Pavement Sealcoat Major Pollutant in U.S. Lakes, Reports Study

Commentary by LASN editor Stephen Kelly

PHPs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), found in coal?EUR??,,????'?????<

In my college days, I used to earn extra money by helping my friend Duane complete construction jobs he?EUR??,,????'?????<

I bring up my short-lived asphalting career because of a recent U.S. Geological study, ?EUR??,,????'?????<Science of the Total Environment, Volume 409, Issue 2, 15 December 2010, pages 334-344, Peter Van Metre, Barbara J. Mahler).

The study?EUR??,,????'?????<

The researchers evaluated sources of PAHs in post-1990 sediments in cores from 40 lakes in urban areas across the U.S. Anchorage, Alaska; Fort Worth, Texas; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Orlando, Fla.; Raleigh, N.C., Chicago, Newark, N.J., Detroit; Milwaukee and Boston were among the cities where lake waters were tested.

All the best modeling scenarios ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Lakes with the higher levels of PAHs also had a large fraction of the PAHs coming from coal-tar-based sealants.

PAH concentrations from CT sealcoat were significantly greater in the central and eastern U.S. than in the western states, reflecting, the scientist said, regional differences in use of different sealcoat product types. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Peace.

Stephen Kelly, LASN editor