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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 13, 2022 11:39 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mandy Steele |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Asphalt Sealants |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of chemicals found in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. Coal tar and other asphalt sealants containing high amounts of PAHs are commonly used to maintain driveways, parking lots, and playgrounds. The fact that these chemicals are often spread in the areas where our children innocently play is particularly troubling. Because PAHs do not break down naturally, they are known to negatively impact people’s health and the environment. For example, the cancer risk for people living adjacent to PAH-based asphalt sealants is 38 times higher than it is for others. One of my own children experienced health issues that our doctor said was most likely tied to the coal tar sealant that was used on my driveway. Particulates from these sealants often break off and are tracked into homes on shoes, affecting indoor air quality. Chemicals found in these sealants have also been shown to contaminate the environment by washing into waterways. Alternative sealer options are asphalt based and have the same efficacy, look, availability, and price, but do not carry the health and environmental dangers that PAH-based asphalt sealants do. When I was a council member for the Borough of Fox Chapel, I successfully led the effort to ban these types of sealants in the borough. Upon this success, I shared my message with members of other communities in southwestern Pennsylvania and worked with officials in a bipartisan manner to ban these sealants in an additional 20 communities. PAH-based asphalt sealants are banned in 13 other states. I believe it is time for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join in protecting our loved ones and the environment, which is why I plan to introduce legislation that would prohibit the supplying, selling, or application of PAH-based asphalt sealants in our state. Please join me in support of this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1166