small cracks and potholes until permanent repairs can be made. However, using it exclusively will not do much to extend the lifespan of your pavement or prevent future damage from occurring.

3. Repaving instead of sealcoating to extend lifespan of asphalt pavement – While pavement overlays and repaving can help to improve pavement appearance, using these methods will not do anything to prolong the lifespan of your pavement. By contrast, sealcoating is a cost-effective pavement maintenance technique that has been shown to significantly extend the life of asphalt pavement while also improving its appearance.

4. Making temporary repairs instead of permanent ones – In an effort to save money or time, some contractors and property owners will opt for quick fixes like filling potholes or cracks with materials like cold patch asphalt, rather than making permanent pavement repairs. While these temporary solutions may be less costly in the short-term, they can actually end up costing more money in the long run by allowing pavement damage to worsen over time and increasing the risk of future pavement failure.

To maintain your pavement and ensure that it lasts as long as possible, it is essential to focus on proactive pavement maintenance techniques like sealcoating, pavement overlays, and using permanent pavement repair materials instead of relying solely on reactive maintenance practices like crack sealing and pothole repair. By taking steps to proactively maintain your pavement, you can help to prolong its lifespan and prevent more serious issues from developing down the road.

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